ESAB North America President,  Andrew Masterman, cut the ribbon, opening a new warehouse/distribution center in Mexico City. At the same  time, ESAB was exhibiting its Sabre DX cutting gantry, new chopper-feeder  equipment and plasma equipment at the AWS WeldMex show, held in conjunction  with Metalform Mexico  and FABTECH Mexico, on May 11-13. This is the first time the three shows have  come together in Mexico City.

AWS Weldmex focuses primarily on welding and cutting products, including  thermal spray, metal finishing and safety equipment. Metalform Mexico features  metalforming products, including tool and die, metal stamping, forming and  assembly. FABTECH Mexico features a variety of bending and fabrication products,  including laser and plasma cutting, coil processing, roll forming, plate and  structural fabricating, saws and cut-off machines, tooling, press brakes,  shears, punching, and tube and pipe equipment.

The highlight of the ESAB booth was the Sabre DX Precision Cutting Machine for high production plasma and oxy-fuel cutting over  large working areas. Designed for heavy-duty precision cutting, the Sabre DX  features a high-stiffness welded beam assembly with a precision linear way  guiding system, three-axis rack-and-pinion drives, digital AC drives and AC  brushless motors. The rugged gantry can be equipped with up to eight stations  including up to two plasma stations featuring ESAB's m3 Precision Plasmarc  system that allows the machine to cut and mark with the same plasma torch.  Plasma stations include a High-Speed Vertical  Lifter with Arc Voltage Height Control for accurate cutting and optimal cycle  times. A magnetic breakaway crash protection device prevents torch damage in  case of tipped parts.