The ‘thinking behind the weld’ mindset was built on a life-long career in Tool building.

Gerard Croteau - Owner

About QTW

With over 40 years of experience in precision microscopic welding, there are two principals I follow daily. They are “the thinking behind the weld”, and “always give the Customer more than they expect to receive”.

Hello…my name is Gerry Croteau. I am the Owner and Microwelder for Quality Tech Welding, LLC. My journey began during the booming plastics era in the ‘Plastic City’, Leominster, Massachusetts, in the mid 1970’s. I became a highly skilled tradesman during this time and then started developing my skills in microscopic tool steel welding in the mid 1980’s while I worked as a Tool Room Manager in one of the many Tool & Die companies in Massachusetts during that time. I fell in love with the process and haven’t looked back since then. I have built a nation-wide Customer network who now depend on the expertise that I have obtained over the past 40 years.

The ‘thinking behind the weld’ mindset was built on a life-long career in tool building. My expertise is in the thorough understanding of heat-treated and non-heat-treated tool steels. I work closely with Customers using blueprints, sketches, PDF files and if needed can arrange for a Microsoft Teams™ meeting to review work. All the above methods of communication have proved to be valuable assets as I am fully able to understand the situation and requirements needed between the Customer and Toolmaker. My in-depth knowledge of the tooling industry and understanding of the concerns and needs of my Customers have made me an industry leader.

Today’s high precision tools are extremely expensive. The demand to maintain high tolerances is non-negotiable. There can be no grey area on what the outcome of my microscopic welding process will be for either engineering changes or repairs on tool components that a Toolmaker will have to rebuild after they receive the welded part.

The second principal…’Always give the Customer more than what they expect to receive’. This is the standard that I maintain for quality welding and workmanship. This principal helps me to provide the Customer and Tool maker the absolute best conditions to re-machine and re-finish the tooling components making his or her machining operations successful. For example, keeping weld out of engraved areas or cavity or core features that would require additional re-machining that isn’t necessary. That being said, my constant focus is minimizing down time on the tool in order to return it back into production as quickly as possible. Customers expect craftsmanship and quality for the finished mold (or tool) which will produce a top-quality product.

To sum it up, I always microweld with a Toolmaker’s head or thought process in mind. My goal is always to be sure that I make the Toolmaker’s job more efficient and cost effective. This ultimately results in a quality finished molded product that my Customer expects will be produced when the molding process is complete.