UNSPSC 23271600: Soldering machines

Soldering is a method of joining metal parts using a filler metal of low melting point (solder). Heat is applied to the metal parts, and the soft filler metal is pressed against the joint, melts, and is drawn into the joint by capillary action. After the metal cools, the resulting joints are not as strong as the base metal, but have adequate strength, electrical conductivity, and water-tightness for many uses.

UNSPSC 23271600 Soldering machines, a Class code, encompasses welding materials, supplies, and equipment that state and local education systems procure for instructional programs and facility maintenance. Recent solicitations show school districts and community colleges buying welding rod, tungsten electrodes, flat bars, sheets, tubes, and pipes in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, along with related consumables and hand tools to support welding labs. Issuing bodies include community college districts (Collin College, Mt. San Antonio Community College District) and school boards (Polk County, Florida) that establish multi-vendor supply contracts to serve welding and metal fabrication training programs. The code also captures larger capital procurements such as flexible vent extraction arms for existing welding labs and CNC machining training systems that support technical education.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas and California. Collin College (Texas) posted two separate Invitations to Bid for welding materials and supplies in 2024, each covering a three-year contract term with approximately $400,000 annual procurement volume and evaluation weighted heavily on purchase price (35%), quality (15%), and references (15%), with bonus points for state-of-Texas vendor status. Mt. San Antonio Community College District (California) solicited bids in June 2026 for the purchase and installation of forty-seven flexible vent extraction arms (six-inch openings) to retrofit an existing Welding Lab in Walnut, with an Engineer's Base Bid Estimate of $150,000, mandatory job walk completed June 9, 2026, and bids due July 16, 2026; the District imposed a 3% DVBE participation goal and required California Contractor's License classification C-20. The School Board of Polk County, Florida issued a Request for Vendor Response in March 2026 for integrated CNC training equipment including desktop and industrial lathes and mills with simulator capability and warranty support, though that solicitation remained in the vendor qualification phase without disclosed pricing or formal contract terms.