Weekly Welding News Roundup

When Ford switched from steel components to aluminum components on its assembly lines in Dearborn, MI, the company lost 10 weeks of production and spent $359 million on new welding processes for aluminum. When GM switched to include more aluminum in its cars, it sought a way to minimize expenses or loss of production. The solution was to join aluminum together with a new welding system with spot welds.

Image and Article Source: Auto News

While Ford uses adhesive and rivets on its aluminum parts, GM’s spot welding process for aluminum minimizes changes to the assembly line and can use the same robots and assembly systems that were used for steel.

The spot welding process is used for doors, hoods, and tailgates, offering a more versatile manufacturing process that allows GM to switch between steel and aluminum parts depending on the vehicle. Cars built with aluminum are lighter and are in greater demand lately, so GM’s consultants expect to continue spot welding.

Welding Industry

Women See Opportunities to Lead in Welding: “Diana Matykunas and Jennifer Nardone made a decision not many other women make in this day and age. They got into welding…

‘You’ve gotta get the (idea) out of your mind that there is a man’s world or a woman’s world,’ said Matykunas, 46. ‘This is anybody’s world, and women can actually dominate if they get beyond that initial hesitation.’

After her kids graduated from Bartram Trail High School, Matykunas told her husband she was done being a stay-at-home mom. She enrolled in the welding program at First Coast Technical College in February.”

Lincoln Electric Purchases RealWeld: “Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.’s subsidiary, The Lincoln Electric Company, has acquired the assets of privately held RealWeld Systems, Inc. RealWeld Systems' RealWeld Trainer solution offers hands-on arc welding training and evaluation. The acquisition will augment Lincoln Elctric’s existing educational offering and strengthen its position as a market leader in welding education in North America.

Lincoln Electric Holdings' third-quarter adjusted earnings increased 9% to 94 cents per share from 86 cents in the year-ago quarter driven by strong top-line growth and margin contributions from North America Welding and Europe Welding segments. Earnings also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents.”

Welding Education

Welding Students Sell Yard Ornaments for Fundraiser: “In the holiday spirit, students in Troy-Pike Center for Technology welding class are selling hand-made yard decorations to raise money for their Skill USA club.

The students are excited to be able to apply what they learn in their welding class to profitable projects.

‘I like working with everyone and using all the equipment,’ said Zach Kilpatrick from Pike County High School. ‘My favorite part is using the cutting tools. You’re going to make a mistake and it’s going to be hard to fix… I learned the techniques of how to do it and to do it the right way.’”

Louisiana Welding Students Serve a Thanksgiving Dinner: “A local men’s shelter and 10 Opelousas families will have a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings thanks to welding students in instructor David Charles’ program at South Louisiana Community College’s T.H. Harris campus.

Current students and graduates of the program collected enough turkey, ham, pork roasts, cornbread, stuffing, napkins, plates, spoons and more to fill baskets for the needy in Opelousas and feed about 30 men at the shelter…

‘This is my service and I try to instill this same belief in service to others in my students,’ Charles said. ‘In addition to learning how to weld, I’m teaching them about social skills that can help them after graduation.’”

Welding Jobs

Iowa Welders Trained by Company for MIG Welding Work: “Five Marion County residents have successfully completed a Welding for Manufacturing class. The class was held at Vermeer Corporation in Pella, utilizing their weld training lab… All received their MIG Welding for Manufacturing certificate and AWS Qualification in a recent ceremony held at the Vermeer Pavilion in Pella.

Since 2011, DMACC has been offering a nine- week, 124-hour, non-credit Welding for Manufacturing class. Fifty-six students have successfully completed the program. Many of the graduates have found employment with Vermeer.”

Welding Events

IBSC Conference, April 19, 2015: “Now in its 6th Year, the IBSC remains the premier event for the brazing and soldering community. For years, the IBSC has provided professionals, scientists and engineers involved in the research, development and application of brazing and soldering, a unique networking and idea-exchange forum. This three-day conference provides cutting-edge education and technical programming for the brazing and soldering community, as well as peer-networking and a full exhibit program, showcasing the latest trends, products, processes and techniques available in the industry.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Tanks at Welding Business Explode: “Tanks were exploding as firefighters arrived at a fire at a welding supply business in southwest Phoenix on Thursday.

Fire crews responded to the business located in an area near Lincoln Street and 40th Avenue late Thursday morning.

Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Capt. Mark Vanacore said tanks were exploding in an outside containment area when they got to the scene.”

 

Welding Supplies on Sale

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

 

Weekly Welding Roundup of News

Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines on November 8, 2013, leaving over 7,000 dead or missing, while also destroying the livelihood of many farmers. Coconut farmers were hit especially hard, as many trees were snapped to pieces in the high winds. However, welding is providing an important job alternative.

Image and Story Source: Crux Now

Coconut farmer Jeddah Palo, 24, had been working in her family’s generations-old coconut business when the typhoon changed everything. Through a government training program Palo took welding classes at a local Catholic church. She was the only woman in the course, but now finds regular work as a welder.

After graduating with her welding certificate, Palo received help from Catholic Relief Services in finding a welding job at a transportation company. Palo will now be able to support her family while the coconut trees on her family’s farm take another seven years to grow back.

Is welding part of your next career move? Here's the latest round up of welding news:

Welding Jobs

Welders Thrive by Making Art: “The stereotype of a welder is a burly guy perched high on a steel beam, torch in hand, putting the bones of a skyscraper together. Bill Sorich is not that guy.

Yes, Mr. Sorich is a welder, and he undoubtedly has the knowledge and skills to put skyscrapers together. For years the resident of the Santa Cruz mountains above Woodside welded components for nuclear reactors for Westinghouse Electric.”

Grainger Donates $5,000 to Welding Program: “The Grainger Foundation donated $5,000 to Tri-County Technical College in support of the expansion of the cutting lab in its Welding department.

‘This grant will be used to purchase additional equipment for the cutting lab, enabling us to serve more students,’ said Paul Phelps, Welding program coordinator at Tri-County. ‘We are grateful to The Grainger Foundation for its generosity.’”

Women Melt Gender Stereotypes on the Job: “Diana Matykunas, 46, and Jennifer Nardone, 21, made a decision not many other women make in this day and age. They got into welding…

‘You’ve gotta get the (idea) out of your mind that there is a man’s world or a woman’s world,’ Matykunas said. ‘This is anybody’s world and women can actually dominate if they get beyond that initial hesitation.’

After her kids graduated from Bartram Trail High School, Matykunas told her husband she was done being a stay-at-home mom. She enrolled in the welding program at First Coast Technical College in February.”

Welding Education

Iowa Welding Students Complete Welding Training Course: “Five Marion County residents have successfully completed a Welding for Manufacturing class. The class was held at Vermeer Corporation in Pella, utilizing their weld training lab… All received their MIG Welding for Manufacturing certificate and AWS Qualification in a recent ceremony held at the Vermeer Pavilion in Pella.”

College in Macomb Illinois Adds Welding Program: “A welding program will arrive on Spoon River College's Macomb campus next year, according to Randy Greenwell, the college's vice president of instruction and student services.

The college recently received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. SRC will match that amount, Greenwell said in an interview Monday, and spend $200,000 to start a welding program in Macomb.”

Anonymous Donor Gives Welding Student $1500 Welding Machine: “Bradley Ledford graduates from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in May, and every one I talked to in his classes says he's a hard worker. Bradley still couldn't believe it when someone left a pretty big gift for him at school today.

Ledford started taking classes at the TCAT in Elizabethton to be an electrician, but he realized there might be a better fit for him, which led him to welding. Bradley is deaf and Carol Harmon is his interpreter at the college.”

Welding Events

IBSC Conference, April 19, 2015: “Now in its 6th Year, the IBSC remains the premier event for the brazing and soldering community. For years, the IBSC has provided professionals, scientists and engineers involved in the research, development and application of brazing and soldering, a unique networking and idea-exchange forum. This three-day conference provides cutting-edge education and technical programming for the brazing and soldering community, as well as peer-networking and a full exhibit program, showcasing the latest trends, products, processes and techniques available in the industry.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Welder Dies from Burns: “A Plainfield Township man died Tuesday afternoon of burns he suffered a week earlier when his clothes caught fire as he did welding work in his home garage, authorities said.

Ronald S. Franks, 67, of 1042 Cressman Road suffered second- and third-degree burns over 68.5 percent of his body in the 3:20 p.m. Nov. 4 fire, the Lehigh County coroner's office said.”

 

Welding Supplies on Sale

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

 

Weekly Welding Roundup–Welding News

George W. Settle III visited the village of Kehale, Lebanon in order to teach the older children in a home for orphans how to weld, but he spent his time doing far more than teaching kids how to weld. Settle helped expand a fence around the home in order to keep the children’s soccer balls inside the compound, completed a series of projects around the home, and played with the children, many who had been abused or had lived on the streets.

Image and Article Source: PA Home Page

Settle spent seven weeks working at the home and playing with the children. He noted,  “First, it is easier to teach a boy that knows nothing about welding than it is to teach a boy that knows how to weld wrong. … And second, the problem with educating the boys on safety is that they immediately disregarded it; this is due to the culture they live in.”

Settle also build a welding table that his new students can continue to use as they practice their welding skills in order to find jobs as they grow older.

 

Welding Industry

Demand for Welders in Texas Sky Rockets: “After a 10-hour shift working on part of Dow Chemical Co.'s $4 billion expansion in Freeport, Abel Garza spends two nights a week at a welding class conducted in a trailer across dusty FM 523.

Elsewhere, similar courses can cost thousands of dollars. But Fluor Corp. is offering the training to its employees at a considerable discount: It's free.

That's a bit of a gamble for the Irving-based construction giant. Welders in the Houston area are in such demand, thanks to the petrochemical construction boom, that companies are poaching workers from one another.”

Welding Jobs

Praxair Funds 100 Welding Scholarships in New Orleans to Build Up Workforce: “Delgado Community College is offering 100 full scholarships to its welding school as part of a workforce development partnership with Praxair Inc., a major industrial gases company. 

The partnership, known as the Praxair Skills Pipeline, has provided more than $300,000 to train 100 new welders in an accelerated one-year program, according to a Delgado news release.”

Grant Funds Training for Nuclear Welding Jobs in South Carolina: “A $195,000 grant from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, will allow Aiken Technical College to design and implement a Nuclear Welding Systems program on campus to meet the critical demand for qualified nuclear welders in the CSRA.

The program will be a one-year, intensive pipe-welding-technology program and will be for experienced welders or an add-on certificate for students who plan to continue their education in nuclear welding.”

Welding Education

Arizona Welding Student Prepares for Welding Competition: “Isaiah Gaspar, a Kofa High School graduate and Arizona Western College student, has earned his place in the top six in the United States to compete at the American Welding Society U.S. Invitational Weld Trials. The competition will be hosted November 11-13 at the 2014 FABTECH & AWS Welding Show in Atlanta, Georgia at the World Congress Center.”

Ohio School Wins Grant to Purchase New Lincoln Welding Machine: John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center welding [center received a] new Lincoln Electric Flextec 450 welding machine… The five-function machine was purchased at Hall's Welding Supplies, of Calcutta, Ohio, with a $5,000 grant from ArcelorMittal.

Mississippi School Offers Welding Courses for Winter and Spring: “Pearl River Community College is accepting applications for a spring semester welding course.

The class will meet from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m Monday through Thursday, beginning Jan. 6 and ending April 23. The classes will meet in the Career Education Building on the Poplarville campus.

The course offers an industry recognized certificate in welding, including applications for 10-hour OSHA certification, basic lift truck operator OSHA certification and NCCER certification in the core curriculum introductory craft skills and Welding Level 1 and Level 2 modules.”

High School Prepares Students for Trade School: Instructor Zeb Ferguson shares, “‘A student that enrolls as a junior and successfully completes the two-year course in high school can enroll at Calhoun with half a year of course work behind them,’ said Ferguson. ‘After a year and one-half of college credit, they can earn the associate degree and enter the labor force as an entry level welder at $15 to $20 per hour.’

Ferguson said the program was made possible at Hartselle High by a grant Decatur City Schools received to expand the welding program outside of Decatur. The grant was used to equip the old vo-ag shop with enough modern welding equipment to accommodate 18 students.”

Welding Events

FABTECH Comes to Atlanta on November 11-13, 2014: FABTECH is “bringing together an anticipated 27,000 attendees and 1,400 exhibiting companies all under one roof. The show provides a backdrop for visitors to experience live equipment demonstration, find cost savings solutions, and network with industry peers throughout the 500,000+ square feet of show floor throughout the A, B, and C buildings at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The event also provides learning opportunities beyond the exhibits with over 100 educational sessions and expert-led presentations on the latest industry trends and technology in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries.”

Welding Supplies on Sale

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

 

Weekly Welding News

A recent Gizmodo article featured friction welding for pipes with seemingly otherworldly images and videos of pipes being forced together and then rubbed together so that an orange band forms at the weld joint before cooling. The metal pipes are joined without any filler metal being added.

Image Source: Gizmodo and MTI Welding

The author of the article writes:

“Friction welding spins so fast and burns so hot that it looks like the excess orange metal is something that's not meant for this world. The metal pipes forge together so colorfully (and almost unnaturally) that I never get bored of watching the process.”

Excess material emerges from the pipes as they’re forced together and the centers fuse together. Once the excess materials is sanded away, friction welding creates a clean, strong weld.

Friction welding isn’t the only thing that’s strong in the world of welding. Here’s a round up of the latest news in the world of welding.

Welding Industry

AWS President Promises More Welding Jobs in the Future: “The president of the American Welding Society, [Dean] Wilson stopped by the William D. Ford Career Technical Center in Westland Thursday to talk to students about the work opportunities available in the welding profession and about changes AWS is making to meet their needs in the future.

The AWS is moving to online learning opportunities to gain certifications as well a create records, populated with that information as well as their work and resume.”

PMC Pulse Welding Creates New Opportunities: “Based on the high measuring and control speed of its most recent TPS/i MIG/MAG power source platform, Fronius has developed the PMC (Pulse Multi Control) pulse welding package. It provides the welder with access to a large range of Synergic characteristics that fully exploit the potential of the latest generation of Fronius devices.”

Welding Jobs

C4 Welding Invests in Welder Training at Factory: “he first stop on a tour of C4 Welding's factory is a classroom. Often occupied by four students and two teachers, the training center has become the focal point of the company's aggressive expansion efforts. C4 Welding specializes in welding for the oil and gas, pressure vessel and power generation industries.

‘There's a willingness here to invest in education," CFO Allan Beyer said. "It's not cheap, but in the long run it pays off. Education is critical to advancing your people and helping your company grow.’”

Welding Education

$300,000 in Scholarship Offered by Praxair for Welding Education: “Scholarships are being offered at three Louisiana community colleges, including Delgado, in an effort to satisfy growing job demands for skilled welders.

An estimated 35,000 skilled craft workers are needed to support the industrial construction workforce and an additional 51,300 are needed to replace construction workers retiring through 2016, according to Delgado’s announcement.”

Welding Events

FABTECH Comes to Atlanta on November 11-13, 2014: FABTECH is “bringing together an anticipated 27,000 attendees and 1,400 exhibiting companies all under one roof. The show provides a backdrop for visitors to experience live equipment demonstration, find cost savings solutions, and network with industry peers throughout the 500,000+ square feet of show floor throughout the A, B, and C buildings at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The event also provides learning opportunities beyond the exhibits with over 100 educational sessions and expert-led presentations on the latest industry trends and technology in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Port of Los Angeles Fire Caused by Welding Torch: “A massive fire broke out at the Port of Los Angeles Monday night, burning part of a dock and threatening a warehouse and ship. The flames broke out on the wharf about 6:40 p.m. local time, shutting down the main channel.

A welding torch started the fire that burned the chemical-coated pier, sending clouds of smoke over the sprawling complex and forcing worker evacuations and the closure of at least one school. The fire burned thick pier timber coated in creosote, a wood preservative, and will likely smolder for several more hours, according to fire officials. ”

Iowa Man Killed in Welding Accident that Remains Under Investigation: “A Rupert resident was killed Monday during an explosion that occurred as he was welding on a trailer at a dairy north of Rupert.”

OSHA Fines Company Held Responsible for Back Bay Fire in Boston: “The welding company whose workers allegedly sparked a fire that killed two Boston firefighters in the Back Bay last spring did not follow safety precautions, a failure that led to the fatal blaze, an investigation by the federal Occupational and Safety Health Administration has concluded.

Calling it a “needless, tragic fire,” the agency issued a fine of $58,000 against the welding company, D&J Ironworks in Malden, in what is the first formal investigation into the blaze to reach a conclusion.”

Welding Supplies on Sale

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

 

Weekly Welding Roundup–Welding News

Brittany Everett didn’t choose welding as her first career. She had been working a desk job in drafting and design, but when she was laid off, she needed to find a reliable source of income in order to support herself and her young daughter. That’s where welding came in.

After enrolling in a 120 hour welding training program, she was not only certified, she had a series of job interviews lined up right away. “I always wanted to try welding since I was in high school,” she shared. “I don’t mind working hard or sweating, and I know welding is a really good field to get in to.”

As welding jobs continue to multiply, welding has been a reliable fall back career for anyone who likes working with their hands and needs a steady source of income. This week the world of welding continues to show signs of growth and new training opportunities.

Article and Image Source: Sealy News

Welding Industry

Welding Professor Tries to Fuse Two Welding Processes: “This was a chance to take the Lab's laser expertise and combine it with a welding technique called friction stir welding, a technique that the Lab is interested in and that I have experience in applying," Baker said. "We are trying to merge those two technologies and create a technology called diode laser-assisted friction stir welding. If we can heat the material up first with lasers, the process may become more efficient."

Friction stir welding is a solid-state joining process used to fuse two metal surfaces. A welding tool generates heat that creates a soft border on each metal piece, allowing the two to be mechanically intermixed and fused together without melting. This expertise, paired with the Lab's long history of leadership in lasers, creates the basis for a well-executed exploration of combining the two technologies.”

Welding Education

Former Nursing Student Enjoys Welding Classes: “Twenty-one-year-old Miranda Baucom ties back her long blond hair in a ponytail and drops the shield of her welding helmet down over her face. She then lights a torch that will reach temperatures above 3,000 degrees…”

“Baucom started college after graduating from Richmond Senior High School in 2012. She began taking classes to become a nurse, but it didn’t take long for her to realize this wasn’t the right career path for her, so she withdrew from the program.”

Three Rivers College Offers Free Welding Course: “Beginning August 19, a new flux-cored welding pilot program will be offered. According to Project Director, Michael Barrett, the first course will be offered tuition-free, but there are only 18 slots left, so he encourages anyone interested to apply right away. The eight-week series of classes will begin on Tuesday, August 19, and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday night, 4-8 p.m.

‘Since this is the first (time this course has been offered), and its financial aid package has not been completed yet, we are offering it tuition-free,’ said Barrett. ‘However, it is only this one time, so students will need to go online, at www.trcc.edu, to complete the application, before going to the TRC Kennett campus to actually register for the class.’”

Welding Events

FABTECH Comes to Atlanta on November 11-13, 2014: FABTECH is “bringing together an anticipated 27,000 attendees and 1,400 exhibiting companies all under one roof. The show provides a backdrop for visitors to experience live equipment demonstration, find cost savings solutions, and network with industry peers throughout the 500,000+ square feet of show floor throughout the A, B, and C buildings at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The event also provides learning opportunities beyond the exhibits with over 100 educational sessions and expert-led presentations on the latest industry trends and technology in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Welding Mistake Caused Fire on Australian Navy Ship: “Millions of dollars of military hardware burned ferociously as HMAS Bundaberg sat high and dry beside the Brisbane River.

The 57-metre navy patrol boat was being refitted by civilian contractors when the blaze erupted deep within the belly of the ship, just before midday. The flames quickly engulfed the vessel, worth about $30 million, sending black smoke spewing from the huge industrial shed.”

Get Great Deals on Welding Supplies

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

Welding Jobs for August 2014

The United Auto Workers union connected to Ford will be offering welding training to veterans in need of work in the Detroit area. The latest welding course offered by the Union will have eight participants.

The program has been extended to welders nationwide and will include housing, per-diem for food expenses, and even a vehicle that can be used for attending classes. Those who complete the program will be offered a chance to be certified by the American Welding Society and will also receive help with job placement. Potential jobs could include fabrication, construction, or repair work.

If you’re not a veteran or you’re not interested in traveling to Detroit, there remain plenty of welding jobs and welding opportunities around the country.

Ohio Remains Manufacturing and Fabrication Hub

From Columbus to Cincinnati, manufacturing remains a main source of welding work. TIG and MIG welders will find journeyman and fabrication positions as well as work-for-hire arrangements. Welders can find work in both factories and in smaller shops.

If Ohio isn’t where you’d like to work, check out similar opportunities in Wisconsin which continues to have a strong manufacturing sector. Industry analysts continue to predict job openings in the coming years throughout Wisconsin as older workforce members plan to retire in the next five to six years.

How do you get one of these high-quality manufacturing jobs? Besides passing a drug test, some industry experience for new welders will help if you’re able to land an entry-level job after taking welding classes. In addition, be prepared to work overtime when needed and stay out of trouble.

Welding Opportunities in Pennsylvania

Between the natural gas boom in western Pennsylvania and the ongoing need for fabrication workers, don’t overlook the job opportunities in welding that include parts runners and other entry-level positions. However, if you’re interested in teaching welding, you can find work as an instructor as well. From Pennsylvania to Michigan, there are welding instruction positions opening up as more schools add welding programs or as employers add on-site training.

Don’t Overlook Welding Work in Colorado

If you want to move to a location with all four seasons (sometimes all within a week!), consider looking for welding work out in Colorado. Welding positions include production work and pipeline assembly, with jobs ranging from entry-level positions to work that requires more experience in a factory setting.

If Colorado is too far from the ocean, don’t worry. There are plenty of other welding jobs throughout California. TIG welders and welders with experience doing precision work will be able to find work in the technology sector, especially with medical engineering companies. If you can follow a blueprint and have a particularly strong attention to detail, you can find great welding jobs throughout the west.

Plenty of Welding Jobs in Louisiana for Foreseeable Future

If you want a reliable location for welding work, look no further than Louisiana. Welding work continues to be major source of work along the coast, and several companies that rely heavily on welders plan to expand in the near future. 

Praxair is one company helping with this expansion, having just received a $300,000 grant to expand its training program. As new plants will be constructed in the near future, there will be a need for at least 100 new welders, and its training program will play a significant role in filling that need for welders.

Welding Work in Florida

Besides Louisiana, Florida is another ideal location for welders to find work, with a wide variety of structural jobs and shipbuilding positions. Structural welders will need to be familiar with stick welding and be willing to work at odd hours, as you can’t always predict when a building structure needs work or when a project will be urgent enough to require a welder on the site. 

If Florida isn’t your speed, you can find warm weather, low taxes, and an abundance of welding jobs in Texas. Whether you’re working on structures, pipelines, or products in factories, Texas remains one of the most promising states for welding work throughout America.

Stock Up on Welding Supplies for Your Welding Job

Need a welding helmet, gloves, or welding machine? Stop by Baker’s Gas and Welding today for steep discounts, free shipping on most orders, and amazing deals through the Build with Blue rebate program that could save you up to $500.

 

Weekly Welding News

Cat Wong moved from Singapore to Alaska looking for a better job that wouldn’t require long hours for a low wage. She shares, “Got to the point where I needed a full time job cause I was working long hours as a part timer… I sent out resumes to whatever companies would hire me. An industrial training center hired me, I was admin assistant.”

However, Wong wasn’t suited to sitting all day at a desk. Rather than going back to restaurant work, she started looking into welding work at a shipyard.  However, the one catch was that the shipyard she had in her sights was in Alaska and she was in Singapore. However, Wong took advantage of her American citizenship, moved overseas, and spent two months applying for jobs and attending training courses.

Three years after arriving, Wong is employed at Ketchikan’s shipyard. Her family has joined her, and her brother is employed at the shipyard as well.

Story and Image Source: Alaska Public Media

Here’s the latest in welding news this week:

Welding Industry

Miller Electric Prepares to Unveil New Welding and Cutting Technology in November: “Miller Electric Mfg. Co. will introduce the latest of its welding, cutting and safety equipment and accessories at FABTECH 2014 in Atlanta, November 11 to 13, in booths C2744 and C2944.

Both booths will feature technology solutions designed to address common productivity and quality challenges in the manufacturing, fabrication, and construction environments. Visitors to the booth can experience new equipment firsthand through multiple live welding demonstrations, and meet with Miller representatives to discuss product and technology questions.”

Welding Education

Wisconsin College Provides information on Welding Training: Western Technical College will host free welding information sessions to provide information about welding careers and the training options available at the college.

Sessions will be held throughout the day, Thursday, Aug. 7… in La Crosse, WI. Topics covered at each session will include welding careers and salaries, options at Western starting this fall and spring.

Edmonton High School Offers Free Welding Camp: “Welding instructor, Dayton Block [is part of a] free week-long Mind over Metal welding camp that he will be running for people ages 12 to 15 at St. Joseph’s High School in Edmonton on Wednesday, July 20, 2014. Participants in the camp will have the opportunity to explore welding in a safe, fun way.” [Article link includes video.]

Pennsacola State College Offers Opportunities to Impoverished Residents: “PSC's welding program started this summer at the college's campus in Century, one of the most impoverished areas in the county. The program puts students on track to become certified welders within a short period of time, three semesters, so that they can land lucrative jobs and get on track to improve their lives.

Currently, 31 students are taking welding classes, which are offered during the day and in the evening.”

Greenville Area College Adds Welding Lab with Welding Simulator: “The facility now houses a $470,000 mobile welding lab, courtesy of the multi-million-dollar U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant.

The lab is home to six traditional welding stations as well as two very non-traditional, state-of-the-art virtual welding stations that utilizes a virtual reality headset and a mock welding tool to simulate the actual process with none of the actual hassle.”

Welding Events

The Heat Treatment Conference, August 12-13, Dallas, TX

The thermal effects from welding and heat treatment influence the microstructure and mechanical properties of welds. Various materials, such as carbon steels and other alloy grades, are affected by heat treatment which changes the weld metallurgy and influences the final welded product. Better understanding of the impact of welding and heat treatment practices can allow for the weld quality and reliability to be optimized for the application.

FABTECH Comes to Atlanta on November 11-13, 2014: FABTECH is “bringing together an anticipated 27,000 attendees and 1,400 exhibiting companies all under one roof. The show provides a backdrop for visitors to experience live equipment demonstration, find cost savings solutions, and network with industry peers throughout the 500,000+ square feet of show floor throughout the A, B, and C buildings at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The event also provides learning opportunities beyond the exhibits with over 100 educational sessions and expert-led presentations on the latest industry trends and technology in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Harris Products Group Recalls Torch Handles: “Harris Products Group of Gainesville, Ga., is recalling about 13,350 welding torch handles in the U.S. and Canada.

The torch handles can leak oxygen or fuel, posing a fire hazard. No incidents or injuries have been reported.”

Find the Best Deals on Welding Supplies

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

Weekly Welding Roundup–Welding News

 Prison inmates are hoping their careers “take a dive” in the right direction through the diving program at Chino State Prison through the SoCal Connected program run by Fred Johnson. Inmates are able to take a deep sea diving course while incarcerated, and graduates of the program have benefited from it greatly upon release. According to KCET.org:

“Johnson and the diving school are still going strong, averaging about 17 students per 18-month class cycle. Since 2011, 90 men have been accepted to the program and 45 have graduated, some who stay on as teaching aides.”

Image Source: KCET

The program has led to under water welding jobs and other deep-sea diving jobs. However, program graduates note that the challenges of the course have been enough to help them succeed in any career. In order to even enter the program, inmates must swim five miles—a feat that inspires them to take on future challenges.

Looking for challenging work? There’s plenty to go around in this week’s welding round up:

Welding Industry

Robotic Friction Stir Welding Process Leads to Lighter Cars: “With classic welding methods, joining of dissimilar materials has not been possible. With friction stir welding, on the other hand, high quality dissimilar joints can be obtained. The welding temperature is kept below the melting point, which means that the alloy properties are not destroyed and strong joints are achieved.”

Stud Welding Company Remains Family Business in New Jersey: “The company, International Welding Technologies, Inc., a family-owned firm located in an industrial zone on Egg Harbor Road, manufactures stud welding equipment that is used in the military and globally by major companies in the aerospace industry, including Rolls Royce and Boeing.

Although stud welding, a method of joining a stud and a piece of metal, may not be a phrase most people are familiar with, it is part of everyone’s life, according to Neil Wilkinson, a partner with his brother, Jason, in the business founded by their father, Harold, in 1990 in his Medford home.”

Welding Jobs

Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy Graduates Find Jobs: “Of the 35 students who completed the academy’s welding production program, five walked away with job offers in hand at places like Caterpillar, Central Texas Iron Works and Behlen Manufacturing.

Wednesday’s event including a “signing ceremony” modeled after draft-day events organized by the NFL and NBA. Signees received a company hat and T-shirt as their job offers were announced.”

Shortage of Welders Becomes Big Challenge for Welding and Gas Industries: “The strains on labor capacity in oil and gas construction markets worldwide are becoming increasingly well known. These strains continue to affect forecasted project costs, and several large capital projects have already been delayed or canceled (see Shell’s Louisiana gas-to-liquids plant as an example) as a result of rising costs and questionable long-term profitability projections.

As demand continues to increase in the face of the liquefied natural gas export gold rush, construction firms are faced with unprecedented pressures to retain and grow talent.”

Welding Education

Cape May, NJ High School Welding Students Graduate: “Eight seniors in the welding technology program at the Cape May County Technical High School recently earned their American Welding Society 1G Certification, which is needed for entry-level jobs in the welding field.”

Institute and High School Form Welding Training Partnership: “Sullivan College of Technology and Design and Jefferson County Public Schools have formed a partnership that will offer welding training and education courses this summer.

Sullivan’s Welding Institute classes begin July 1, according to a news release. The classes will meet for 11 weeks from 6 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Jeffersontown High School, 9600 Old Six Mile Lane, in Louisville. The goal of the program is to prepare students and graduates to take the American Welding Society certification exam, the release said.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Keystone XL Pipeline in Trouble: “TransCanada had been busy repairing defective construction—in particular, crap welding—and had even stopped construction for a day just to get on top of it. The regulator later sent two severe warning letters to the Calgary oil company and slapped two “special conditions” on top of the 57 already required of TransCanada for the proposed Keystone XL”

Welding Causes Fire Hauling Wind Turbine Parts in Texas: “Two South Texas firefighters have been hurt while battling a cargo ship blaze sparked by welding. Corpus Christi Fire Department Capt. James Brown said Wednesday that both men apparently inhaled hot gas.”

San Francisco Bridge Delayed by Bad Welds: “Caltrans paid hundreds of millions of dollars over the original bid price for work on the Bay Bridge eastern span that was plagued by shoddy welding and completed more than a year late, state documents reviewed by The Chronicle show.

In agreeing to pay the extra money, Caltrans accepted responsibility for much of the delay, the documents show – even though bridge officials have publicly blamed bad welding done at the Shanghai factory of China's largest maker of heavy machinery.”

Get Great Deals on Welding Supplies

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

Weekly Welding Roundup–Welding News

Welding students in Minnesota’s Anoka Technical College are being recruited to join union apprenticeship programs before they even graduate. In fact, 23 students have already been accepted from the college’s current class.

Pictured below, Sireena Blue has excelled in the program and is one of the students already enrolled in the apprenticeship program. She appears with Rich Godeen, her welding instructor.

Image source: ABC Newspapers

As welding jobs continue to call for trained welders throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas, recruiters have been visiting technical colleges directly in order to find qualified workers.

According to Travis Beck, Business Representative from one union, “Contractors have clearly stated that the recruits for Millwright Union 548 from Anoka Technical College are some of the best they have seen, and they strongly encourage us to continue these recruitment efforts.”

The job opportunities for welders have never been better in recent memory. Here’s the rest of the welding news round up:

Welding Industry

Government Issues New Safety Regulations for Keystone XL Pipeline: “Safety regulators have quietly placed two extra conditions on construction of TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL oil pipeline after learning of potentially dangerous construction defects involving the southern leg of the Canada-to-Texas project.

The defects – high rates of bad welds, dented pipe and damaged pipeline coating – have been fixed. But the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration wants to make sure similar problems don’t occur during construction of the pipeline’s controversial northern segment, which is on hold pending a decision by the Obama administration.”

Lincoln Electric Introduces Orbital TIG Welding: “The Lincoln Electric Company is bringing welding operators in refineries, power generation and pressure vessels a single system solution for welding various pipe and tube sizes with the new HELIX C450 and C663 weld heads.

With these orbital TIG (gas tungsten arc welding) clamp-on weld heads, operators not only can weld large diameters with no upper limit; they also can weld smaller tubes and pipes with outside diameters ranging from 1.315 to 6.63 inches. The new weld heads are designed for use with the company’s APEX 2100 orbital welding system, which includes all the welding components required for orbital TIG welding.”

Welding Education

Ontario Welding Program Celebrates First Graduates: “Twenty Malheur County students Friday became first group to complete the welding classes in the pilot career technical education program sponsored by the Poverty to Prosperity Initiative to improve the economy of Malheur County.

An open house to recognize students, the instructor and those behind Poverty to Prosperity and the career technical education program was held in the welding shop at Treasure Valley Community College. The event drew county, city and community leaders.”

Three Cousins Prepare for Welding Competition: “Three cousins in the Farmington Municipal Schools District's welding program are preparing for a national technical skills competition this summer after they won first place for designing and creating a barbecue grill.

Seniors Monse, Salvador and Victor Gutierrez took first place at the New Mexico SkillsUSA competition in the high school welding fabrication category on April 2 to 4 in Albuquerque. The three students are all in Edward McHenry's welding program at the district's Career and Technology Education Center.”

Welding Jobs

Program Prepares Welders for Jobs in Missouri and Arkansas: “With so many companies like ARI, Manac Trailers, and Nucor, welders play an important role in southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas. Three Rivers College is preparing to educate and train those wanting to go into the field of welding through their Flux-core Welding Pilot program, to begin June 2.

‘The idea behind the program is to make people employable,’ said Mike Barrett, project director at TRCC. ‘People who take the course should be able to pass any B-Class Weld test.’”

Welding Events

The Heat Treatment Conference, August 12-13, Dallas, TX

The thermal effects from welding and heat treatment influence the microstructure and mechanical properties of welds. Various materials, such as carbon steels and other alloy grades, are affected by heat treatment which changes the weld metallurgy and influences the final welded product. Better understanding of the impact of welding and heat treatment practices can allow for the weld quality and reliability to be optimized for the application.

Welding Gone Wrong

Welding Sparks Toronto Fire in Development: “Two separate fires that broke out at a new subdivision in Richmond Hill have damaged a number of homes that were still under construction.

York Regional Police say the first fire started at around 4 p.m. on Monday near Gracedale Drive and Canyon Hill Avenue. They say the blaze appeared to have started at one home before spreading to neighbouring residences. Police say a second fire started across the street some time later. It also damaged a number of homes nearby.”

Find the Best Deals on Welding Supplies

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.

 

Weekly Welding Roundup–Welding News

Single moms in Wyoming can now work with the CLIMB program in order to find welding, driving, forklift, or warehouse inventory jobs that pay a high wage along with benefits. This has helped many women find non-traditional jobs, such as welding, that enable them to support themselves.

Image source: CLIMB

According to the Chillicothnews:

“The state of Wyoming projects that in the next 10 years, job growth will demand 27 percent more commercial truck drivers, 22 percent more welding positions, 18 percent more health and technology jobs and 17 percent more nursing assistants. Arias crunches job report data like this and sets about building relationships with local businesses that might hire her graduates. Then, CLIMB builds training courses around those opportunities, usually in small classes of no more than 10 students.”

The training cohorts provide a supportive environment that allows women to test out a variety of positions alongside women in similar life situations. And the program is working quite well, with a 91% placement rate.

In addition, the CLIMB program offers employers a 6 week wage refund for any workers who do not stay employed with them. Employers who may be used to hiring men for certain positions will find that this removes all risk from hiring women from the highly successful CLIMB program.

Welding Industry

Welders in Canada Seek Standardized Certification: “Standardization was a hot topic for the more than 50 instructors from across Canada who were in Dartmouth this week to talk shop at the Welding Educators Conference at the campus.

They discussed having a core welding curriculum in schools across the country and standard Red Seal and apprenticeship programs so workers can move easily from one province to another to fill vacant positions.”

Welding Jobs

Students Enjoy Welding Careers, to Their Surprise:  “Metal fabrication skills such as welding have long been considered low value compared to those used in mechanical, computer or electrical engineering jobs, for example.

But this perception comes from an outdated belief that metal fabrication work is menial and creates few opportunities for career progression.  There is also a perception that it is unattractive because it is usually carried out in a hot and unpleasant environment.”

Welders Earning Over $100,000 in Ohio: “I recently visited Pioneer Pipe in the Utica and Marcellus shale area of Ohio and learned that last year the company paid 60 of its welders more than $150,000 and two of its welders over $200,000. The owner, Dave Archer, said he has had to turn down orders because he can't find enough skilled welders.”

36,000 Welders Needed Along Gulf Coast: “Local employers say they’re worried there won’t be adequate supply of workers of all kinds. Just for construction, Gulf Coast oil, gas and chemical companies will have to find 36,000 new qualified workers by 2016, according to Industrial Info Resources Inc. in Sugar Land, Texas. Regional estimates call for even more new hires once those projects are built.

The processing and refining industries need so many workers to build new facilities in Texas and Louisiana because of the unprecedented rise over the last three years in U.S. oil and gas production, much of it due to shale.”

Welding Education

Duke Energy Invests in Community College Welding Program: “Duke Energy wants to help spark some welding careers in Pender County. The utility giant announced Thursday that its charitable foundation was donating $147,592 to Cape Fear Community College to expand the school's welding program to its Burgaw campus.

The funds will be used to outfit a new welding lab, including purchasing specialized equipment and modifying the Pender County facility. The grant will also cover part of the costs of materials.”

Welding Events

Welding Education, Skills, and Certification Conference: Indianapolis, IN, July 23-25 at Ivy Tech Community College.

“Join with welding education visionaries this summer to learn how your institution can be integrated into a the future of welding workforce training and employment. The American Welding Society and leaders from industry’s most respected employers and labor experts—including Siemens, Lincoln, Iron Workers and UA—will help you gain new insights, exchange ideas, and solve problems specific to your technical program and your local needs.”

Welding Gone Wrong

Garage and Two Cars Destroyed in Welding Fire: “A garage fire that started at 8728 Jackson Park Blvd. about 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11, tore through the detached garage and destroyed two cars, Wauwatosa Fire Department Deputy Chief Kurt Dressnandt said. The garage itself was significantly damaged as well. There was no dollar amount for the damage.

A man was welding in the two-car garage when a car caught on fire, Dressnandt said. When he tried to put out the fire, he burned his hand, which he later got treated at the hospital.”

Get Great Deals on Welding Supplies

Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.