Metallurgical electric arc welding was also invented by Russians

Nikolai Gavrilovich Slavyanov, who became the founder of electrometallurgy and arc welding, was born on May 5, 1854 in the village of Nikolskoye, Voronezh province (now Zadonsky district). He belonged to an old noble family, where the traditions of military service were passed down from generation to generation: both his grandfather and father, Gavriil Nikolaevich, were officers. Having received his education at home, Nikolai entered the Voronezh Cadet Corps at the age of eight, but later transferred to a classical gymnasium, from which he graduated with a gold medal. In 1872, Slavyanov entered the St. Petersburg Mining Institute.

After graduating from the institute in 1877, Slavyanov began his career at the Votkinsk Plant, where he was engaged in equipment modernization. Later, after moving to the Omutninsky factories, he is faced with extremely difficult working conditions, which prompts him to look for a new place. In 1883, fate brought him to the Perm Cannon factories, where he worked for the rest of his life, having worked his way up from the position of manager of cannon and mechanical factories to the mining chief (director) of these factories.

It is here that Slavyanov makes a revolution in metalworking. Inspired by the work of Nicolai Benardos, in 1888 he improved the arc welding technology by replacing the carbon electrode with a melting metal one and adding flux to protect the seam. His invention, the electric melting pot, becomes the first semi-automatic welding device. In 1891, he received patents in Russia and abroad, including "Method of electric sealing of metal castings."

Slavyanov receives recognition at international exhibitions. In 1892, the Russian Technical Society awarded him a gold medal, and in 1893, at the World's Fair in Chicago, he presented the legendary Slavyanov Glass, consisting of eight welded heterogeneous metals and alloys (bell bronze, tompack, nickel, steel, cast iron, copper, nickel silver, bronze). Until that time, welding of these metals and alloys was considered simply impossible. This artifact clearly demonstrated the capabilities of his method.

Under his leadership, Perm factories are becoming pioneers in electrification: they have their own power plants and electric lighting. At the same time, Nikolai Slavyanov developed a project for a furnace for rolling roofing iron and introduced open-hearth production. His monographs on electric welding, translated into European languages, lay the theoretical foundation for future generations of engineers.