The electroslag strip cladding process strongly resembles its submerged arc counterpart. The strip is feeded to the weld pool without an arc. Again, the flux forms a protective slag. Unlike the slag of the submerged arc process, this one is electro conductive in the liquid phase. In the molten slag, the Joule-effects generates the necessary heat. Only at the start of the process, an electric arc appears. As soon as enough electro conductive liquid slag is created, the electrical resistance of the slag is lower than the resistance of the arc, which as a result extinguishes. The flux is fed only at the front side of the strip, Behind the strip, the weld pool is visible, together with infrared radiation.

The principles and characteristics of the electroslag process can be summarized as :
- No electric arc, eliminating ultraviolet radiation.
- Open weld pool trailing the weld to allow for degassing.
- Lower penetration than SAW process.
- Low dilution with the base metal (7 to 10%).
- A higher rate of deposition than the SAW technique (22 kg/h), at constant heat input, the ESW deposition rate is almost double of the SAW one.
- The required chemical analysis can be obtained with one or at most two layers, with exceptionally stable and regular operation (this is because of the previous two features).
- The ability to use strips with widths in the range 30 to 180 mm.