Volkswagen said it strives to maintain a global standard for body strength, putting the same number of welds on the same models regardless of where they're produced, and using high-strength steel in Brazilian cars.

NPR: AP IMPACT: Cars Made In Brazil Are Deadly

At TWB Co. a single laser welds steel sheets of different properties into a single raw sheet that Cadillac can have stamped into a door panel without any of its own welds.

FORBES: Man of steel

One way to save electricity is either reducing the number of spot welds or using less energy for each spot weld made.

NPR: AP IMPACT: Cars Made In Brazil Are Deadly

That means you may sooner see more Nissan Pathfinders playing polo as they do in one commercial than you will see details about the number of precision welds by robots (2, 146) in a Nissan Maxima.

FORBES: Speed Bump

For example, casting frame parts whole instead of making several welds.

FORBES: Bucking the downtrend

The 3-D visual allowed him to eliminate redundant fasteners and bolts as well as structural members that could be combined into one part instead of several needing welds.

FORBES: Easy Designer

Last month BNFL said they have dropped the option to use Magrox fuel to power the Anglesey plant - which has been closed for the last nine months because of problems with welds in the reactors.

BBC: 'Keep Wylfa shut' call

As many as 15 percent of the 5, 000 previously approved welds in the reactor's auxiliary plumbing, containment dome and spent-fuel cooling systems were X-rayed and found to be defective due to air pockets, poor soldiering and heat damage.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Chernobyl reminder just off our shores