Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Business Profiles 2015 21 I f you look for the word "micro-welding" in any pre-1970s dictionary, your search will come up empty. Credited with coining the term, George R. Berube of Leominster changed all that when he was the first apprentice of Jimmy Donavan in 1968 and helped to pioneer the industry. Dubbed the "Godfather of Micro-Welding," Berube opened George's Welding in 1970 and three years later established Leominster Micro Welding, one of the first companies to specialize in the micro-welding of tools, dies and molds. His son Steve, who has worked for the company since he was 12 years old sweeping floors and learning to weld from his father, continues to nurture the family business with advanced techniques, modern equipment and the latest technology. In September 2006, the younger Berube became owner of Leominster Micro Welding Inc., and began to expand the company's portfolio of services. Today, the business specializes in microscopic Laser and TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding for tools, dies, medical and prototyping and offers precision micro-welding for a range of projects from the smallest microscopic welding requirements to larger injection molds. Cognizant of the production and financial costs of downtime, Berube strives to deliver projects quickly and in most cases on the same day. In addition to its dependable service, Leominster Micro Welding offers competitive pricing. With a combined work experience of more than 50 years, the team at Leominster Micro Welding brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the business. Their expertise in metallurgy ensures that strict guidelines are followed to ensure the correct filler material is used for the highest quality and longest lasting repairs. In 2007, Leominster Micro Welding added laser tech- nology to its service menu with the purchase of the ALM 175. Most recently the company bought the ALT 300 Alpha Laser, which complements the existing ALM 175 and upgrades its capabilities. One of the most appealing features of laser welding for customers is its flexibility; in many cases molds and dies do not have to be disassembled before repair, saving time and money. Owner Steve Berube said, "The open air design of the Alpha Laser ALM 175 and ALT 300 provides versatility like no other, producing the highest quality welds ever dreamed. Precise weld control and low heat input yields the least distortion ever achieved, resulting in little to no heat affected zone." The laser welders enable Leominster Micro Welding to work on small jobs that otherwise would be nearly impos- sible with traditional techniques. For example, one project involved a tiny medical endoscope with 12,000 fiber-optic strands. Berube successfully welded a part measuring one-and-a-half inches long and 120,000th of an inch in diameter to the endoscope without damaging the fiber- optic wires. Additionally, lasers offer excellent weld capabilities on all tool steels, stainless steels, beryllium coppers, ampco, aluminum, ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, titanium and precious alloys. Accuracy of the laser weld deposits mini- mizes machining and downtime, moving the part back into production quickly and cutting costs. Leominster Micro Welding's craft has been applied in several trade areas including tool and die, automotive, medical, aircraft, blow molds, electronic and plastic injec- tion industries. Laser welding is perfect for prototyping and engineering intricate parts and assemblies. Berube said, "In recent years our skills have been utilized to revise many injection molds to reduce the amount of plastic and rubber used to manufacture such parts as bottle caps and shoe soles to help the environment by producing less waste." In addition to its contributions to the micro-welding industry, Leominster Micro Welding supports various local community events and organizations. The company sponsors a local Women's Lassie League Softball team, The Cup Crusaders team that raises money for The Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, and offers financial assis- tance to the V.F.W. and local police and fire departments. Berube intends to continue growing Leominster Micro Welding in the coming years. He plans to upgrade his existing laser welders and eventually add some new lasers, increase staff and maintain the company's high standards for quality, excellence and innovation, while keeping top- notch customer service a number one priority. Little did Steve dream as a boy that he would one day be running a successful and innovative micro-welding busi- ness, thanks to his forward-thinking Dad. Be sure to contact the experts at Leominster Micro Welding for any micro-welding needs you may have. n Leominster Micro Welding, Inc.: Pioneers in the Industry L e o m I N s t e r , m a Leominster micro welding, Inc. Address: 51 Howard Street, Leominster, MA 01453 Phone: 978-534-0697 Fax: 978-534-0623 Website: www.leommicroweld.com Product or Service: Microscopic Laser & TIG Welding No. of Employees: 2 Top Executives: Steve Berube, Owner/ Micro Welding Engineer Year Founded: 1973 Steve when he was younger. His father who started the business. P h o t o s / C o u r t e s y

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