Aluminium welding in Czech Republic: A Guide
Aluminum is one of the most popular structural materials in the Czech Republic — from the automotive industry through aerospace components to modern building facades and yachts on the Vltava River. The Czech Republic has a long tradition of working with aluminum and today ranks among Europe's leaders in the quality of non-ferrous metal welding. Let's take a look at the current state in 2025.
Why is aluminum welding so challenging?
Aluminum has completely different properties compared to steel:
- High thermal conductivity (4× higher than steel) → heat escapes quickly from the weld zone
- Oxide layer Al₂O₃ with a melting point of 2,070 °C (pure aluminum melts at 660 °C)
- High coefficient of thermal expansion → large distortions and risk of cracks
- Susceptibility to porosity due to hydrogen absorption
That's why in the Czech Republic, TIG (WIG) and MIG methods are used in roughly 90 % of cases, or their modern variants such as CMT or AC pulsed MIG.
Most common aluminum welding methods in the Czech Republic (2025)
- Method | Estimated market share | Typical applications | Equipment brands popular in CZ |
- -----------------|------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
- AC TIG | ~55 % | Manual precision welding, aerospace, food industry | Fronius, Lorch, EWM, Merkle |
- Pulsed MIG | ~30 % | Automation, thicknesses 1.5–12 mm | Fronius (CMT), Lorch (SpeedPulse), Cloos |
- CMT (Cold Metal Transfer) | Growing fast (15–20 %) | Robotic welding, thin sheets, car bodies | Fronius |
- Laser | ~5 % | Automotive plants (Škoda, TPCA/Kolin) | Trumpf, IPG, Precitec |
- FSW (Friction Stir Welding) | < 2 % | Special applications (trains, aerospace) | In-house machines or licensed partners |
Where is the most aluminum welded in Czechia?
1. Mladá Boleslav & Kvasiny – Škoda Auto (Enyaq bodies, aluminum space frames)
2. Plzeň – Škoda Transportation (aluminum railcar and tram bodies)
3. Ostrava region – Vítkovice, Třinecké železárny (heavy structures)
4. Brno and surroundings – small and medium companies (architecture, yachts, special machines)
5. Prague and Central Bohemia – aerospace industry (Aero Vodochody, GE Aviation)
Czech companies that weld aluminum at world-class level
- SVV Praha – TIG specialist for aerospace
- Aluship Technology – all-aluminum ships and yachts
- Kovárna VIVA Zlín – robotic CMT lines
- EXTE s.r.o. – facade systems and architectural structures
- THT Polička – one of the most modern CMT lines in Europe
Certifications and standards
In the Czech Republic it is mandatory to work according to ČSN EN ISO 3834-2 (for manufacturers), and welders need certification according to ČSN EN ISO 9606-2 (Al).
Large companies also require EN 15085 (railway vehicles) or EN 1090 EXC3/EXC4 for load-bearing structures.
Trends 2024–2025
1. Massive adoption of Fronius iWave and TPSi with "Low Energy" and "PMC Mix" functions
2. Boom of cobots (collaborative robots) with CMT — Universal Robots + Fronius is a very popular combination in CZ
3. Green hydrogen as shielding gas — first pilot projects (Brno, Plzeň)
4. Weld digitalization — Fronius WeldCube Premium already used by more than 40 Czech companies
Rough prices in 2025
- Manual TIG welding hour: 750–1,400 CZK (~30–58 €)
- Robotic MIG/CMT hour: 1,200–2,800 CZK (~50–115 €) including programming
- New Fronius TPS 400i CMT power source: 12–15 thousand EUR
- Welder training + exam (TIG aluminum): 18–28 thousand CZK (~750–1,150 €)
Conclusion
The Czech Republic is not just an assembly plant — when it comes to aluminum welding, we belong to the European elite. We have excellent welders, cutting-edge technology, and companies that export their know-how worldwide. If you need a high-quality aluminum structure or a tricky weld solved, in 2025 you will definitely find it in Czechia.
Need advice on a specific project or looking for a welder/company? Drop a comment — happy to connect you.