Swiss fluid solutions provider GF has been awarded the prestigious German Innovation Award for Excellence in Machinery and Engineering. The ceremony took place in Berlin, where the company was recognized for its groundbreaking IR-225 M infrared welding machine.
The award honors innovations that bring real progress and improve quality of life. GF’s latest achievement builds on decades of work in the field of plastic welding.
The IR-225 M is the successor to the IR-63 M, a model already praised for improving speed and usability. The new machine features significant upgrades. It reduces cooling times and can weld a wider range of materials. Despite these advances, it remains compact and easy to use in industrial settings.
GF will showcase the IR-225 M in a dedicated webinar on June 4, 2025. The event will feature insights from the company’s research and development team, who played a key role in the machine’s design.
“For more than 30 years, we have been improving infrared welding technology,” said Bastian Lübke, Head of GF Welding Solutions. “Last year, the IR-63 M made major strides in usability and speed. Now, the IR-225 M takes that even further. We’re excited to present the next generation of welding machines next month.”
The IR-225 M enables non-contact welding of high-performance thermoplastics such as PVDF, ECTFE, PP-H, PP-n, PE100, and PVC-U. These materials are widely used in industries like chemical processing, microelectronics, and water treatment, where reliable connections are critical.
GF’s machine-controlled welding process reduces installation steps and shortens both preparation and cooling times. Since 1992, when GF introduced its first non-contact infrared welding technology, the company has remained at the forefront of innovation in this field.