Laser Welding Services for Firearms Exhibited at SHOT Show 2022

Joining Technologies exhibited its laser welding services for firearms at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event hosts not only firearms manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers, but also law enforcement, media and non-profit organizations. The show runs for a full week, packed with product showcases, networking events, industry panels, and more.

Across America, the $7.1 billion firearms industry supports more than 342,000 jobs. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the SHOT Show is the 5th largest tradeshow in Las Vegas. The show brings around $88 million in non-gambling revenue to the city. This year’s event was the largest hosted by The Venetian Expo in the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Coupled with the “All In” theme of this year’s show, the message was clear: business is back.

Behind the 2,400 firearms and defense exhibitors at the 2022 SHOT Show are suppliers that help produce and elevate product lines. The SHOT Show Supplier Showcase is where you’ll find partners in machining, textiles, optics, and of course, laser welding for firearms.

Among the 556 suppliers at this year’s showcase, Joining Technologies was the sole partner for contract laser welding. To many who visited our booth on the show floor, it was an intriguing option they’d never before considered. While welding itself obviously isn’t unheard of, introducing the idea of welding with laser technology definitely sparks a conversation. Attendees were eager to learn how we might fit into their supply chain, or bring their production to the next level.

Among our techniques for firearms welding, laser welding is an ideal choice for safety assemblies and delicate components. Laser welding can also be used to weld suppressors and magazines. We use resistance welding for stocks, gas tubes, and other structural parts of a firearm. Beyond delivering quality, precision welded components, our contract manufacturing program is ideal for manufacturers growing a new product line or looking to save money and time by partnering with an outside expert in firearms welding.

The SHOT Show extended far beyond the Supplier Showcase. With 13.9 miles of aisles across the Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum, the event drew 43,000 attendees. Being an exhibitor was a fantastic opportunity to connect directly with members of the firearms industry. We talked with owners of businesses big and small, old and new. We also met engineers, purchasers, gunsmiths, shooting coaches, law enforcement officers – all connected to the firearms industry in some way. It was truly amazing just how many purposes were represented in one place. We found it was especially rewarding to visit the exhibiting manufacturers and suppliers, some of whom currently use laser welding for firearms. Seeing the products we help develop on display at the show was especially a treat.

Beyond the SHOT Show

Although it was impossible to see absolutely everything, what we did see left us in awe. We gained new perspective of how large the firearms industry is and who operates within it. We also witnessed the results of industry growth. Between 2020 and 2021, 40 million background checks were conducted in relation to firearm sales, and more than 11 million Americans purchased a firearm for the first time either for sport, hunting or personal security. This trend bodes well for 2022 as interest grows in the culture of shooting sports, gun ownership and personal safety. As warehouse stocks replenish and Americans purchase their first firearms, Shooting Industry Magazine predicts that retailers will play a key role in maintaining growth.

“The savvy retailer will remain in contact with first-time owners, encouraging them to visit a range and helping them become competent, comfortable users. Otherwise, our growth in the past two years will be just a bump on our long-term trend charts. It’s up to all of us, as an industry, to help these new gun owners and ensure they become an active consumer/participant at the range and in the store.”

We have to admit, it’s exciting to bring laser welding to a growing industry! Want to learn more about the services we offer? Explore our Precision Welding Services page for information on laser welding, resistance welding, electron beam welding, and more.