Ben Royal

[simon75]

In my intrepid search to find a decent welder for under £400 (which isnt easy, here in sweden. As it's damn expensive.) i stumbled upon a german company called Stahlwerk. They make a range of welders called Ben royal.
i would really like to hear your opinion on this particular model.

http://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.de/en/wig-tig-200/115-stahlwerk-wig-tig-200.html


its duty cycle is absolutely superb... 60% @ 200A & 100% @140A

cheers Simon

 

[mike 109444]

Simon I don't know anything about the company but having a quick read I can't see where they say they make the machines. Most German made equipment seams well made so it might be worth asking them if they build them.

 

[cumbriasteve]

They certainly look nice, could be Chinese rebadged and built to their spec which is what a few firms are doing now, not always a bad thing, one of the main suppliers in the UK is doing the same and have a very good name for themselves.

I agree if they were German built I would be even more impressed, worth investigating further and consider the warranty implications for returning for repair if the need arises.

 

[Titus A Duxass]

I've also found Stahlwerk ( they are on Amazon and ebay over here in Germany).

I've been looking at this one - http://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.de/en/wig-tig-acdc-200-puls.html

As I understand from their web site they are indeed imports from China but they say that they are the builder (Hersteller), maybe they have them made to their specs.

The welders come with the usual 2 year warranty/garantie with an extension for a further 3 years.

I have gegoogelt (German for googled) and can find no negative reports on various German forums. There are not many positives either.

They appear to be okay for private / hobby use.

 

[Titus A Duxass]

Here's one of their units in action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLG8r_p4OcU

 

[Titus A Duxass]

Out of curiosity I emailed them to ask about their welders and the service.
They responded within 15 mins.
Here's a rough translation.

Good day Titus,

Thank you for your mail.

We sell our machines since 10 years.
We have our own factory in China where we have the machines built.

Our devices can be used not only for hobby use, but also professionally.

We have about 60 percent of corporate clients.

You never get a guarantee that nothing will never happen to the equipment, but you will not get that anywhere, not even with goods manufactured in Germany.

It depends on the service. I think that's important. If something should be wrong with the machine, then this machines comes into our workshop in Germany where it is repaired and it is then returned to the customer.

All the accessories and spare parts are also here with us.

If I can help you otherwise yet, please let me know.

Best regards and have a nice day.

End of Letter.

So they have the machines built in their own factory in China.
They have been in business for 10 years.
They have all the spares and accessories in Germany.
Repairs are carried out in Germany.
And the units come with a 2 jahr equipment guarantee plus a 3 year customer satisfaction warranty.

You can if you wish visit their premises and have a play before you buy.

I think it might be worth a punt.

 

[andy m]

It seems to be the way with a lot of things now unfortunately, all going to China. London taxis will be going there soon, factory bought up by the Chinese, in a few years they will up sticks and ship the lot out. (sorry for going off subject)

 

[Wozzaaah]

So they have the machines built in their own factory in China.
They have been in business for 10 years.
They have all the spares and accessories in Germany.
Repairs are carried out in Germany.
And the units come with a 2 jahr equipment guarantee plus a 3 year customer satisfaction warranty.

You can if you wish visit their premises and have a play before you buy.

I think it might be worth a punt.

Yeah, right o.
The company is not German, it's Chinese with a slightly German sounding name.
"SHENZHEN STAHLWERK WELDING TECHNOLOGY Co.,LTD"

That looks like every other generic Chinese machine out there, they're not built to anyone's spec, they'll all be built in the same factory to the same spec then rebadged to whatever brand they're asked to. Fact.

 

[Titus A Duxass]

Yeah, right o.
The company is not German, it's Chinese with a slightly German sounding name.
"SHENZHEN STAHLWERK WELDING TECHNOLOGY Co.,LTD"

That looks like every other generic Chinese machine out there, they're not built to anyone's spec, they'll all be built in the same factory to the same spec then rebadged to whatever brand they're asked to. Fact.

So if they are based in China how come I can drive to this address, visit their workshop/repair centre and try the welders.

Stahlwerk Schweißgeräte Deutschland e.K.
Auf dem Schurweßel 31, 53347 Alfter, Germany

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'm not saying you can't, I'm saying those machines are just generic Chinese ones, they're not unique in any way and certainly not made in a German owned factory in China.
They're no different to all the other ones you see on Ebay.

Whereabouts in Germany is Shenzhen?

 

[Rrunnach]

Whereabouts in Germany is Shenzhen?

20 klicks NW of Bonn

 

[Titus A Duxass]

Whereabouts in Germany is Shenzhen?

Where did I quote Shenzen?
I'm talking about the handler/dealer/repair centre that is based and registered in Germany.
Okay the units are made in that factory, whether they are made to their own specs is questionable (though the factory does do individual runs).
The machines have a good support system here with a reasonable warranty.

After all - to drive from London to Edinburgh you don't have to have a Mercedes you can do it in a Lada.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I quoted Shenzhen as that's in the name of the company.
I'm not saying don't buy one as the aftersales support sounds pretty good, I'm just saying that their machines won't be any different to any other Chinese mass-produced ones.
I could be completely wrong of course, maybe they do design and build their machines from the bottom up but my head tells me that if you're going to do that you don't use the same cases, knobs, displays, etc that every other Chinese manufacturer does.

Btw, I wouldn't drive from London to Edinburgh in a lada, in fact, I wouldn't drive to the corner shop in a lada!
Just the thought of ever driving one of those horrible things again give me the shudders.

 

[matt1978]

I know people who have visited China specifically for the purpose of looking to Bulk purchase welding machines, they spent a long time there and visited dozens of factories.

I, myself have spent a lot of time visiting and working at International welding machine exhibitions and have spoken too many Chinese companies and seen many machines from Chinese manufacturers. So I speak with a little authority when I say, that 99% of the claims people/companies make that 'Its our own factory in China' or 'We have it made to our design' or 'They only make machines for us' is all total rubbish! There are of course exceptions, but its a tiny minority. But it's easy to say to Joe Public over the phone because how are they every going to know/find out any different?

Thats not to say the company you mention will not offer a superb aftersales care and back up the warranty. Thats a different thing altogether.

If your unsure, do a google image search for any unit that you suspect is made in China and I gaurantee that you will get dozens of the same unit in different colours and with different names on the side. To combat this, you then get the sales guys who say, yes it looks the same, but ours are totally different inside/made with better componants etc etc...........again there are a few tiny exceptions, but this claim is also usually total rubbish. They are usually exactly the same machine, made in the same factory using the same componants, with only the colour of the box varying.

If its the same machine and the same box but the only differnece is the colour, then the only differentiating factor's are the aftersales care/warranty back up and the sales price! Thats why they muddy the waters with it looks the same but its not, to be able to justify a higher price. If a price of one unit is higher but they offer a great after sales service then bear in mind that its usually worth paying the extra, but don't be fooled that its a higher price becasue its a better made unit with higher quality parts etc.

There are some machines that do look simerla and are copies of each other that are not the same, but what I am talking about is machines that are exactly the same with the layout of knobs and switches on the front etc.

After looking at the webiste of the link you gave, they certainly look like they offer a great aftersales serivce and the prices seem pretty keen so it looks a worthwhile punt.

 

[robsky]

In my intrepid search to find a decent welder for under £400 (which isnt easy, here in sweden. As it's damn expensive.) i stumbled upon a german company called Stahlwerk. They make a range of welders called Ben royal.
i would really like to hear your opinion on this particular model.

http://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.de/en/wig-tig-200/115-stahlwerk-wig-tig-200.html


its duty cycle is absolutely superb... 60% @ 200A & 100% @140A

cheers Simon

seen a few people inquire about
stahlwerk-welding gear its rubbish bought a plasmer cutter of flea bay and it packed up
after five minutes they did send a courier that took a week then theyb said its been sent to hungary
for repair and would be 8 weeks maybe longer avoid them they are trading cheap chineese rubbish
and pretending its german quality

 

[Henrik]

seen a few people inquire about
stahlwerk-welding gear its rubbish bought a plasmer cutter of flea bay and it packed up
after five minutes they did send a courier that took a week then theyb said its been sent to hungary
for repair and would be 8 weeks maybe longer avoid them they are trading cheap chineese rubbish
and pretending its german quality

If it's packed up after 5 minutes, why dnot you report it as broken and claim money back through eBay buyer protection?

 

[paceman1]

thing is we all only have an amount to spend but don't buy the cheap save a bit more and get a better machine you wont regret it

 

[Henrik]

I've been doing my own research on stahlwerk on the German forums (seeing as that's their home market)

They don't appear to have a terrible reputation there, and from what I can tell they seem to honour the warranties as well. I haven't seen anything negative about the time to fix welders either, so to me it sounds like an isolated incident so far.

 

[Jim Davey]

I'm getting the strangest Teutonic déjà vu.