Weld Australia 2018 Year in Review

2018: Year In Review

weldaustralia.com.au | info@weldaustralia.com.au | +61 (0)2 8748 0100 | 20 Bridge Street, Pymble, NSW

2018: Year In Review Welcome to Weld Australia’s 2018 Year In Review – a look at our achievements, projects and programs over the last 12 months. 2018 has been a highly successful year for Weld Australia in many ways.

With a focus on improving the skills of all Australian welders (particularly in light of the defence equipment projects on the horizon), we implemented an extensive program of government lobbying. This lobbying was focused on establishing several Advanced Welder Training Centres (AWTCs) nation-wide. As a result, we have secured $4.3 million in government funding to establish five AWTCs, with more to come.

We strengthened our industry partnerships, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Fincantieri Australia; establishing the Facility for Intelligent Fabrication with TAFE NSW and the University of Wollongong; and launching a Defence Welding Hub in Perth in association with EMICoL and the Henderson Alliance.

Throughout the year, we facilitated over 30 member events, including site visits, technical presentations and demonstrations. Plus, Weld Australia was involved in over 20 industry events, with Geoff Crittenden (Weld Australia’s CEO) delivering keynote presentations on numerous occasions.

We continued to reinforce our membership offering, provide high-quality training courses and workshops, and strengthened our new platforms, such as the Australian Welder Certification Register and WeldQ. It really is an exciting time to be a Weld Australia member. We are committed to using our extensive experience, combined with an innovative new approach, to achieve our core mission—promoting the interests of our members within the field of welding, not just in Australia, but across the globe.

The entire Weld Australia team is looking forward to a busy, successful 2019.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Advanced Welder Training Centres Weld Australia implemented a rigorous program of government lobbying in 2018 in a bid to help alleviate Australia’s significant shortage of qualified and certified welders.

As a result, Weld Australia secured both State and Federal Government funding for the establishment of five Advanced Welder Training Centres (AWTCs), which will be located in: • Box Hill TAFE, Melbourne • Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Centre of Excellence, South Burnie • TAFE SA, Regency Campus, Adelaide • SkillsTech Acacia Ridge, Queensland • Caboolture, Queensland Featuring state-of-the-art augmented reality labs equipped with the most advanced welding simulators available in the world, the AWTCs will upskill existing welders, and train transitional workers and apprentices to work on rolling stock, defence and infrastructure projects.The training delivered at the AWTCs will quickly qualify welders to ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders Fusion welding.

It is expected that several more AWTCs will receive funding over the next 12 months.

Soldamatic augemented reality welding simulator.

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Advanced Welder Training Centres Funded

$4.3M Government Funding Secured

Soldamatic augemented reality welding simulator.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Weld Australia Member Events EN15085 Workshop, Sydney, March.

Smithweld Enterprises Demonstration, Perth, March.

ALS Global site tour, Brisbane, May.

30+

Member Events Q&A Forum, Melbourne, July.

RCR Resources site tour, Perth, April.

Site visits, technical presentations, competitions, demonstrations & networking opportunities.

Welding Q&A Panel, Adelaide, March.

Presentation on AS/NZS 5131, Sydney, May.

Technical event at Welding Industries of Australia, Adelaide, July.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Technical presentation at Austedan Fabrication, Newcastle, August.

Defence Welding Hubs & the Facility for Intelligent Fabrication Weld Australia is establishing a network of Defence Welding Hubs in key locations around Australia.

Each Defence Welding Hub will provide a focal point for defence welding activity through a network of contractors, subcontractors and relevant supporting organisations.

The Hubs will facilitate and foster activity which is necessary to achieve the degree of competence required by global defence prime contractors.

Image courtesy of BAE Systems.

In association with EMICoL and the Henderson Alliance, Weld Australia launched the first Defence Welding Hub in Perth in August.

Weld Australia also launched the Facility for Intelligent Fabrication (FIF) in March at the University of Wollongong. FIF is a one-stop-shop that provides expertise, technology, equipment and training in automating steel fabrication to help manufacturing businesses adapt and compete.

FIF was formed in recognition of the changing business climate, as the Illawarra transitions from large-scale heavy manufacturing, and the need for local manufacturers to innovate and adapt to remain competitive.

Image courtesy of DCNS.

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Defence Welding Hubs Planned Nationally

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Facilities Launched Geoff Crittenden, Judy Raper, Kerry Penton, and Gareth Ward at FIF Launch.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Training & Certification Several major Weld Australia training and certification projects continued throughout 2018. The Australian Welder Certification Register (AWCR) and WeldQ platform have continued to grow.

The migration of all data into the WeldQ system was completed. A profile has been created for all people who gained qualifications or certifications from 2000 onwards both through Weld Australia and the IIW. As a result, over 1,000 newly registered users have now been added to WeldQ, in addition to the more than 8,000 individuals whose records were transferred to the platform. We also conducted the first online exams using the WeldQ system in April.

Weld Australia revised the delivery method for several of its courses, applying distance learning metholodgy to the Welding Supervisor and Welding Inspector qualifications. A new online course was also introduced this year: Welding Appreciation for Technical Personnel.

Weld Australia facilitated a number of industry workshops, including the Pipeline Repair, Hot Tapping and In-Service Welding Worksop in Sydney in October, and the EN 15085 Rail Certification Workshop in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne throughout the year. All workshops were met with very positive feedback from all in attendance.

5+

Specialised Workshops Facilitated Nationally

2

Courses Reviewed 6

Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Training & Certification

16

Newly Trained International Welding Technologists & Engineers

63

1,016 New Users Registered in WeldQ

11

Completed Welding Sales Representative Courses

Completed Welding Technology Appreciation Courses

35

Newly Trained International Welding Specialists

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

53

Newly Trained International Welding Inspectors

Industry Events & Conferences Land Forces, September, Adelaide.

National Manufacturing Week, Sydney, May.

National Manufacturing Week, Sydney, May.

20+

Industry Events APGA Convention, September, Darwin.

Keynote addresses, presentation, exhibition booths & panel appearances.

WorldSkills 2018 Skills Show, Sydney, June.

Australian Oil & Gas Exhibition, Perth, March.

Australian Steel Convention, Melbourne, September.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

WFCP World Congress, Melbourne, October.

National Manufacturing Summit The 2018 National Manufacturing Summit saw a diverse group of industry stakeholders assemble at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 26 June. Hosted by Weld Australia, with the theme ‘Solutions to Critical Issues: Energy and Technical Training’, the Summit sought solutions to the two crucial constraints faced by the manufacturing sector in Australia: energy insecurity and Australia’s fragmented skills and training.

Delegates enjoy the insights from 20+ expert speakers and panellists.

150+ Delegates

Lauren Tiltman answers questions.

Neil Coulson (left) speaks to a Summit delegate.

20+

Keynote Speakers & Panellists Dr Jim Stanford.

Technical Training Panel.

Professor Ross Garnaut gives a keynote address.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Michael McLeod.

The Hon Doug Cameron.

Industry Activities Welding at Bombardier Transportation’s Dandenong Facility.

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Memorandums of Understanding Signed

Baker & Provan is presented with their AS/NZS ISO 3834 certification.

Geoff Crittenden (Weld Australia) and Sean Costello (Fincantieri) sign MoU.

ABFI Steel is presented with their AS/NZS ISO 3834 Certification.

9 Companies Certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834

1 Company Certified to EN 15085 Bombardier Transportation receives EN 15085 Certification.

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Other Activities

12

Meetings with State Government

2

Technical Notes Revised

3

Technical Guidance Notes Revised

216

Meetings with Welding Industry Stakeholders

Š Commonwealth of Australia

32

State Division Committee Members

99

Hotline Queries Resolved 11

Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Member Testimonials Our members include individual welding professionals and companies of all sizes. We recently spoke with a number of our members, eliciting their feedback on our activities, services and membership benefits. This is what they had to say.

Paul Court, General Manager, Maxcon Industries “Given that Maxcon Industries prides itself on being at forefront of innovative manufacturing, we understand that it is essential for us to partner with other organisations that have a similar outlook and synergy. Weld Australia has many synergies with what we want to do in terms of innovation. As such, it makes complete sense for us to partner with Weld Australia in everything we do.”

“We’ve had a very long involvement with Weld Australia—and previously with the WTIA. We even accessed their consulting services in relation to some vessels we were working on. Their technical advice has always been extremely helpful.”

“The work that Weld Australia carries out definitely benefits the Australian welding industry as a whole. Every industry needs a peak body that is focused on moving the industry forward, on innovating. Weld Australia certainly fulfils that role for the Australian welding industry.”

“Maxcon Industries was lucky enough to win the 2018 Fabricator of Year Award. This is a really great honour for us. To be recognised by an organisation as well-known and well-respected as Weld Australia is amazing. It really is an amazing milestone in our company—and we have been operating in the industry for over 40 years now.

Winning the Weld Australia Fabricator of Year Award is a massive honour for our company.”

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

Brian Rungie, Executive Director, TAFE SA “TAFE SA has been associated with Weld Australia for many years. With the announcement of the construction of the Future Frigates and Submarines in Adelaide, South Australia we chose to expand our relationship with Weld Australia due to its national reach, international connections, and wide-spread recognition across the industry.”

“Being an educational institution, we are developing the next group of skilled workers or supporting the upskilling of existing workers already within the industry. Weld Australia gives us a conduit through which to communicate to industry and helps us ensure TAFE SA graduates have the skill and knowledge industry is looking for.”

“Weld Australia acts as a kind of translator for us—translating the technical capability industry is looking for into training standards TAFE SA needs to deliver and the standards students need to achieve.”

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

“Weld Australia has been critical in helping the various training departments of government understand the requirements and standards needed by the Australia’s workforce. This includes the nature and intensity of the training needed and how this can lead to lags before the workforce is ready.”

“Because Weld Australia is an industry association and not a training institute (and therefore does not have a vested interest), they are able to provide expert independent advice that is accepted in multiple scenarios by training institutions and governments alike. They’ve been able to influence government policy, priorities, and even funding decisions.”

“Weld Australia has also helped some of the big defence primes understand the true nature of the Australian labour force and its capability. They’ve helped us understand the welding procedures shipyards and industry will be looking for so we start converting this information into training curriculum. As a result, when people come out of our intuition, they are that more job ready.”

Phillip Campbell OAM, General Manager Technical Standards, ARTC

Craig Brittle, Dean of Faculty - Trades, Technology and Transport, Box Hill TAFE

“The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) manages and maintains some 8,500km of rail track throughout Australia, ranging from Brisbane through to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. While there are some sections that are jointed, the majority of this rail track is welded. As such, we regularly undertake welding. For instance, we recently had one project that required over 40,000 welds.”

“Our experience with Weld Australia has been extremely positive and successful.”

“Given our reliance on welding, the reason we joined Weld Australia was to ensure that we have access to the latest information about improvements in welding techniques, so that we can then take advantage of these techniques in our work.”

“The two main member benefits that we find most advantageous are Weld Australia’s regular Weld Connect online newsletter—which provides a lot of valuable information that we circulate to our employees involved in welding—and the specialty presentations on topics such as new steels and welding processes. We often take advantage of attending these technical events.”

“The work of Weld Australia benefits the Australian industry as a whole in two ways. The first is their provision of a body of technical knowledge. The second is their advocacy activities. Weld Australia works to ensure that Australia has a strong welding capability, that fabrication can continue to occur in this country, and that we have the proper training to support a vibrant industry.”

“Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia) has also provided us with helpful advice. ARTC has been looking at the way in which we identify welds out in the field. Geoff provided some ideas on how to do this utilising special magnetic barcodes placed on the rails. We are currently looking at the practicality of this solution and trialling the barcodes. Geoff was particularly helpful in sourcing a barcode suitable for the task.”

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

“As a government RTO working with an organisation that has a membership type model, we’ve found that Weld Australia has really supported us, particularly in helping spread the word about Box Hill TAFE and our new courses.

Weld Australia also worked very closely with us to secure state government funding to establish an Advanced Welder Training Centre at our Elgar Road campus.”

“From my perspective as the Dean, as well as based on feedback from several of our staff, our relationship with Weld Australia has provided Box Hill TAFE, and its students, with very positive outcomes.”

“Weld Australia informs us about the direction that industry is taking and about the skills that are required for the future. We are then able to use that information to shape how we respond to the market. It is essential for us to have someone so close to industry informing us—it enables us to shape our business to suit.”

“One thing that industry often says is that TAFEs and RTOs don’t work closely enough with industry.

What has happened in past is that TAFEs have provided training that is not in tune with what industry needs, particularly in terms of ensuring that graduates are work-ready and have the skills that can be transferred directly into on-thejob roles. Our relationship with Weld Australia enables us to be more in tune with industry needs, which positions us exceptionally well within the marketplace.”

Chris Brugeaud, Chief Executive Officer, SSS Manufacturing and IR4

providing installation into Rheinmetall’s facilities in Germany.”

“SSS Manufacturing has been a Weld Australia member for some time now. One of the major reasons we decided to join was to take advantage of the networking opportunities and industry engagement functions that Weld Australia provides.”

“In addition to the highly valuable networking opportunities offered by a Weld Australia membership, there is a raft of other benefits. We regularly attend Weld Australia events, as well as supporting their events.”

“The project that we are undertaking in conjunction with global defence prime Rheinmetall is a direct result of our relationship with Weld Australia.”

“Weld Australia had been working closely with Rheinmetall on the certification of welders to ISO 9606 and organisations to DIN 2303 as part of Rheinmetall’s recruitment plan for its new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Queensland, as well as its future supply chain.

Rheinmetall was looking for a welding automation capability that had the flexibility to address all their production requirements. Weld Australia knew that IR4 and SSS Manufacturing could deliver a highly flexible welding automation capability. And so, Weld Australia introduced us to Rheinmetall.”

“As a result, Rheinmetall has engaged us to develop a demonstration cell, which includes a gantry system and robots that utilise IR4 software. The purpose of the cell is to validate that our technology can automate specific production processes for the Land 400 program.

Once successful, our technology is expected to be installed at MILVEHCOE with a view to also

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Weld Australia | 2018 Year In Review

“We’ve previously hosted a technical evening and site tour at our facility on behalf of Weld Australia.

Hosting this event not only gave us exposure to the broader welding industry, but it also gave Weld Australia access to our facilities—they were able to see first-hand what our capabilities are like, enabling them to then recommend us to companies such as Rheinmetall.”

“There is no doubt that Weld Australia’s activities benefit the broader welding and industrial sectors.

Weld Australia is the single largest industry advocate. They are vital in promoting and further developing industry capability to deliver against major projects in Australia that have critical deliverables associated with weld technology and resources.”

“With their establishment of Advanced Welder Training Centres, Weld Australia has been instrumental in ensuring that Australia has the volume of qualified welders that will be required to deliver the significant infrastructure and defence projects that are on the horizon. Importantly, Weld Australia promotes and supports the growth and application of automation to the benefit of Australian SMEs.”

www.wtia.com.au info@wtia.com.au +61 2 8748 0100 Building 3, Level 3, 20 Bridge Street Pymble, NSW 2073

weldaustralia.com.au | info@weldaustralia.com.au | +61 (0)2 8748 0100 | 20 Bridge Street, Pymble, NSW