Solving Welding Challenges… Differently

CK Worldwide Series · Part 3

One thing is clear about CK Worldwide – they approach problems differently.

For CK, challenges aren’t roadblocks; they’re opportunities. Opportunities to deepen understanding, rethink assumptions, and create something better than before.

It’s a mindset that has shaped the company for nearly six decades and positioned them as a trusted authority in welding solutions.

When customers come to CK Worldwide with a challenge, there is a clear and deliberate process behind how solutions are found.

Rethinking the Problem

In many cases, customers are trying to solve modern welding challenges using 1950s TIG torch designs – the only designs they’ve been exposed to.

They attempt to adapt older concepts to new applications when often, they simply can’t. That’s when they turn to CK Worldwide.

The first step is always to step back. CK looks at the application with fresh eyes and asks: Is there already a solution within our existing range that the customer may not be aware of?

With 58 years of product development behind them, the answer is frequently yes.

Customers are often surprised by the depth and breadth of CK Worldwide’s portfolio. It’s rare that the team can’t reach into their ‘toolbox’ and identify a solution that has successfully resolved a similar challenge before. In many cases, they can even share real-world examples of how that solution performed in comparable applications.

That’s step one: leverage experience before reinventing the wheel.

When the Toolbox Isn’t Enough

If an existing product won’t fully resolve the issue, the second step begins – collaboration.

CK Worldwide works alongside the customer, combining practical welding knowledge with application-specific insight. It’s not about selling a product; it’s about engineering the right answer together.

CK’s President, Jeff Sharpe, recalls a memorable example.

A Seattle-based company approached CK with a specific challenge. Their team needed to weld a two-inch aluminium motor mount inside an unmanned submersible. The motor mount had been designed by an engineer who wasn’t a welder, resulting in a joint configuration with extremely limited access for a TIG torch.

There was no off-the-shelf solution. No prior model that addressed this exact constraint.

Together, CK and the welding team studied the engineering drawings and developed what would become the Water-Cooled Micro Torch.

Prototypes were produced and tested. The results were successful. But CK Worldwide didn’t stop there.

The next question was bigger: Is there a broader demand for this type of solution? Might other welders face similar confined-access challenges? Would the design stand up to everyday production use?

CK gathered further feedback from the welders involved in the trials. One detail stood out. The prototypes used nylon tubing for insulation over the necks, rather than moulded silicone rubber. While silicone would have aligned with their standard production models, the welders valued the nylon tubing because it could be easily replaced if damaged – far more practical than replacing an entire torch head.

That feedback shaped the final design and remains a promoted feature today.

It’s a small example that speaks to a larger philosophy: CK Worldwide doesn’t just design solutions; it refines them with the people who use them.

Making a Difference Beyond the Job

Problem-solving at CK is a wide and varied task. One day, they might be working with seasoned welders who have done the job for years. Next, they could be supporting the next generation of welders.

CK Worldwide regularly works with trade schools and training initiatives, including scholarship funds established with the American Welding Society.

One unforgettable story began with a call from a welding instructor at Fox Valley Technical College. A student in the middle of TIG certification had suffered a serious motorcycle accident, injuring his hand to the point that continuing his welding career seemed unlikely.

The student didn’t want to change direction. As Jeff recalls, he had no desire to pivot into becoming a “bean counter.”

During discussions with the instructor, Jeff suggested CK’s Cold Wire TIG Feeding System had the potential to remove the physical barrier standing in the student’s way – it allows a welder to hold both the TIG torch and filler material in one hand, rather than using two.

CK Worldwide worked with the college to supply a discounted system for trial.

The outcome was powerful. The student adapted, excelled, completed his training, and graduated. He was later hired by a local fire engine manufacturer, performing long longitudinal aluminium welds on critical components.

As Jeff reflects, “This one put a smile on my face when I heard the end results. It still makes me smile even to this day.”

A Different Mindset

CK Worldwide’s approach is consistent:

• They view problems as opportunities to learn and improve.
• They work closely with customers when a fresh approach is needed.
• They refine solutions based on real experiences and feedback.
• They support welders not just in the field, but in training and development.

At CK, problem-solving isn’t an afterthought; it’s the basis of how they operate. It’s what allows them to tackle complex challenges with confidence and creativity, and it’s what continues to set them apart as a problem-solving authority in the welding industry.

Stay tuned for Blog 4: The Future of Welding – CK Worldwide’s perspective on where the industry is heading and how they’re helping shape what comes next.