Innovation Award Profile: ESAB Rogue EM 190i Pro

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Q: What makes this product innovative? 

A: The Rogue EM190i Pro, and the Rogue family in general, is all about simplicity. It blends ease of use with portability, making it ideal for the everyday welder. Specifically, this machine features Synergic MIG welding, which basically means you can use a single knob to control and simplify the welding process. It takes the guesswork out of fine-tuning the arc. You just preset your wire diameter and material thickness, and the machine does the rest. It automatically adjusts all the arc characteristics you'd normally have to fine-tune manually. It’s designed to deliver a simple, repeatable weld and an easy process for getting there. 

Q: What was the inspiration behind creating this product? 

A: The inspiration was really about making everyday welding easier — bringing advanced weld technology, typically found in production-level machines, into a portable, versatile unit. It’s something you can easily take to your job site, whether that’s in a shop or out in the field. 

Q: How can this product improve the lives of technicians and shop owners? 

A: By providing consistent results and ease of use. With features like Synergic MIG settings, you get a repeatable weld and a stable arc that’s easy to maintain. That’s a huge benefit for technicians. Welding is hard — especially maintaining the proper distance between the MIG gun and the surface, which is particularly tricky in automotive work, like welding around a muffler or other curved surfaces. In Synergic MIG mode, the machine automatically adjusts the wire feed speed based on the torch’s position relative to the surface. So, it speeds up or slows down depending on how the welder is holding the torch. 

Q: What’s the feedback been like from technicians who’ve purchased this tool? 

A: The feedback has been great. These welders are doing a wide range of jobs and not the same thing every day, so training can be a challenge. They need a machine that simplifies their workflow and reduces the need for rework and touch-ups. The response we’ve received is that this is a very easy-to-use machine that does everything they need and more. 

Q: Is there anything else our readers should know? 

A: Absolutely. In addition to being a MIG welder, it also supports flux-core welding. That’s important because automotive welding isn’t always done indoors. Sometimes you’re welding outside, and wind can blow away the shielding gas. Using flux-core shielded welding wire makes outdoor welding easier. Also, when working in dirtier environments — though we always recommend good surface prep — flux-core welding helps minimize the risks associated with less-than-ideal conditions. It works with a generator, and overall, it’s very user-friendly.