Southern California Industries That Rely on TIG Welding
Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California hold a deep base of advanced manufacturers. These industries all buy precision TIG welding.
Aerospace, Space, and Defense
Airframe, satellite, launch, and defense plants from El Segundo and Long Beach to Palmdale.
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Medical Devices
Orange County and San Diego are two of the country's major medical device hubs.
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Semiconductor Equipment
Chip equipment and gas system builders in Southern California and the Bay Area.
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Food and Beverage
Food, beverage, and brewing plants serving the second-largest metro area in the U.S.
View page →Aerospace and Defense Welding for Los Angeles Suppliers
The South Bay has been an aerospace center for decades. El Segundo, Hawthorne, Torrance and Long Beach hold space, satellite and aircraft plants, and Los Angeles Air Force Base sits in El Segundo. North of the city, Palmdale and the Antelope Valley host flight test and military aircraft work.
These buyers need AWS D17.1 welds, AS9100 suppliers and secure handling of ITAR data. See our aerospace and defense welding page and our aerospace TIG welding service.
AWS D17.1 Weld Classes
AWS D17.1 is the fusion welding spec for aerospace. The drawing assigns Class A, B or C, and each class has its own acceptance limits. Read our AWS D17.1 procurement guide.
Prime Contractor Specs
Many primes add their own weld specs on top of D17.1.
ITAR and Export Control
Space and defense drawings are often ITAR controlled.
Nadcap Welding
Some primes require Nadcap accreditation for welding as a special process.
Southern California's airports and plants anchor one of the largest aerospace regions in the world.
Thin-Wall and Space Hardware TIG Welding
Launch and satellite hardware is light and thin. Heat control and clean gas decide whether a part holds size.
Thin-Gauge Stainless and Heat Input
Stainless holds heat near the weld and moves when it cools. We use pulse TIG, chill bars and fixtures to hold size. See preventing warpage in thin-gauge stainless.
Precision Stainless Parts
Close-tolerance 304L, 316L and stabilized grades. See precision stainless TIG welding.
Clean Purge and Weld Color
Argon purge and trailing shields keep oxygen off hot metal.
Common Aerospace Welding Jobs From Southern California
These are typical parts Southern California suppliers send out for TIG welding. See aerospace TIG welding.
- Thin-wall stainless, nickel alloy, and titanium ducts and tube assemblies
- Brackets, clips, and fittings for airframes and satellites
- Propellant and pressurant line parts for launch hardware
- Ground support equipment, test stands, and fixtures
- Second-source work when a primary supplier is at capacity
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together form the busiest container port complex in the U.S.
Shipping Aerospace Parts Between Dallas and Los Angeles
Long-distance supply works well when parts and paperwork are packed with the same care as the welds.
About 1,400 Miles by Road
Dallas to Los Angeles is roughly 1,400 miles on I-20 and I-10. Air freight is an option for urgent lots.
Crate for Thin-Wall Parts
Thin-wall ducts and tube assemblies are supported in custom crates or foam so they cannot dent or bend in transit.
Keep Paperwork With the Lot
Certificates of conformance, MTRs, and inspection reports travel with each lot and match its tags.
Controlled Data Rules Still Apply
ITAR-controlled drawings must move through approved, secure channels, never general email.
How to Get a TIG Welding Quote From Los Angeles
Quoting works the same whether your plant is across town or across the country. Use the steps below, or go straight to the request a quote form.
- Send your drawings or models with the revision, material, and quantity
- Call out the weld spec and class, inspection method, and any first article inspection to AS9102
- Tell us the inspection, finish, and records you need, and your required date
- We review the drawing and ask any questions before we price it
- You get a written quote with price and lead time
Serving Los Angeles and Southern California
We serve suppliers along the I-405 and I-105 corridors near LAX, the I-110 and I-710 corridors to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the I-5 and SR-14 route to Santa Clarita and Palmdale.
Service areas include El Segundo, Hawthorne, Torrance, Gardena, Carson, Long Beach, Burbank, Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster.
Our shop is in Dallas, more than 1,400 miles away.
Service Area Around Los Angeles, CA
Nearby cities: El Segundo, Hawthorne, Torrance, Gardena, Carson, Long Beach, Burbank, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster.
Highways and industrial areas: I-405 (San Diego Freeway), I-105 (Glenn Anderson Freeway), I-110 (Harbor Freeway), I-710, I-5, SR-14 (Antelope Valley Freeway), LAX, Los Angeles Air Force Base (El Segundo), South Bay aerospace corridor, Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Antelope Valley / Palmdale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a shop in Los Angeles?
Our main shop is in Dallas, Texas, and ships finished parts to Southern California.
Can you weld to AWS D17.1 Class A?
Class A welds have the tightest acceptance limits, so tell us the class up front.
Are you Nadcap accredited for welding?
If your prime requires Nadcap, note it on your quote request.
How do you receive ITAR-controlled drawings?
Do not email controlled data until we confirm how to receive it.
Can our quality team inspect parts before they ship?
We can also send photos and inspection reports before shipment.
Why would a Los Angeles supplier use a Texas welding shop?
Many buyers add an out-of-state second source to spread supply risk and add capacity when local shops are full. With good packing and paperwork, distance has little effect on quality.
How are thin-wall aerospace parts shipped?
Parts are bagged and tagged by lot or serial number, then supported in custom crates or foam so they cannot dent or bend. Paperwork travels with each lot.
What is a second source in aerospace?
A second source is an additional approved supplier for the same part. It is usually qualified with a first article inspection and lowers the risk of relying on a single shop.
