A method and an apparatus for a hybrid laser beam and electric arc welding process. A laser beam, an electric arc, a shielding gas and a consumable welding wire are used to create a weld on a steel work piece by melting the welding wire. The weld contains 30 to 1000 ppm titanium by weight, at least 0.7% manganese by weight, 50 to 1000 ppm oxygen by weight, and less than 10% nickel. The welding wire is either solid welding wire or cored welding wire, and may contain, in varying percentages: titanium, manganese, iron, nickel, boron, molybdenum, carbon or chromium.