GCE Industrial: Always at the Cutting Edge

We are delighted to welcome GCE Industrial as our Cutting and Welding Manufacturing Company of the Month.

GCE Industrial, part of The GCE Group, which was acquired by ESAB in 2018, is a market leader in cutting and welding applications, including the oxy-fuel and hydrogen cutting sectors. With a focus on mitigating hazardous work environments, solutions from GCE Industrial comply with the BCGA Code of Practice, EN, and ISO standards, ensuring top-notch quality assurance and management.

The GCE Group is a global leader in gas control equipment manufacturing, specializing in cutting and welding technologies, valves, healthcare, homecare, and specialty gas systems. Renowned product lines include cylinder valves for oxy-fuel applications, as well as gas supply systems for medical applications. With customers in over 120 countries, the Group continues to expand its global reach. Established in 1987 after a successful merger of gas equipment companies, the Group now operates through three primary divisions: GCE Industrial, GCE Medical, and GCE Specialty.

The UK headquarters for GCE are located in Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside, with a renowned factory in Norfolk that includes a laboratory for innovative testing.

“We see ourselves as more than just gas control equipment manufacturers; we’re part of one of the world’s largest gas control companies. We offer quality assurance across our entire product range, along with bespoke training and support for our valued customers. We have an established network of 25 distributors across the UK, each providing expert training to customers, reinforcing our commitment to an enhanced customer experience. Our in-house technical and commercial support teams offer guidance and call-outs. We’ve also expanded our social media presence to include product highlights, demonstrations, industry insights, and all our product instruction manuals are now fully digital: simply scan the QR code for detailed instructions in multiple languages.”

Over the last two years, GCE Industrial has upgraded its product portfolio to include next-level advancements, such as the Pro-Series cylinder regulators, the X-series range with traditional X10 and X20 cutters, and the Safe-Guard 2 flashback arrestors. Our new addition, the SmartControl Cylinder Regulator for industrial gas applications, has become a preferred product for cutting and welding. Featuring precise internal gas regulation, this cylinder regulator ensures reliable gas supply and accurate pressure control every time. The model is available in multiple configurations and is compatible with cylinder valves, withstanding inlet pressures up to 230 Bar.

Hydrogen cutting is a rapidly growing area for GCE and offers numerous benefits to the industry, including reducing CO₂ emissions, producing smoother, more precise cuts (which eliminate the need for post-cut processing), reducing labor hours for surface finishing, improving efficiency, and streamlining quicker project turnarounds with high-speed cutting.

Our new Automated Hydrogen Oxyfuel Cutting Solution (Fit+Green) is the first hydrogen torch system on the market, offering full decarbonization of the cutting process. This cutting-edge system is fully automated, matching the speed of acetylene, and is an all-in-one package that includes gas control, distribution, safety, cutting torch, flame ignition, and height control. With a modular approach for high flexibility in configuration, it cuts close to both the edge and the kerf for superior nesting. The integrated backfire detection enhances safety and provides longevity for the torch.

“This system is designed with safety in mind and is built for efficiency,” explains John Keats, UK Sales Manager.

GCE Industrial has been ahead of the curve in hydrogen technology for cutting applications and is excited by the results. Hydrogen offers a greener alternative to carbon-based fuels like acetylene, propane, and natural gas. The torch system matches acetylene’s precise cutting performance, with added safety features and cost savings. Aside from a small amount generated during the steel cutting process, hydrogen does not produce additional carbon emissions and enables timely decarbonization of traditional mechanical cutting methods. Another exciting benefit is preheating and cutting speed: hydrogen preheats a 50mm plate within three seconds, whereas propane takes up to eleven seconds.

Furthermore, hydrogen heats a targeted point, reducing the risk of the metal plate overheating and improving piercing technique. Hydrogen cuts 10% faster than acetylene. In terms of cost savings, hydrogen is 30% cheaper than propane and 20% cheaper than acetylene, and operators only need standard safety glasses (instead of shaded glasses) due to reduced ultraviolet light exposure.

GCE Industrial stands out from UK wholesalers with its expertly engineered manufacturing. The state-of-the-art UK laboratory supports cutting-edge R&D innovation, maintaining its position as a market leader. As long-term members of the BCGA, GCE Industrial is supported and informed on all the latest safety codes, practices, guidance notes, and technical papers on industrial gases from this respected UK trade association.

BCGA is also a member of the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA), enabling close collaboration with European and non-European producers and distributors across industrial, food, and medical gases.

To find out more, contact GCE Industrial below: T 01942 292950sales@gcegroup.comwww.gcegroup.com GCE Industrial Gas Solutions @gce_industrial