Abstract: The invention relates to a method for connecting material webs disposed with overlapping edges, wherein an automatic welding machine having a driven chassis and a drive unit disposed thereon and a welding unit is guided along the overlap zone of the material webs to be connected, such that the carried welding unit connects the edges to be connected to one another. The invention further relates to an automatic welding machine for performing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for connecting material webs disposed with overlapping edges, wherein an automatic welding machine having a driven chassis and a drive unit disposed thereon and a welding unit is guided along the overlap zone of the material webs to be connected, such that the carried welding unit connects the edges to be connected to one another. The invention further relates to an automatic welding machine for performing the method.

Abstract: An electrical resistance heating element for a heating device, with at least one flow canal through which the gaseous medium is able to flow from a canal inlet side to a canal outlet side of the resistance heating element, and with at least one heating resistor that extends essentially in the direction of the flow canal, with the medium flowing past the heating resistor and being heated in the process. The heating resistor is rod-shaped and produced from an electrically conductive ceramic material. The electrical resistance heating element is intended for installation in a heating tube into which air, for example, is blown at one end. The heated flow of air exits from the other end of the heating tube.

Abstract: The invention concerns a laser assembly for processing or joining work pieces by means of electromagnetic radiation, with a laser source that emits a laser beam, and an electronic masking system for the work pieces that succeeds the laser source. The masking system images the passing laser beam on the work pieces in a pattern that is randomly selectable. As masking system, a phase modulation array with preferably a common pixel size >4 ?m is used, and also a laser source with a high beam quality of the laser beam that together permit the sharp imaging of patterns with a line width <2 mm on the work pieces.