Ferrules generally are protective rings used to shield the stud during welding. They’re used in a wide range of applications, from fibre optics to stud welding, to help make processes more effective. Ferrules mean that items involved in a process are less likely to become contaminated or porous during the welding process.

Ceramic ferrules (also known as ceramic arc shields) are small rings made from ceramic material. They ensure the drawn arc stud welding process works effectively.

The primary purpose of the ceramic is to shield the stud from the air during the welding process, preventing porosity and contaminants from affecting the weld. It can also act as an arc shield to reduce UV exposure in the surrounding area.

The ceramic ferrules are shaped like a ring around the stud and contain the molten pool between the stud and the plate. They shape the weld to create a neat join that is unnoticeable and seamless by containing the molten metal within their shape.

In applications involving high temperatures the twist clip is replaced by a ceramic component, the Cuplock. This prevents gases from the furnace corroding the exposed ends of the fibre fixing pins and the twist clips. The end of the locking pin is in the Cuplock and therefore stands back from the hot side of the lining; it is protected by a fibre mastic plug which closes the cuplock opening. We use an improved shape of the internal part of the Cuplock element with a tapered conical edge, which prevents the mastic plug from falling out when it shrinks.