WELDING

The essential nature of welding Welding is the most ubiquitous process on the planet. It is fundamental to the construction of bridges, high-rise buildings, mining equipment, ships, and even household appliances, such as fridges and washing machines, writes Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia.

Next time you’re driving down the road, take a look around you: crash barriers, light poles, road signs, the re-bar in the concrete bridge, even the very car you’re driving. All of these elements rely on welding. Welding played an enormous role in the second industrial revolution. Without welding, we wouldn’t have the modern motor car, highspeed trains, or jet planes. We wouldn’t be able to generate power. We wouldn’t have advanced manufacturing facilities. Our world today simply wouldn’t look the same. Welders build the very world in which we live. However, it’s not just the pervasive nature of the welding process that makes it so essential – welding is also vital to the strength of Australia’s economy. Essential to employment Australia’s welding and fabrication industry is responsible for the employment of more than 78,900 people, 91% of whom are employed on a full-time basis. While not an absolute, part-time and casual roles are more likely to be more insecure than fulltime roles, and do not always afford employees with the same types of benefits. Generally, full-time, high-quality roles reflect a stronger industry and greater competition for employees. With an overwhelming percentage of Australian welders employed on a fulltime basis, it clear the industry is strong, and an essential provider of secure employment opportunities. Essential to innovation Australia’s welding and fabrication industry is highly diverse, with a large number of businesses that boast a total output capacity of more than 1.6m tonnes per annum. Approximately 94% of businesses operating within Australia’s welding and fabrication industry are small enterprises with less than 20 employees. Small businesses are an important source of innovation in Australia’s economy. With a proven ability, capacity and agility to respond to changes in today’s competitive global marketplace – particularly when compared to their larger competitors – the role of small businesses in boosting innovation, productivity and efficiency is vital. Through innovation and expansion, small businesses are a solid source of employment and competitive edge for Australia’s economy on the world stage. Essential to downstream industries With its highly diverse profile, welding is critical to myriad aspects of Australia’s economy. It is a key player in various economically significant downstream and related industries. In Australia, three industries are the main consumers of steel fabricated products, comprising almost 90% of all demand. These industries are: • Construction at 50.3% • Manufacturing at 20.5% • Mining at 17.2% Combined, these three industries purchased over $11.6bn of steel fabricated products in 2013-2014. The construction, manufacturing and mining industries are all essential to the strength and prosperity of Australia’s economy and, without welding, none of them would be able to operate. Since around 2007, the construction industry value add has grown at 3.8% per annum. Based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, employment in the industry has grown from around 933,100 persons to nearly 1,098,500, making construction the single-largest employing industry in the Australia economy. The construction industry generates over $360bn in revenue, making it responsible for around 9% of Australia’s GDP. And welding is an essential input. Manufacturing directly and indirectly employs over 10% of the Australian population. With manufacturing industry output amounting to over $110bn annually, this is equivalent to approximately 6% of Australia’s GDP. And welding is an essential input. Historically, the mining industry has been important to Australia’s wealth and prosperity – a trend that continues today. Mining contributes approximately $248bn per annum and employs over 350,000 people. And, of course, welding is an essential input. The role of compliance It is because of the all-pervasive and essential nature of welding that compliance is so vital. Welding is often mistaken as a simple process. In reality, welding requires immense skill. The engineering principles that inform the process are unbelievable. Welding requires both highly skilled craftsmen and scientists who are able to solve complex engineering problems. Welding requires strict adherence to all applicable Australian standards. It is impossible to undertake complete verification of a welded joint without destroying it. Unfortunately, inspection after completion does not guarantee weld serviceability. As such, quality must be built into the welding process, right from the very beginning. Welding must be done correctly the first time. A weld cannot be adjusted once it is complete. The only course of action is to scrap the weld entirely, and start again. As such, the welding processes set out in Australian and international standards are crucial – they must be followed exactly. If they are not, there is a significant chance that a structure will fail. The problem is, a huge proportion of welding in Australia does not comply with Australian standards. This is because welding is an extremely forgiving process. With a bit of practise, just about anyone can join two pieces of steel together. The thing is, these pieces of steel might stick together for five, 10 or even 20 years – but they might not. And when they fall apart, someone invariably gets hurt. In Australia, you’re not allow to drive a car, connect a gas pipe, or install a new light fitting without a licence. Yet you can fabricate and erect enormous steel beams, construct a bridge for thousands of cars to travel across every day, or fabricate caravans to be towed down busy highways – all without a license. It defies all health and safety requirements. It defies logic.

www.weldaustralia.com.au

Kemppi releases new X5 FastMig industrial welder

Kemppi, has released its new X5 FastMig multi-process welding system for MIG, DC TIG and stick welding (MMA) as well as gouging.

Designed in conjunction with professional welders specifically for steel welding, the X5 FastMig delivers a range of features to help significantly enhance arc welding productivity. Built using energyefficient inverter technology, the X5 FastMig offers faster, higherquality welds thanks to Touch Sense Ignition, effortless operation, excellent welding ergonomics and flexible equipment setup. The X5 FastMig features the latest in ignition technology – Touch Sense Ignition – as standard in all available models. When combined with WiseSteel software, which also comes as standard with every model, the X5 delivers precise ignition capability and stable arc control. It tackles the challenges of globular arc by alternating between short arc and spray transfer. In short-circuit transfer, it improves the arc stability adaptively, provding better out-of-position steel welding capabilities. In spray transfer mode, micropulsing of the current and voltage increases travel speed significantly. In doing so, the X5 helps to minimise the spatter produced by a traditional globular arc, as well as the need for post-weld cleaning, saving time and costs, while helping to deliver better quality welds. For more challenging applications, the arc control can be further optimised with optional welding programs and Wise special processes. Designed to be hassle-free, the X5 is very easy to operate. It features a large, graphical and impact-resistant TFT display panel that presents all required information clearly and without abbreviations. Welding parameters are set automatically when the user adjusts the wire feed speed. Memory channels are also available to customise and save personal settings. Easy to use, the operating basics of the X5 can be grasped in just 10 minutes. Plus, the wire feeder’s sturdy rotate-and-push buttons can be operated with gloves on or off, helping to save time and improve productivity. The ergonomically-designed top-loading wire feeder improves occupational safety when changing the wire spool as it places less strain on the user’s back. The wire feeder can also be hung up and adjusted to multiple different angles for quick and easy access, even in a dual setup. Designed for use with the X5, the Flexlite GX guns also deliver comfort in spades and help reduce welder fatigue thanks to their ergonomic design. Each gun is lightweight and features a flexible cable set and innovative ball-jointed cable protection that reduces the load on the welder’s wrist. The pistol grip handle has been designed to feel like an extension of the welder’s hand. Providing excellent balance, it allows for a natural wrist position, which makes the work at hand easier and more effortless, particularly when doing long welds. The on-torch GXR10 remote control allows parameter adjustment at the weld joint, even while welding. The X5’s modular system allows the user to choose from a range of accessories to ensure the optimal solution for every application, including transport units, interconnection cables of various lengths and wired remote controls. Users can build their own machine with the help of the X5 FastMig Selector, an online configurator tool that lets welders easily choose the equipment best suited to make the most out of their investment.

www.kemppi.com

STOP, negotiate and listen

Whether it’s negotiating a new lease or an existing one, multiple or single properties, a tenant or a landlord, Rigby Cooke Lawyers will ensure your interests are protected and that any lease or agreement you enter into has the right mix of risk allocation and flexibility to match your business needs.

Our top tips to get the right agreement for your business

Do your research. For landlords that means investigating your tenant including company searches, credit ratings and security registers. For a tenant that could mean looking at rent for a similar space in a comparable building, rent patterns and typical lease periods. Talk to each other. As a landlord, is the property still suitable for the tenant’s business needs? As a tenant, what are your landlord’s future plans for the property? Are there mutual opportunities that benefit both parties. Understanding these motivators can assist your future lease negotiations.

Get advice. It is important to seek financial, legal and business advice before entering into a lease to ensure you understand your rights, liabilities and obligations. Treat a lease like any other commercial business contract and review it regularly to see if there are any ways it can be improved.

Always act in good faith to preserve good relationships between both parties. Always have a plan. Both parties should consider what you are not prepared to compromise on.

Experience counts when negotiating a lease. With multiple stakeholders, unforgiving time-frames and many moving parts, you need to have the confidence that you have the right team to get the right outcome for your business. Our team can help. Mention your AMTIL membership to receive member discounts with us.

For more information contact Darren Marx: DMarx@rigbycooke.com.au +61 413 713 775 | +61 3 9321 7926