All-In-One Arc Welding System offers jobsite portability.

Press Release Summary:



Millermatic® Passport(TM) provides MIG arc welding power source, wire feeder, self-contained shielding gas system, and gun in one package. With 30-180 A current output range, system features multi-voltage plug and Auto-Line(TM) power management technology and lets operators choose between internal CO2 gas supply or bulk supply. Inverter-based technology promotes control of arc characteristics, providing positive arc starts without popping and minimal spatter.



Original Press Release:



Miller Electric Introduces World's First All-in-One Arc Welding Power Source, Wire Feeder, Self-Contained Shielding Gas and Gun Package



- Weighs 56 lbs with an 8-in. spool of wire and 12 oz CO2 shielding gas

- Superior arc characteristics with positive arc starts and minimal spatter

APPLETON, Wis. November 2, 2004-To provide jobsite portability, location flexibility and superior welding performance, the new Millermatic® Passport(TM) from Miller Electric Mfg. Co. introduces an inverter-based MIG arc welding power source, wire feeder, self-contained shielding gas system and gun all in a single package.

The unit weighs 45 lbs. (56 lbs. with an 8-in. spool of wire and 12 oz CO2 shielding gas), and provides 25 minutes of welding time (25 ft. of weld on 3/16-in. thick material with one cylinder of gas) and has a 30- to 180-amp current output range. For location flexibility, the Millermatic Passport features Miller's exclusive multi-voltage plug (MVP(TM)) and Auto-Line(TM) power management technology. This enables the unit to connect to 115 and 230 V power just by choosing the right plug and without removing the cover to relink the power source.

"We built the Millermatic Passport for maximum job site portability. The lightweight gas cylinder used is based on a paintball gun design, and the inverter technology is based on the extremely successful Fast Switch technology found in our Maxstar 150 TIG unit," says Ken Stanzel, Miller product manager. "The Millermatic Passport benefits anyone who has to go to a job site because the work can't be brought to the welder."

Potential users include maintenance and repair personnel, construction workers, fabricators who work both in the shop and the field (e.g., sign makers, farmers, HVAC and mechanical contractors), motorsports teams who want to bring a welding machine to the track or off-road enthusiasts who need remote repair capabilities. The Millermatic Passport will also appeal to anyone working in light fabrication applications that values arc performance.

Superior Arc Control

Inverter-based technology enables the Millermatic Passport to control arc characteristics thousands of times faster than conventional transformer technology. As a result, the unit provides welding characteristics--positive arc starts without popping and minimal spatter while welding--that are far superior to any other small MIG welder. This includes high stability, low-spatter welding with CO2 shielding gas and outstanding results when using mixed gas.

With a flip of a switch, operators can select between the internal CO2 gas supply (when the user is on the move) or bulk supply when the user is in the shop or needs mixed gas (75/25 or a "tri-mix" for welding stainless steel). Using the Millermatic Passport's arc control button, operators can select between a crisp-arc characteristic weld suited for mild steel or a softer arc characteristic that provides better wet-out on stainless steel.

When operating on 230 V primary, the Millermatic Passport provides a MIG and flux cored welding output current of 30 to 180 amps (20 percent duty cycle at 150 amps). When operating on 115 V, the unit has a 30- to 140-amp output current range (20 percent duty cycle at 110 amps).

Tough Durability

Because welding machines often ride in the back of trucks and get used on tough job sites, they are often subjected to a lot of incidental abuse, impact from tools and materials (lumber, steel beams, bricks, rocks, etc.) and covered with dust, dirt and water. To survive in this environment, the Millermatic Passport's case is made from impact-resistant plastic that provides superior strength and durability compared to metal cases.

"This is the only MIG power source that is this light and this tough," states Stanzel. "Other MIG power sources can be heavy and they don't lend themselves to riding around in the back of pick-up trucks very well."

The Millermatic Passport is covered by Miller's True-Blue® three-year factory warranty. For more information or to download a product spec sheet, visit Miller's Web site at MillerWelds.com, call 1-800-4-A-MILLER (800-426-4553), fax 877-327-8132 or write to Miller Electric Mfg. Co., P.O. Box 100, Lithonia, GA 30058.

With headquarters in Appleton, Wis., Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller and Hobart brand arc welding equipment and related systems for metalworking, construction, maintenance and other applications. Miller Electric is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), Glenview, Ill. ITW is a diversified multinational manufacturer of highly engineered components, assemblies and systems.

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