In the Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) process the weld takes place under a blanket of granular “flux”, whatever flux comes in contact with the arc (or heat) of the weld becomes a homogeneous glass like structure and is commonly referred to as “Slag”. This “Flux Slag” can now be crushed (recycled / reclaimed / reprocessed or recrushed) into a reusable SAW consumable.

The SAW flux / slag crushing program at Harbert’s and Allied consists of the following:

1) A manufacture of the slag ships a *lot or batch of his slag to Harbert’s or Allied.

2) The slag is received and is inspected for **deficiencies, and/or nonconforming material.

3) The slag is then issued a batch/lot number, and placed in the "storage area" until it is ready to proceed to the "production area".

4) The "CLOSED – LOOP CRUSHING PROCESS":
4a) Removal of minor Nonconforming material if applicable (i.e. cigarette butts, paper, plastic, etc...) from slag prior to entering the S.A.W. Flux/Slag Crushing unit.
4b) Size crushed flux to each customer’s particular requirements.
4c) Visually inspect slag at various stages of the crushing process.
4d) Removal of magnetic impurities i.e. magnetized flux, weld splatters, weld wire tips & base metal mill scale.
4e) Perform moisture tests at regular intervals.
4f) Package in sealed containers, c/w plastic liners.

5) Package crushed flux (or mixture of crushed flux and new/virgin flux) and mark containers in accordance with the latest issues of CSA Standard W48 Section 5.6.2 "Closed Loop crushed slag" and/or ANSI I AWS A5.01 "Filler Metal Procurement Guidelines" and ANSI I AWS A5.17/A5.17M "Specification for Carbon Steel Electrodes and Fluxes for Submerged Arc Welding" (and ASME SFA-5.17) Section 15.1 Crushed Slags or A5.23/A5.23M "Specification for Low Alloy Steel Electrodes and Fluxes for Submerged Arc Welding" (and ASME SFA-5.23) Section 15.1 Crushed Slags as applicable.

6) The Crushed flux (or mixture of crushed flux and new/virgin flux) is then shipped back to the same customer that generated it.

*Harbert’s and Allied identify a lot (or batch) of SAW flux/slag as;
A specific type of SAW slag that was generated by a specific customer, shipped to our facility as one shipment, load, and/or identified by a P.O. number and/or shipping number. The SAW flux/slag is then crushed and shipped back to the same specific customer that initially shipped the SAW flux / slag to our facility.

**Harbert’s and Allied have a "QUALITY ASSURANCE MANUAL" (QAM) (In compliance with) ISO 9001:2000 that identifies any deficiencies and/or nonconforming materials. This QAM address; A) identifying, action to be taken, B) identifying, disposal, labeling and action to be taken of nonconforming materials.