Carr's Welding Technologies have developed a welding procedure for the manufacture of a flat heat exchanger for A K Industries . The Under-shower-tray-heat-exchanger takes out heat from the waste-water from the shower and pre-heats the cold water coming in to the shower, thus saving money and energy, of course. Carr's make the 4 part heat exchanger on their big Trumpf CW robot welding laser, which welds the 2 thin sheets of stainless steel together.

The complicated path welded into the sheet is then subject to a further process to create a lattice of water ways.

Mains cold water is fed through this heat exchanger and the warm waste water from the shower flows over the surface.

This has the effect of pre-heating the incoming water so that the instant shower element does not have to work as hard.

Thereby reducing energy consumption by the shower.

The Development programme carried out by Carr's over the summer, has perfected the art of jigging and welding the thin steel sheets together, so that good penetration is achieved all round the part.

Running at 2.5metres per minute the 5 metre weld path is welded in under 2 minutes.

The product is then leak tested and then packed for shipment to A K Industries of Hereford who complete the heat exchanger with the plastic surround and all the fittings.

This simple patented design, has been entered into a national competition for best energy saving product of the year and has been short listed for the final round of judging.