Weld Australia - Year in Review 2023 by Weld Australia

YEAR IN REVIEW 2023

Securing the future of Australia’s welding industry

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2023 | Year in Review

2023: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Welcome to Weld Australia’s 2023 Year In Review – a look at our successes, projects and programs over the last 12 months, as well as that of our members. Throughout the year, we continued to strengthen our advocacy work, facilitated a host of member events, and were involved in a range of industry events. We hosted the National Manufacturing Summit in Canberra, as well as the 2023 Welding Excellence Awards. And, we did all this while continuing to reinforce our membership offering, and providing high-quality training courses and certification services. 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 primary goal—ensuring that the Australian welding industry remains locally and globally competitive, both now and into the future. The entire Weld Australia team is looking forward to a busy, successful 2024.

12,290

Welders Registered on the Australian Welder Certification Register (AWCR)

6,925

People in the Weld Australia Community

997

People Attended Events

383

People Commenced Training Courses

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19 Member Events

Newly Qualified International Welding Engineers

Newly Qualified Welding Inspectors

State Division Committee Meetings

113

Newly Qualified Welding Supervisors

Newly Certified Individuals

Newly Qualified International Welding Specialists

Newly Certified Companies 2023 | Year in Review

ADVOCACY

WELD AUSTRALIA’S ADVOCACY IN 2023 added an extra 39 occupations to the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. The list has grown to encompass 111 occupations, as Australia continues to struggle with skills shortages across a range of different sectors—particularly welding and fabrication. Several occupations related to welding and fabrication were added to the Priority List, including Welder, Pressure Welder, Fitter, Metal Fabricator, Metal Machinist, Sheetmetal Trades Worker, and Blacksmith. In fact, 11% of the occupations included in the Priority List are now related to welding.

As the peak body for welding in Australia, our primary goal is to ensure that the Australian welding industry remains both locally and globally competitive, both now and into the future. In all our advocacy activities, our over-reaching vision is to facilitate the growth of a world class welding industry.

Weld Australia’s advocacy agenda focused on training initiatives for the next generation of welders and fabricators, building a sustainable, safe and productive local industry, and ensuring superior welding quality standards and public safety. Renewable Energy: Challenges and Opportunities The Australian Government has legislated emissions reductions targets of 43% (on 2005 levels) by 2030 and net zero by 2050. These targets are enshrined in law in the Climate Change Act 2022. Importantly, these targets will necessitate the construction of new

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infrastructure on a massive scale. Australia’s existing renewable energy generation of 64GW is forecast to grow to over 218GW by 2050. This will comprise 90GW of wind, 39GW of solar, 18.7GW of water, and 35.9GW of battery storage. For example, it is expected that over 11,000 wind towers will need to be produced, each requiring 500 tonnes of plate steel (for onshore wind towers) or 750 tonnes (for offshore wind towers). The annual production of plate steel in Australia is currently 400kt. To connect all this new generation to consumers, AEMO estimates that more than 10,000km of new transmission lines and 25,000 transmission towers (at 30 to 60 tonnes of steel per tower) will need to be constructed around the country. While funding has been made available for the infrastructure itself, little consideration has been given to the skilled workforce that will be required. The Federal Government recently

All this the renewable energy infrastructure will require a veritable army of skilled workers, including welders. Australia’s renewable energy industry will need a raft of additional resources to deliver on these ambitious projects, including: manufacturing and fabrication capacity, raw materials (particularly steel), and contracting and contractor resources. Plus, new technologies will need to be developed and deployed. While our governments can wish, and hope, and make public pledges about Australia’s transition to renewable energy, we simply do not have the sovereign manufacturing capability to make this a reality.Without a massive investment in fabrication and steelmaking facilities, and skills and training in each state, it will not be achievable. The Federal Government must commit to building sovereign manufacturing capability for renewable energy. It must legislate local content policy. This will create a capacity mechanism that generates a clear, long-term signal for investment by private equity and local manufacturers. The Federal Government must also mandate that all wind towers are constructed,

erected and inspected according to Australian Standards. To overcome the established overseas supply chains and generate investment into fabrication capability, local manufacturers need certainty of demand. This demand must stem from government, project investors and developers, and OEMs. Local manufacturing companies must be assured of the security of sufficient orders to enable them to invest in the necessary plant and equipment to deliver high quality, cost effective wind towers. The Vital Role of Social License Unless we achieve a social license— and quickly—Australia will fail to meet its renewable energy and net zero targets by 2050. There is nothing difficult about achieving Australia’s renewable energy infrastructure targets from an engineering or manufacturing perspective, given the right incentives and investments. The challenge we must overcome is achieving a social license from the key interest groups of conservationists, farmers, unions, and planning departments. To make the renewable energy revolution a reality, Australia must: 1. Stick with the plan—wind, solar and hydro are our immediate solution. 2. Achieve a social license. All stakeholders must be brought onside with the plan, no matter the cost. It will be negligible in terms of the cost of doing nothing. 3. Resolve the bureaucracy, planning and legal constraints now—make the process efficient, simple and fast. 4. Partner with industry leaders and invest in manufacturing in Australia. There is no alternative. Global supply chains are already effectively empty. 5. Invest $200 billion into our own improved version of the Inflation Reduction Act. 6. Do all of the above yesterday. Tomorrow will be too late.

AUSTRALIAN WELDERS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF BUILDING AUKUS NUCLEAR SUBMARINES—WE JUST NEED MORE OF THEM In March, Weld Australia confirmed that Australia’s welders are more than capable of building the new fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines agreed to in the $368 billion AUKUS deal. However, the biggest risk facing the nuclear-powered AUKUS submarine build is whether enough skilled welders can be recruited and trained. As such, Weld Australia is calling for a Shipbuilding Welding Academy to be established and funded by the Federal Government. According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “There has been some discussion in the media over whether the quality of Australian welders is sufficient to build the proposed AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines. Australia’s qualified welders are more than capability of building the new fleet.” “Some pundits have stated that the quality of welding required for a nuclear submarine is of a much higher standard than that required for a diesel electric conventional submarine. However, all welding must be of the highest quality if the submarine is to meet the necessary survivability objectives—whether the submarine is nuclear or diesel powered is irrelevant.” “Whilst some welding on nuclear boats is undertaken in line with different International and Australian Standards, and utilises different materials, the quality of the weld must be the same: that is to zero defects.” The biggest risk facing Australia’s nuclear-powered AUKUS submarine build is not welder capability, but the recruitment and training of enough skilled welders. “Australia is already facing a severe shortage of skilled welders. Even before the AUKUS deal was signed, Australia was looking at a shortage of 70,000 welders by 2030. So, unless we take serious precautions now, there simply won’t be enough skilled people to undertake the welding required,” said Crittenden. “We need a Shipbuilding Welding Academy to be established and funded by the Federal Government. An academy of this nature will help ensure that the defence prime contractors have access to the skilled, qualified welding professionals required to successfully deliver the nuclear-powered submarines. It will ensure that Australia has sufficient tradesmen of the right calibre ready to commence welding of the AUKUS submarines when the time comes.”

2022 | Year in Review

ADVOCACY Industry and Government Work Together to Improve Welder Safety Industry, government and statutory bodies are working together to ensure that appropriate strategies are in place to reduce welder exposure to fumes and prevent long-term health effects. Established by Weld Australia in early 2019, the Welding Safety Council provides a forum for industry and legislative safety authorities to discuss issues and work collaboratively to identify solutions. By drawing together key government stakeholders, statutory bodies and industry into a single independent body focused on eradicating welding related injury, the Australian welding industry continues to take a significant steps forward in protecting both the general public and welders. Recent media coverage has raised the issue of lowering the limit for exposure to welding fumes. In recent years, the welding industry has become increasingly aware of the hazards posed by metal fume produced during the welding process. This fume, comprising of microscopic particles of hot metal and gases, poses serious risks when inhaled by welders. In early 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classed welding fumes as ‘Carcinogenic to Humans’. However, when appropriate precautions are adhered to, risk of exposure is greatly minimised. According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “Welding can and should be considered a safe occupation; when proper precautions are taken, welders have no cause to fear accident or injury. But when safety isn’t taken seriously in the workplace, the risk of a severe incident becomes a real concern.” “It is vital that appropriate strategies are in place to reduce welder exposure to fumes and prevent the long-term health effects that can result from exposure. All welders should receive training on methods to mitigate the effects of metal fume, including positioning themselves to reduce exposure and investigating

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less toxic alternatives where possible.” “Education is the key to ensuring a safe and productive working environment for everyone. Employers need to invest in thorough and up-todate training for all their employees to ensure that they understand the risks associated with welding, the mitigation strategies they can use, and the equipment available to prevent accident and injury.” In collaboration with industry, Weld Australia has implemented a range of other initiatives to help improve welder safety. Weld Australia has published a wide range of welding safety resources, which are available to the public completely free of charge. These include: Fume Minimisation Guidelines: Welding, Cutting, Brazing and Soldering; and Technical Note 7: Health and Safety in Welding. Weld Australia is currently developing two comprehensive online welder safety training courses. One course is tailored for welders, while the other is aimed at welding engineers and supervisors. Weld Australia Calls on Federal Government to Unlock Women’s Workforce Participation To mark International Women’s Day, Weld Australia is calling on the Federal Government to implement a proactive, targeted approach that: engages and recruits women into the trades; implements innovative trade training programs designed specifically for women; and sets measurable gender diversity targets on government-funded projects. According to Weld Australia CEO, Geoff Crittenden, “Industry is already at capacity. Weld Australia’s members are currently operating at 50% to 70% capacity, and turning away work because they cannot find enough welders. Increasing diversity in the trades is one of the best ways to alleviate the looming skills shortage. Every effort needs to be made to encourage women to become welders.”.

MAJOR MEDIA COVERAGE IN 2023

WATCH NINE NEWS

CHANNEL NINE NEWS Weld Australia appeared on Channel 9 News, with the Schools Manufacturing Outreach Program broadcast, demonstrating the benefits of the STEM program.

CHANNEL NINE NEWS Weld Australia also appeared on Channel 9 News, when regional Queensland high school students had the chance to experience the life of a welder at CQ University.

RADIO INTERVIEWS Geoff Crittenden secured a range of radio interviews this year, including: • ABC NewsRadio, live on-air interview on Tuesday 9 March at 10.45am (recording unavailable) • 3AW Radio Melbourne, live on-air interview on Tuesday 9 March at 5.15pm (recording unavailable) • 2GB Sydney Radio Interview on 1 August with Michael McLaren (recording unavailable) PRINT AND ONLINE ARTICLES • High tech trades class, published by the Illawarra Mercury • Angela has been in her job for 38 years. She has never met another woman, published by Nine News • How Augmented Reality is Helping Students Learn, published by AusBiz (the in-flight

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magazine of Rex Airlines) Australia Needs Welders for Submarine Program, published by Asia Pacific Defence Reporter Renewable energy revolution needs ‘army’ of welders, published by The West Australian Manufacturing Australia’s answer to the climate crisis, published by the Canberra Times Australia gets wake up call on materials manufacturing, published by The Queenslander A renewable tech bottleneck: Half of Australia’s welding workshops operating at 80 per cent capacity or below, published by The Market Herald FURTHER INFORMATION

For a full list of Weld Australia’s media coverage in 2023, visit our website.

“There are significant economic benefits for women in welding, from increased choice and availability of jobs, through to improved job security, higher than average pay and ample opportunities for progression and promotion. A career in welding is safe and secure—once you’re qualified, you can walk into a job tomorrow. Welding is in-demand because it is essential to the success of so many industries,” said Crittenden.

Building Equality Policy (BEP) is an Australian first and aims to disrupt gender stereotypes in the country’s most male-dominated industry. The BEP applies to new government projects, and mandates female representation in at least 3% of each trade role, 7% of each non-trade position and 35% of management, supervisor and specialist labour roles. It also mandates that 4% of labour hours for apprentices and trainees are performed by women.

With all these government-funded projects in play, measurable gender diversity targets on governmentfunded projects would have a huge impact. In effect since 1 January 2022, the Victorian Government’s

“If the Federal Government mandated a policy similar to Victoria’s Building Equality Policy, then the necessary recruitment and training programs would follow,” said Crittenden. 2022 | Year in Review

MEMBER SURVEY

THE RESULTS OF WELD AUSTRALIA’S 2023 MEMBER SURVEY Weld Australia has released the results of its 2023 Member Survey. The results demonstrate that Australia’s welding and fabrication industry is facing a whole raft of challenges that will make the delivery of the Federal Government’s plans for a renewable energy revolution almost impossible—from severe labour shortages that are inhibiting the growth of the welding industry, through to rising material and labour costs. The Federal Government must step in and provide real support to industry to make the renewable energy revolution a reality. According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “Distributed in March 2023 and completed by over 130 companies, our 2023 Member Survey indicates that labour shortages, and the rising cost of materials, energy and labour remain high on the agenda for the welding industry. Without funding and support from governments at all levels, these challenges will make it nearly impossible for industry to deliver the necessary manufacturing capability required for the Federal Government’s ambitious renewable energy revolution.” When asked to select their top two factors, 60% of survey respondents indicated that labour shortages are most likely to inhibit the growth of their business in 2023. When asked what their main concern is right now, 45% confirmed that labour shortages was on the top of their list. 50% of Australia’s welding workshops are operating at 80% of their capacity or below. When asked why this is, a lack of skilled workers was the overwhelming answer.

Figure 1.

As a business owner or senior manager, what factors are most likely to inhibit the growth of your business in 2023? (Select your top two)

Figure 2.

As a business owner or senior manager, what is your main concern right now?

Figure 3.

What strategies will your business implement in 2023 to combat staff shortages? (Select all that apply)

“With a considerable volume of work being onshored and a greater sentiment in the market to ‘buy local’, Australian fabrication companies are so strapped for skilled welders that they are operating well below capacity. They are being forced to turn down jobs because they simply don’t have the manpower to complete the work,” said Crittenden. “How then, will Australian fabricators cope with the influx of work required to make the Federal Government’s renewable energy revolution reality?” The Federal Government has legislated emissions reductions targets of 43% (on 2005 levels) by 2030 and net zero by 2050. These targets will necessitate the construction of new infrastructure on a massive scale.

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Our 2023 Member Survey indicates that labour shortages, and the rising cost of materials, energy and labour remain high on the agenda for the welding industry.”

Australia’s existing renewable energy generation of 64GW is forecast to grow to over 218GW by 2050. This will comprise 90GW of wind, 39GW of solar, 18.7GW of water, and 35.9GW of battery storage. It is expected that over 11,000 wind towers will need to be produced, each requiring 500 tonnes of plate steel for onshore towers, or 750 tonnes for offshore wind towers. To connect all this new generation to consumers, AEMO estimates more than 10,000km of new transmission lines and 25,000 transmission towers (at 30 to 60 tonnes of steel per tower) will need to be constructed. “All this the renewable energy infrastructure will require a veritable army of skilled workers, including welders,” said Crittenden. “Australia will have a shortfall of at least 70,000 welders by 2030.”

Figure 4.

What is the main investment priority for your business in 2023?

Figure 5.

How do you rate the prospects of your business over the next 12 months?

And yet, 45% of survey respondents (compared to 47% in 2022) already have a pipeline of work that extends for six months or longer—this protracted pipeline is necessary in the face of ongoing skills shortages. Another 33% of respondents have a pipeline of work that extends between three and six months. This is a marked increase on Weld Australia’s 2020 member survey results; the most common answers were less than one month (at 28%), one month (19%), and two months (16%). “While our governments can wish, and hope, and make public pledges about Australia’s transition to renewable energy, at the moment, we simply do not have the

2023 | Year in Review

MEMBER SURVEY sovereign manufacturing capability to make this a reality,” said Crittenden. “According to the results of our survey, at 62%, the majority of the Australian welding industry supports the Government’s carbon emissions reduction targets. However, 75% of the welding and fabrication industry believes that Australia’s governments are not doing anywhere near enough to support industry in achieving these targets. Our governments will need to consider policy and funding opportunities, reduce red tape and regulatory barriers, and support local investment to enable the renewable energy transition.” “Without a massive investment in fabrication and steelmaking facilities, skills and training in each state, and real, practical support for local industry, Australia’s renewable energy revolution will simply not be a reality,” said Crittenden.

Figure 6.

How do you rate the prospects of your business over the next 12 months?

In the meantime, the welding industry is taking steps to try to overcome these labour shortages—without government support. 60% of respondents indicated that they are training or upskilling their existing staff, another 55% are either increasing wages or improving employee benefits, and 32% are leveraging different talent pools, such as apprentices, females and prisoners. Another 57% are either investing in automation and technology, or changing their operational processes. Given these figures, it is little surprise that investment priorities for 2023 include staff training and development

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Figure 7. Has your business, or the business you work for, invested in advanced welding technology?

(32%), business process improvements (30%) and plant and equipment (25%). Some companies are also looking to advanced welding technology to help overcome skilled labour shortages. The types of technology that the welding industry has planned, in progress or completed include: • Industry 4.0 (40%; up from 25% in 2022) • Robots (36%; up from 28%) • Cobots (35%; up from 28%) • Augmented or virtual reality (30%; not reported in 2022) • Drones (32%; not reported in 2022)

upgrade TAFE facilities, and 64% support both options. The welding industry is also investing in its own sustainability performance and credentials, and has made significant headway in the last 12 months. Some measures include: • Installing LED or sensor lighting (80%; up from 53% in 2022) • Waste reduction programs (78%; up from 46% in 2022) • Recycling, upcycing and repurposing programs (75%; up from 46% in 2022) • Implementing a net zero carbon plan (50%; up from 13% in 2022).

2023 MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS ANALYSIS 02 8748 0100 membership@weldaustralia.com.au

The majority of respondents (at 37%) will not be looking to skilled migrants to help overcome labour shortages, believing that immigration limits for skilled welders should not be increased. While 28% believe that immigration limits should be increased on a temporary basis for short-term contracts. The welding industry strongly supports investment into TAFE to help combat labour shortages; 21% support free TAFE for apprentices, 14% support increased funding to

Australia’s welding industry is also concerned about rising labour costs and rising material costs, with 50% and 45% (respectively) of respondents indicating that they could inhibit their business growth this year. Only 47% of respondents indicated that their gross profit margin had increased over the last 12 months to help cover these rising overheads. Alarmingly, the welding industry expects these overheads to continue to rise this year, with 82% expecting even higher materials prices and 85% expecting even higher energy prices.

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DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE FULL SURVEY REPORT

2023 | Year in Review

Weld Australia, in collaboration with the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, hosted the National Manufacturing Summit at Old Parliament House on 2 and 3 August. Its theme was Manufacturing the Energy Revolution: Industrial Opportunities from Renewable Energy. International expert, Adam Hersh, addressed the opportunities and challenges presented by Australia’s renewable energy revolution at the Summit Dinner, while Emily Scivetti, Chief Operating Officer at Oceanex Energy, gave an insightful overview of Oceanex operations, as well as the inherent benefits of offshore wind energy. The Hon Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Trade, opened the 2023 National Manufacturing Summit. According to Ayres, “Ensuring the transformation of our nation into a high-value, high-wage modern green economy needs to be a collaborative effort. It will involve governments, industry, unions, the research sector and other stakeholders. If we work together Australia will reach our emissions reduction goals while placing ourselves in the forefront of advanced manufacturing nations. Because there is too much at stake to simply retreat or be resigned to another decade of slipping down the global value chain.”

Adam Hersh.

L to R: Lance McCallum, Fredrik Andrén-Sandberg, Tim Buckley, and Adam Hersh.

Manufacturing the Renewable Energy Revolution Dan McKinna, General Manager at Keppel Prince Engineering, kicked off session two, speaking about the opportunities and challenges in manufacturing onshore wind towers in Australia at the 2023 National Manufacturing Summit. According to Dan, “We need to incentivise investment. We must have certainty of demand—if local manufacturers are going to invest in factories, we need certainty that those factories will be fed. We need local content targets. The potential demand need not be 100%. We need to remove the peaks and troughs; we need a Hon Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Trade.

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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baseline demand for an extended period of time.” Simon Preston, Group General Manager at Allthread Industries, presented a case study focused on the Murra Warra II wind tower project. Given the size, scale and weight of the turbines, a robust anchor cage solution was required; the expertise of Allthread Industries was required. Allthread Industries supplied a unique solution that competed with cheaper overseas imports based on the value delivered throughout the construction phase—not just on the cost of steel. “We were able to provide an Australian-made solution. Our solution used all Australian steel, and on analysis used 97% Australian content and 50% recycled content,” said Simon. Emily Scivetti, Chief Operating Officer at Oceanex Energy, spoke about the potential economic and regional benefits of offshore wind energy. These benefits include $10 billion estimated capex and $200 million in DEVEX for up to 5 to 7 years; 3,000 direct jobs duration the construction period of three to four years; and 300 jobs during the 30 year operation and maintenance life. The Changing Policy Landscape The Hon Lance McCallum, Assistant Minister for Energy Queensland, provided an overview of the Queensland state government’s work in renewables. Queensland has set a bold clean energy future—a 70% renewables target by 2032—as part of the $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. The Plan includes initiatives such as: a commitment to progress two new pumped hydro projects by 2035; a pathway to build the new Queensland SuperGrid, which will connect solar, wind, battery and hydrogen projects across the state and unlock new capacity and storage; a commitment to convert all of Queensland’s publicly-owned coal-fired power stations into clean energy hubs by 2035, backed by a

L to R: Emily Scivetti, Simon Preston and Dan McKinna.

Job Security Guarantee for workers; and substantial investment across the state, with 95% of clean energy infrastructure investment anticipated to be in regional Queensland.

content rules. While these are an important part of the equation, we need to determine how we target funding. Where are we funnelling the money?”

Fredrik Andrén-Sandberg, Head of Public Affairs APAC, Vestas Asia Pacific, and Tim Buckley, Director, Climate Energy Finance, also gave highly informative and engaging presentations during this session.

“We cannot just ask for government funding and tax credits, the money needs to be targeted to gain a competitive advantage. We need a response that is commensurate to the US Inflation Reduction Act. We’re calling for $150 billion,” said Katie. Australian Council of Trade Unions President, Michelle O’Neil, made it clear that there shouldn’t be a single worker made redundant by the phase-out of fossil fuels.

Making It Happen Katie Hepworth PhD, Political and Strategic Advisor, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, presented on the heavy vehicle manufacturing industry. According to Katie, there is a real need for regulatory certainty and harmonisation of standards, a steady supply of work and a smoothing of demand, and workforce skills development in both R&D at a high level and in trade skills. “We cannot rely on narrow local

Katie Hepworth.

“If we miss out on this opportunity to become a renewable manufacturing powerhouse, we’ll be leaving jobs and wealth on the table.” “Don’t leave behind those people who make everything you use every day,” she said. “There are so many manufacturing sectors hitting the new learning curve.”

Michelle O’Neil.

2023 | Year in Review

EVENTS

WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND MEMBER EVENTS IN 2023 Each year, Weld Australia facilitates a variety of member-focused events to help ensure that the Australian welding industry remains strong, competitive and upto-date with advancements in everything from technology, through to Australian Standards. Our events give members the opportunity to network and collaborate with like-minded individuals throughout the industry.

Industry Drinks Night in Sydney

Industry Night at Antec

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Industry Drinks Night Sydney, March Weld Australia partnered with TAFE NSW to deliver a night of networking for Weld Australia members and other industry professionals. The event was attended by key Tier 1 contractors, government representatives and more, with speeches from Stephen Brady (Managing Director of TAFE NSW) and Geoff Crittenden (CEO of Weld Australia). The special guest speaker was inspirational disability advocate Ben Pettingill, who helped launch the Weld Australia initiative to access a diverse range of people including people living with a disability.

Industry Night at Antec Sydney, March Weld Australia and the New South Wales and ACT Committee organised an Industry Night hosted by Antec Group, an Australian owned and operated business supplying the construction, infrastructure, and mining and minerals processing industries. Presented by Matt Waller (National Stud Welding Manager at Antec Group), this well attended event highlighted the broad range of applications for stud welding, from the use of capacitor discharge welding of pins, through to clips and cupheaded pins for the insulation industry. Standards Update for HERA Auckland, April Bruce Cannon (Principal Welding Engineer, Weld Australia) presented a seminar on behalf of HERA, New Zealand’s peak body for the metals industry. This excellent event was attended by more than 60 professionals and received positive feedback. The seminar provided practical, in-depth information to help attendees understand and interpret current and upcoming changes to AS and AS/NZS Standards, and covered the changes and revisions made over the last twelve months. It also includes an expert panel discussion and a lively Q&A. Mechanical Testing Demonstration and Discussion Melbourne, July Hosted by Victorian Testing and Inspection Services, this free member event was designed specifically for engineers, welding supervisors, inspectors, and coordinators. It provided an opportunity for these industry professionals to witness the magic of mechanical testing first-hand and gain a deeper

Industry Drinks Night in Brisbane.

understanding of test methods, test samples, specifications, results, and reporting. Attendees were invited to immerse themselves in the world of testing as they explored live samples, observed tests in action, and learnt how to interpret results effectively. Welded Fabrication Knowledge for Structural Engineers Online, July Weld Australia and Engineers Australia co-hosted this highly successful webinar which focused on welded fabrication knowledge for structural engineers, highlighting the practical and technical knowledge engineers should have. The panel of expert speakers for the event included Bruce Cannon (Principal Welding Engineer, Weld Australia), Cornelis Van Niekerk (Business Manager Defence Welding, Weld Australia) and Professor Madeleine du Toit (Program Coordinator International Welding Engineer Training, and University of Wollongong). Cobots in the Australian Manufacturing Industry Online, August Weld Australia’s Advanced Manufacturing Industry Network hosted a free webinar in conjunction with the

Australian Cobotic Centre (a collaboration between researchers and industry, funded by the Australian Research Council), focused on the growing area of collaborative robots, or cobots, in the manufacturing industry. The webinar took a deep dive into topics like how cobots work, the benefits they can deliver in terms of productivity and safety, how to train staff in their use, and integration throughout the Australian industry. Industry Drinks Night Brisbane, August In partnership with TAFE Queensland and the Outsource Institute (AUS), Weld Australia facilitated a night of networking with key Tier 1 contractors, industry colleagues and government representatives. Held at Black Bird in the Riverside Centre, attendees heard from Kevin Roos (Business Manager Engineering Training, TAFE Queensland Acacia Ridge); Stephen Love (Managing Director, Outsource Institute (AUS)); and Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia) during an enjoyable and well attended evening of drinks and networking.

2023 | Year in Review

EVENTS

Photos Design and Modeling of Welded Structures Courses. Students in both Melbourne (top) and Perth (bottom) learnt how to mitigate the detrimental effects of welding defects, reducing inefficiencies and costs, and improving schedules and productivity.

An Update on the Revisions of EN 15085 Online, August Weld Australia hosted a successful workshop focused on the revisions to EN 15085 Railway applications – Welding of railway vehicles and components. The workshop was hosted by Victor Blain (Engineering Team Manager) and delivered insights and practical recommendations on how to implement the new requirements of the EN 15085 series of Standards. The event also covered how to gain certification. EN 15085 was introduced to harmonise the requirements for welding materials related to railway vehicles. MEM Resources Information Session Online, September Following the launch of Weld Australia’s new suite of learning resources for the Manufacturing and Engineering (MEM) Training Package, the webinar offered attendees a comprehensive tour of these new resources, including their features and applications. The event provided Insightful updates on our roadmap for the next units, highlighting the innovations and improvements that users can anticipate. Additionally, it was an opportunity to engage with the Weld Australia team, share your thoughts, and ask questions. Design and Modeling of Welded Structures Courses Melbourne & Perth, October Across two big days, attendees of this course learnt

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how to mitigate the detrimental effects of welding defects, reducing inefficiencies and costs, and improving schedules and productivity. Facilitated by USA expert Professor Pingsha Dong (University of Michigan), the course covered the fundamentals that every engineer should know when designing welded components, including weld in-situ strength, residual stresses, geometric discontinuities, resultant joint strength, fatigue resistance, and implications on metallic additively manufactured parts. ASME Section IX Course Adelaide, November This intensive three day course provided participants with a working knowledge of ASME Section IX, including how to comply with its requirements. The ASME code regulates the design, development and construction of boilers and pressure vessels, and the course was designed for welding engineers, quality assurance personnel, auditors, testing laboratory personnel, maintenance personnel and jurisdictional inspection personnel. It was facilitated by US expert Walter J Sperko, President of Sperko Engineering Services.

FURTHER INFORMATION For further information about Weld Australia’s events, or to register for an upcoming event, visit: weldaustralia.com.au

Weld Australia was pleased to present its Welding Excellence Awards in 2023. The Awards embody and promote the highest standards of craftsmanship, quality and professionalism. The 2023 Welding Excellence Awards presented a fantastic opportunity for welders, fabricators and educators across Australia to showcase their people and their operations. Winners are awarded in each state for each of the categories below. Award ceremonies are being held around the country in October and November.

Company of the Year The Company of the Year Award recognises superior performance across a comprehensive range of business metrics. There are three sub-categories: Fabrication; Gas & Gear; and Indigenous.

of quality, innovative training programs, involvement with industry, recruitment and retention of students, and corporate social responsibility.

Welding Professional of the Year This Award recognises professionals who are making a valuable contribution to the Australian welding and fabrication industry. There are three sub-categories: Welding Coordinator; Welding Supervisor; and Welding Inspector.

Training and Education Award – Individual Teacher This Award recognises the outstanding achievements of a STEM or VET teacher at TAFEs, independent RTOs and private companies. Entrants will be judged on criteria such as delivery of quality, innovative training programs, high level of knowledge or craftsmanship, strong links with students, and dedication to their profession.

Trades Person of the Year This Award recognises people who are making a valuable contribution to the Australian welding and fabrication industry. There are three sub-categories: Young Trades Person; Young Indigenous Trades Person; and Trades Person.

Project of the Year The Project of the Year Award recognises excellence in welding and fabrication projects, with a focus on exceptional craftsmanship, a commitment to Australian and International Standards, environmental sustainability and innovation.

Training and Education Award – Organisation The Training and Education Award recognises the outstanding achievements of a STEM or VET provider or program. Entrants may include secondary education and tertiary education providers. Criteria include delivery

Health & Safety in Welding This Award recognises organisations that are leading the way in encouraging and promoting health and safety throughout the Australian welding industry, and ensuring the health and safety of their own team.

WITH THANKS TO OUR AWARDS SPONSORS

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

2023 | Year in Review

EVENTS

INDUSTRY EVENTS IN 2023 Industry conferences and exhibitions were back in full force this year. From expos and career fairs, through to Australian Manufacturing Week, Weld Australia was on hand to answer questions and represent the Australian Welding industry. In addition to the major events below, Weld Australia also exhibited at smaller regional events like the Try A Trade Showcase in Gladstone and the Charleville Careers Expo. AOG Energy Perth, April Over 6,000 people from more than 40 countries attended this major event, previously known as the Australasian Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition. For over 40 years AOG Energy has bought the entire oil, gas and energy supply chain together as a platform for discovering innovation, capabilities and opportunities, supported by major operators, government and industry. This year, AOG Energy featured a renewed focus on the energy transition, including hydrogen and the potential for hubs in the Pilbara, Midwest and South West. Australian Manufacturing Week Melbourne, May Weld Australia was pleased to be a part of the very successful Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023), held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organised and run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2023 saw 348 exhibitors put on a fantastic showcase for over 15,900 attendees from 29 different countries. The Weld Australia exhibition stand proved extremely popular with the crowds, with many people and large groups of students eager to try the Soldamatic welding simulators. Careers and Employment Expo Adelaide, May Held at the Adelaide Showground, the Adelaide Careers and Employment Expo hosted over 130 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages. The event was tailored especially for school students, parents, teachers, graduates, job seekers, people looking

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for courses and workers seeking new training options. Weld Australia had a very popular stand in one of the ‘Try A Trade’ interactive zones, with our cutting edge welding simulators a real hit with the crowds. Additionally, the Expo offered attendees free advice and career seminars. Careers Expo Regional Queensland, May The Careers Expo in regional southwest Queensland provided regional students with the opportunity to discover the diverse range of careers, education, pathways and employment available across the region. Adam Coorey (Regional Training Coordinator, Weld Australia) was on-site at the Roma and St George campuses of TAFE Queensland, helping to promote

EduTECH Conference

welding as a highly successful and exciting career to the next generation of workers. The event included a range of workshops and demonstrations to guide students in choosing a career. Trades Fit Expo Melbourne, June Weld Australia was excited to be part of the Victorian Government’s Trades Fit expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The expo showcased the myriad of rewarding and well-paid career opportunities for young women and non-binary students, providing information and pathways across a range of in demand and emerging industries. Bringing together more than 3,000 students and almost 120 schools, the

two-day expo featured more than 90 exhibitors including Amazon, Ford, Woolworths and Star of the South. IIW 2023 Singapore, July In conjunction with the 76th Annual Assembly of International Institute of Welding (IIW), the Singapore Welding Society (SWS) hosted the International Conference on Advances in Welding, Joining and Additive Manufacturing at the beautiful Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The event provided a platform for knowledge exchange and networking among scientists, researchers and industry experts in the field of welding and joining. Welding professionals were invited to present original work in diverse areas including nano joining and laser welding. WorldSkills National Championships and Skills Show Melbourne, August Weld Australia would like to congratulate all the winners of the 2023 WorldSkills National Championships, held in Melbourne from 17 to 19 August. 180 young apprentices and trainees were presented with medals at a ceremony

attended by the Victorian Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney, Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, and invited guests. The winners came from across 59 skills. Weld Australia was proud to sponsor the Welding category, and Guy Brooks (Training Manager) was the Deputy Chief Judge for the Welding Category. Try A Trade Expo Melbourne, August The Try a Trade Expo in Melbourne offered students in the Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley areas to discover the world of trades and vocations in a fun, interactive way. This unique, hands-on expo was attended by over 350 students in years 9 to 12, who came along to gain a better understanding of the career pathways available in trades and vocations. As always, Weld Australia’s Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulator was a big hit with the crowd, giving students the opportunity to try welding in safe environment. AIMEX Sydney, September AIMEX, the Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition, was the premium

event in 2023 for the mining section to collaborate and hear from industry thought leaders. The Expo provided the opportunity to connect and do business with over 250 local and international suppliers. Additionally, there was an extensive program of speakers sharing insights on topics such as transformative technology and decarbonisation. Weld Australia’s stand proved popular as always, with a Soldamatic welding simulator and a Dooson welding cobot on display. EduTECH Conference Melbourne, September EduTECH 2023 was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and featured over 550 local and international speakers who covered the latest trends and technologies shaping the education sector. The largest education event in Australia, the conference featured hundreds of international and local exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge solutions, including Weld Australia with the Soldamatic augmented reality simulator. The event was attended by over 12,000 people, including a range of educators and industry professionals.

Careers Expo in Regional Queensland

Australian Manufacturing Week

AIMEX

2023 | Year in Review

WELDER TRAINING

PREMIER WELDER TRAINING Weld Australia is Australia’s premier welder training organisation. We understand the value of ongoing professional development and are committed to upskilling the next generation of welders. Weld Australia qualifications, certifications and training courses can boost your earning potential and job stability, and make you the preferred candidate for large-scale welding projects around the globe. Plus, continued professional development demonstrates to employers that you’re dedicated to continually learning and growing in your field—qualities that are essential for leadership roles and complex projects This year, we progressed with the MEM 2.0 Welder Learning Resources project, and facilitated a whole host of training.

Weld Australia’s mission is simple – to facilitate the growth of a world class welding industry in Australia. Our training does exactly this. As the International Institute of Welding (IIW) Authorised Nominated Body (ANB) and the Authorised Training Body (ATB), we are uniquely positioned to provide internationally recognised qualifications. In 2023, our team of expert trainers facilitated more than 24 courses, ranging from the International Welding Engineer (IWE) and International Welding Inspector Standard (IWI-S) and Basic (IWI-B) qualifications, right through to AS 1796 Certificate 10. In-House Training Courses Weld Australia facilitated in-house training and welder testing for a whole host of companies in 2023. In May, we facilitated an in-house Welding Fundamentals course for 14 students at Stanwell power station in Rockhampton. The course was tailored especially for Stanwell, and covered weld processes, imperfections, heat treatment, and more. In June, we ran an in-house training course for Monadelphous at their Singleton facilities. The course focused on the IWI-B qualification. In July and August, Weld Australia facilitated IWI-B inhouse courses for BAE Systems in Adelaide, as well as for the Navy at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney, as well as our popular Welding Supervisor course in a face-to-face format in Gladstone, Queensland. September saw Weld Australia host in-house training for Glencore in Brisbane. Joe Sandor presented our Welding Fundamentals training to 25 of Glencore’s engineers over the course of two days. In October, we were off to Gladstone, rolling out in-house training sessions for Queensland Alumina Limited.

Weld Australia

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In-house or in-person courses

Courses

101

IWI-B Students

Welding Supervisor Students

Welding Fundamentals Students

FORGING A SKILLED WORKFORCE: DEVELOPING LOCAL TALENT IN PNG In mid 2023, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was home to a suite of successful welding training programs, bringing together ten citizen employees from both Monadelphous and Santos across their Lihir and Monadelphous Worley Joint Venture (MWJV) operations. In collaboration with Weld Australia, Monadelphous conceptualised and coordinated two welding upskilling programs including Welding Technology Basics and International Welding Inspector - Basic (IWI-B). Led by Weld Australia’s experienced trainer, Joe Sandor, the comprehensive program covered welding processes, codes, standards, inspection techniques, and safety protocols. Participants engaged in theoretical sessions and practical demonstrations, gaining handson experience and a deep understanding of welding inspection procedures. Mark Potts, Quality and Welding Manger for Monadelphous said, “This is a first for us all in PNG, and a fantastic example of our commitment to corporate social responsibility by training some of our national employees in welding inspection. By investing in the development of local talent, Monadelphous is not only bridging the skills gap but also empowering the local workforce to make significant contributions to their communities, and the broader nation. I’m proud of our ongoing dedication to creating sustainable opportunities and fostering economic growth in PNG.”

The success of the IWI-B course in Port Moresby was further bolstered by the proactive support and engagement of the site teams across Lihir and MWJV. The collaboration between the site teams, Weld Australia, and the participants fostered a strong sense of teamwork, highlighting the collective effort to advance welding inspection practices. “Upskilling initiatives like this showcases the value of professional development opportunities in PNG, allowing employees to acquire essential skills and expand their knowledge in line with international best practices. We anticipate that the newly acquired expertise will have a positive impact on welding inspection practices across our operations, promoting higher quality standards and safety measures – which is great for everyone,” said Sean Lavin, Learning and Development Advisor (Eastern Region), Monadelphous.

2023 | Year in Review

WELDER TRAINING

WELD AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR MEM TRAINING PACKAGE In August, Weld Australia launched a new suite of learning resources for the Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package.

Davenport, you should have access to the same, high-quality training. Our goal is to help ensure that highquality welder learning is consistent across the country.”

Weld Australia has designed and created a suite of resources for delivery of the 12 welding and fabrication units of competency in the Manufacturing and Engineering (MEM) Training Package.

Welders are more in demand than ever—labour shortages are inhibiting the growth of Australia’s welding industry. According to Weld Australia’s members, 50 per cent of Australia’s welding workshops are currently operating at 80 per cent of their capacity or below. When asked why this is, a lack of skilled workers was the overwhelming answer.

According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “Our resources help simplify the learning process for students, teachers and training institutes and—most importantly— place the student at centre of the learning process.” “Weld Australia believes that a national industry, which has a national learning package, needs national learning resources. Whether you’re an apprentice in Kalgoorlie, Ultimo or

Weld Australia

“This labour shortage comes as no surprise. Weld Australia has been calling for urgent action for over five years. We estimate that Australia will be at least 70,000 welders short by 2030,” said Crittenden. “And yet, the number of welding trade workers in Australia dropped

by 8 per cent in the course of just five years, and completion rates of welding apprenticeships continue to fall by as much as 23 per cent annually. It is essential that welder training is revolutionised with online, accessible and engaging learning resources.” Weld Australia formed a national consortium of TAFEs to work on the project. Over the last two years, the consortium has collaborated with us to develop the most engaging, upto-date resources possible. Members of the consortium piloted use of the resources, and some TAFEs have already permanently adopted them. Weld Australia’s MEM Resources have been built with students, teachers and training organisations in mind. It reimagines the learning process with its user-friendly interface, diversified delivery methods, and audited and accurate

able to utilise these training resources in class to support lecturers. If apprentices miss classes, they can access the resources and catch up a lot more quickly than trying to reschedule another block later on.” Brenda Micale (General Manager, Training Services at South Metropolitan TAFE) agreed. “The resources have improved our delivery across the fabrication area quite significantly. We’ve had some really great feedback from our industry partners too.” “On our own, we could have developed an adequate suite of materials for the qualification. Through the national collaboration, we got a much higher quality resources. On a TAFE budget, we never could have got all the bells and whistles—the videos, the eLearning— it’s just financially out of our reach.” material. The new MEM resources are completely online and accessible via phone, mobile device or computer. This allows students to access learning at the time, place and pace that suits them best. South Metropolitan TAFE Pilot South Metropolitan TAFE in Fremantle, Western Australia was the first training organisation to facilitate an official pilot. The feedback received from students and lecturers alike was extremely positive.

“

On our own, we could have developed an adequate suite of materials for the qualification. Through the national collaboration, we got a much higher quality resources. On a TAFE budget, we never could have got all the bells and whistles—the videos, the eLearning— it’s just financially out of our reach.”

“It’s great when I go out to Rockingham, the Thornley and Naval Base campuses where fabrication is taught and you can see apprentices engaging with the technology. They’re able to download it onto their mobile phones, they can play the videos, its interactive.”

According to Jonathon Maile (Executive Director – Engineering, Transport and Defence, South Metropolitan TAFE), “The resources have been terrific, not only for our team here at South Metro TAFE, but we’ve also upheld these and shared these with some external customers as well. So from a quality perspective, the resources have been tremendous.” “Being able to link in with Weld Australia and other TAFEs, improved training outcomes—there is a better consistency from a technical perspective Australia-wide. It has improved our focus on digitisation and eLearning, and the increased the flexibility of how we deliver. We’re

FURTHER INFORMATION To find out more about Weld Australia’s new MEM learning resources, email training@weldaustralia, and watch the video above.

2023 | Year in Review

Advanced Welder Training Centres

AN UPDATE FROM THE AWTCs Weld Australia has worked with partners around the country to secure State and Federal Government funding for the establishment of Advanced Welder Training Centres (AWTCs). Using the state-of-the-art Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulators, the training delivered at the AWTCs quickly qualifies welders to the only industry Standard in the world that is accepted in both Europe and America: ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders – Fusion welding. This Standard is the minimum requirement for working on rolling stock, defence and infrastructure projects, which are crucial to onshore Australian manufacturing and a stronger national economy.

In 2023, several training organisations established new AWTCs, including CQUniversity in Rockhampton, Chisholm Institute in Melbourne, Melbourne Polytechnic, Rural Industries Skills Training (RIST) in Hamilton, and ATNZ (Apprentice Training New Zealand). These organisations are set to introduce augmented reality into their welding curriculum. Soldamatic simulators were delivered to the training organisations, with Weld Australia installing, commissioning and rolling out training to their teachers, in both ISO 9606 and the use of the simulators. Weld Australia also visited TAFE Queensland Acacia Ridge to provide refresher training to their staff. During the training, all teachers had the

opportunity to use the Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulators and learn about the role they can play in welder training. The teachers completed training for ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 1: Steels, once again using the augmented reality welding simulators. The teachers also undertook a real ISO 9606-1 assessment to achieve internationally recognised welder qualifications. QMI’s Women Who Weld Program Throughout the year, Weld Australia participated in the Queensland Manufacturing Institute’s (QMI) Women Who Weld Program. The program aims to increase gender diversity and participation in manufacturing careers.

Training at the TAFE Queensland Acacia Ridge campus.

Weld Australia

It provides the opportunities for female high school students in years 10, 11 and 12 to gain insight into trade skills and career pathways, including local employment opportunities. The program was facilitated at several high schools across Queensland. Augmented Reality Welder Training at Queensland Schools Throughout the year, Weld Australia facilitated augmented reality welding training in high schools across Queensland, including in Caboolture, Brisbane, Mackay and Yeppoon. Students had the opportunity to undertake augmented reality welding training in line with ISO 9606.1 Qualification testing of welders. After just a few hours of practice, students were achieving results required to achieve qualified welder status.

Teachers try their hand at the Training at Grace Lutheran College in Caboolture. Soldamatics at Temora High School.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SCHOOLS OUTREACH PROGRAM The Advanced Manufacturing Schools Outreach Program is encouraging kids in secondary schools across New South Wales to explore a meaningful career in the trades. With a skills deficient crisis impacting a raft of labour markets across Australia, industry is calling for the Program to be rolled out nationally. The Program was demonstrated at a media event in March at Dapto High School. A range of media coverage was secured, including: • Channel Nine News • ABC Radio Interview • High tech trades class, by the Illawarra Mercury • NSW Schools Outreach Program Encourages Trade Careers, by Manufacturers Monthly According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “There is no magic solution to Australia’s skills crisis. We need a radical approach. The same old approach that we’ve taken for years will not arm Australia with the skilled workers needed to deliver the record number of projects we’re seeing in industries like defence and renewables, let alone the $237 billion pipeline of government infrastructure. Industry is calling out for kids with a

practical bent to go into the trades. We need parents to understand that a career as a tradesperson is full of potential and a whole raft of exciting opportunities. The Advanced Manufacturing Schools Outreach Program in New South Wales is helping to do exactly this. It is helping to reverse the mindset that the only path for kids post-high school is university,” said Crittenden. “Our STEM Program is unique because it actually engages kids. It is hands-on, fun and educational. It is not just about studying more maths and physics textbooks. Anyone can try their hand at the welding simulators and be a star. A lot of these kids have never passed a test in their lives— the light in the kids’ eyes when the simulators gives them the all-clear is really something to see.”

Weld Australia has been working with the New South Wales Department of Education on the Advanced Manufacturing School Outreach Program to create a practical solution to the skills crisis in Australia. In 2020, a pilot was rolled out to 16 schools in areas from Wagga Wagga, Lake Illawarra and Dapto high schools in southern New South Wales, to the Gorokan and Kurri Kurri High Schools in the Lower Hunter region. Based on the success of the first pilot program, it was expanded in 2021 to another 12 high schools, and in 2022 to another 14 high schools. To date, 82 welding simulators are installed at 40 high schools across New South Wales. The Program uses augmented reality welding simulators to give students in Years 9 to 12 a real welding experience.

PLAY Further Information For further information about Weld Australia’s training, contact: training@weldaustralia.com.au 2023 | Year in Review

INDUSTRY GROUPS

LINKING MEMBERS: WELD AUSTRALIA’S INDUSTRY GROUPS IN 2023 Weld Australia’s Industry Groups provide a forum for technology transfer and research and development, linking members with industry and research organisations. Weld Australia works with Industry Group members to ensure they remain diverse and resilient in the ever-changing and increasingly challenging global markets. WELDING SAFETY COUNCIL The Welding Safety Council met in May and September this year. In attendance were representatives from Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH), AWS, Industrial Laser Solutions, SafeWork NSW, Justice TAS, TAFE Queensland, SafeWork Australia, DMIRS WA, WorkSafe ACT, WorkSafe Victoria and Weld Australia. The Welding Safety Council is currently addressing several areas of concern, including protective clothing, electric shock, and the dangers of welding fume, as well as hand-held laser welders and the lack of standards and regulations around their use. Several case studies were presented by attendees that demonstrated the risks of electric shocks from welding, as well as incidents in which the cotton clothing of welders have caught fire necessitating hospitalisation and skin grafts. As such, the use of protective welders’

leathers or fire-resistant treated clothing used in accordance with instructions is recommended. A Safety Alert was prepared, which was widely distributed. Cameron Jamieson (Director, Industrial Laser Solutions) gave a presentation on hand-held lasers that are commonly found in the Australian marketplace. Cameron highlighted that while some lasers have high levels of protection and interlocks to prevent inadvertent use of the laser—others do not. Weld Australia developed a Safety Alert on hand-held lasers that was widely distributed. The Weld Australia website was reconfigured to enable the issue of Safety Alerts as deemed appropriate by the Welding Safety Council. These Alerts will draw attention to welding safety incidents, including the known causes of the incident and what steps can be taken to help prevent similar incidents occurring. Weld Australia is developing two

Photo: Power Generation Industry Group meeting attendees.

Weld Australia

comprehensive online training courses designed to improve safety outcomes across the country. One course is tailored for welders, while the other is aimed at welding engineers and supervisors. These courses will be available via the Weld Australia website in ealry 2024. POWER GENERATION INDUSTRY GROUP The Power Generation Industry Group comprises: 1. Boiler Industry Group 2. Process Safety Industry Group 3. Asset Integrity Board Boiler Industry Group The Boiler Industry Group met in April 2023 in Perth, hosted by Synergy, attended by over 30 people. Wayne Hill (EnergyAustralia) gave a detailed and informative presentation on a program developed by EnergyAustralia to develop a structured approach for the detection, repair, analysis and prevention of boiler tube failures. Joseph Freeland (Delta Electricity) gave a presentation of a waterwall tube failure at Vales Point Power Station. Joseph explained the analysis of the failure to determine the root cause and to understand the risk of other similar failures on the boiler. The cause was determined to be an original weld failure. Joseph also described the process for repair of the failure. Abi Babu (HRL) gave a presentation of strategies to best preserve units during times of storage and layup. Damien Charman (IRIS NDT) gave a presentation on Low Frequency

Electromagnetic Testing (LFET) on reheater tube standby pitting at Loy Yang A. The project involved 256 cut outs for repairs. This approach uses specific probes for specific tube IDs. The Boiler Industry met again in October. The first day was held at Mt Piper Power Station hosted by EnergyAustralia, and included a tour of the facilities. As usual at these meetings, Bruce Cannon provided a presentation on updates to Australian Standards and Technical Guidance Notes. Bruce advised that over 500 public Comments were received for the AS 3788 update. These have now been reviewed and resolved and is now under a final review by the sub-committee. There will still be a rigorous review process before finalising the updated Standard. Wayne Hill (EnergyAustralia) gave a presentation on cracking that was found on a superheater outlet header stubs. Ryan Bentley (Quest Integrity) gave a presentation on new ultrasonic inspection methods. Damien Charman (IRIS NDT) gave a presentation on advancement in phased array technologies and the application of this to complex geometries. Randal Jitts (Delta Electricity) gave a presentation of an incident at Vales Point that occurred in 2014 and had ramifications over some years. The initial incident involved a large condenser leak which then caused issues in the boiler, turbine and auxiliary plant over some years. This was an excellent presentation with many learnings for those present. Warwick Robinson (HRL) gave a presentation on Life Assessment Techniques at HRL and how they can be applied to power station plant and equipment. A special presentation was given by Thomas Will (Chief Engineer) and Dr Krzyszof Zajacfrom Steinmuller Engineering GmbH (Germany) on NOx Reduction Methods and Technologies. The second day was held at the old Wallerawang Power Station and

hosted by Greenspot Wallerawang. The Wallerawang Power Station was closed in 2014 and has gone through a process of decommissioning and demolition. The site is now entering a phase of re-purposing and redevelopment. A large Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has received Development approval and planning commence construction in 2024. The remainder of the site still has some of the old power station building which are available for re-purposing and redevelopment. Malcolm Macleod gave a presentation on the project to date and on the plans for the future. This was particularly interesting as many power generators will be closing power stations in future years and will be facing similar challenges as has been encountered by Greenspot. The day also included a walk around of the site where attendees could see the potential for the re-purposing and redevelopment. Process Safety Industry Group The Process Safety Industry Group meeting was held in April in Perth. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 people. Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia) opened the meeting with an update on Australia’s renewable energy transition, touching on challenges such as the sheer volume of materials and labour that will be required. James Ryan (OXT Group) presented on process safety bow ties for power generation. Sam Clayton (HRL) gave a presentation improving the operational performance of the Diamantina Power Station (Mt Isa) in terms of maximising plant output and improving operational flexibility. Salim Talib (Synergy) described a process where Synergy is managing projects, bringing projects to completion and handing over completed projects to stakeholders. Alex Horner and Ninh Nguyen from Synergy gave a presentation on the installation of additional electric heaters for the deaerators at Muja Power Station.

2023 | Year in Review

INDUSTRY GROUPS The Process Safety Industry Group also met online in October. There were two presentations both given by representatives of Synergy. Joe Chew gave a presentation on the Risk Management of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Salem Talib gave a presentation on Synergy’s Process Safety Fundamentals. Salem provided detail on the Process Safety structure that Synergy is currently implementing. Asset Integrity Board The Asset Integrity Board met online in July 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to review the strategies and future directions for the Power Generation Industry Group. A draft Charter was circulated and discussed, including provision for renewable energy and a Turbine Industry Group. The Boiler Industry Group discussed several topics, including integrity management, advanced analytics, management of data, flexible operations, low load operations, layup procedures and ramp rates. Skills shortages were also discussed, with members indicating that it is difficult to attract and retain young people. As such, there is a real need for

Weld Australia

graduate development programs for young people. Finally, renewable energy was discussed. Many generators are in the process of planning, building and operating wind assets and battery energy storage systems (BESS). It was suggested that BESS Working Group be formed. Issues raised also included wind, solar farms, transmission towers, and global supply chains. DEFENCE INDUSTRY NETWORK Weld Australia hosted the second meeting of its Defence Industry Network in June. The purpose of the Network is to support, grow and sustain the local Australian defence Industry. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Austal, Baker & Provan, Bisalloy, the Department of Defence, DVR Engineering, HRL, Lincoln Electric, Marand, Precision Metal Group, Thales, Uneek and Weld Australia. The meeting was opened by Chair Jason Elias (Founder and Director, Precision Metal Group), who led a discussion on sovereign industrial capacity priorities in defence.

Attendees shared the challenges and opportunities prevalant in the industry at the moment. Thomas Lau (Senior Structural Design Engineer, Thales) provided a presentation focused on the manufacture of the Bushmaster combat personnel vehicle and the Hawke Eye. Lively discussion of several topics followed, including skills and labour shortages and ways to help overcome these shortages; the importance of collaboration within Defence supply chains to mitigate risk, share resources and learnings and create sovereignty; and the importance of a range of different certifications and qualifications. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY NETWORK Weld Australia launched its newly created Advanced Manufacturing Industry Network via a webinar in mid-May. The webinar focused on the additive manufacturing (AM) of metals and components with prominent technology providers doing talks on the current state of the technology on the market.

There was also a strong focus on the quality assurance of additive manufacturing with a member of ISO Technical Committee 261 Additive Manufacturing, giving a talk on the standardisation with regards to the qualification of AM processes, personnel, and 3D printed parts. Brad Coulter (Senior Technical Sales Consultant, AML3D) provided an overview of the capabilities of AML3D; Professor Stephen Pan (University of Wollongong) spoke about wire-arc AM at the Facility of Intelligent Fabrication; Professor Huijun Li (University of Wollongong) gave an update on quality assurance, including the ongoing work of the ISO Technical Committee 261 and Standards Australia around AM. Finally, David Gerrard (Director APAC, Xiris) gave a presentation on the technology that Xiris has available for in-situ quality management of AM. A second meeting was held in August with a theme of Automation Using Cobots. Cornelis Van Niekerk gave a presentation on training of cobot operators for automated welding applications with the use of Soldamatic welding simulators.

Perry Swaveley (Frontline Manufacturing) gave a presentation on Benefits of small robotic automation – Distortion control, economy, and productivity associated with automation. Penny Williams, Greg Hearn and Mats Isakson of the Australian Cobotic Centre gave the feature presentation on the services provided by the Centre, and the benefits of partnerships, focused on the integration of cobots and obstacles to automation. RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY GROUP Weld Australia established a Renewable Energy Industry Group to bring together existing generators, new players, manufacturers, suppliers, specialists and consultants. The first meeting of the group took place in September 2023. Geoff Crittenden gave an overview of the renewable energy industry, focused on the issues facing renewable energy developments. These issues include local communities and consultation issues, lobby groups, and planning processes that are significant in the development approval process and also in the construction phases of a project.

Dan McKinna (General Manager, Keppel Prince) gave a presentation on challenges and issues facing manufacturers such as Kepple Prince. Dan discussed the impact of overseas competition, overseas labour rates, overseas steel supply, exchange rates, US Inflation Reduction Act, and the need for government support for local industry. Simon Preston (Group General Manager, Precision Oxycut, Allthread Industries, First Forge) gave a presentation about the state of the renewable energy industry in Australia and opportunities that can be gained through innovation and approaches that differentiate local suppliers from overseas supply. Precision Oxycut has achieved this through an improved design approach to wind tower foundation anchor cages.

FURTHER INFORMATION For further information or to join one of our Industry Groups, contact: Andrew Davies (Manager Technical Industry Networks) on a.davies@weldaustralia.com.au or 0438 428 966.

THE BENEFITS OF INDUSTRY GROUP MEMBERSHIP • • • • • • • • • • •

A confidential forum for discussing issues with peers A unified body that advocates for change among industry clients Advantageous access to technical advice and engineering support The opportunity to benchmark against industry best practice A conduit between industry and research organisations Beneficial nationally and internationally accredited training Cost effective certification products and services Collaborative sharing of resources and services for repair options in accordance with Australian and international standards Opportunities to influence Australian Standards, contract terms and specifications Opportunity to participate in research and development projects Technology transfer and networking via industry specific forums

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2023 | Year in Review

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

UPDATES TO AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS IN 2023 Australian Standards are living documents. They reflect progress in science, technology and systems. To maintain their relevancy, all Standards are periodically reviewed, with amendments and revised editions published. The last 12 months have seen several developments, including reviews into standards related to pressure equipment, steel structures and pipelines. Weld Australia also commenced the publication of Safety Alerts and made a range of free technical and guidance notes available to members. Pressure Equipment The revision of AS/NZS 3788 Pressure equipment—In-service inspection is progressing well and public comment closed in June. Comments received have been resolved by the drafting committee and the draft is being prepared for committee ballot by ME-001. Welding Consumables Committee WD-002 has reviewed the aged AS/NZS 1167 suite (Welding and Brazing — Filler metals) and the adoption of the relevant ISO consumable standards has been completed. The suite was formally superseded in October. The Committee has also resolved to revise AS 2576 Welding consumables for build-up and wear resistance and project consultation is currently underway. Welding Safety The revision of AS 1674.1 Safety in Welding and allied processes—Part 1 Fire precautions is underway. Initial drafting has been completed, with a public review draft now being prepared by Committee WD-004. The standard is used extensively in industry to establish fire preventative measures whilst welding in locations not necessarily designed for hot work. Separate to this project, Committee EL-019 has commenced the revision of the sister standard AS 1674.2 Safety in Welding and allied processes—Part 2 Electrical with the kick-off meeting held in August. Associated with these projects is the revision of AS 2812

Weld Australia

Welding, brazing and cutting of metals — Glossary of terms by Committee WD-003. The project opened for public comment in October. Bridges The amendment to AS/NZS 5100.6 Bridge design — Part 6: Steels and composite construction is well advanced and following a period of public comment, comments have been resolved. The draft amendment is now being prepared for Committee ballot. The revision will align the requirements of the standard with the latest revision of AS 4100 Steel structures, AS/NZS 5131 Structural steelwork — Fabrication and erection, and the New Zealand steel structures design standard NZS 3404.1. The revision will resolve known conflicts and anomalies via an amendment. Steel Structures Standards Australia has commenced a major revision of AS 4100 Steel structures in May. Committee BD-001 is managing the project. Cognisance will be taken on the relevant amendments to AS/NZS 5100.6. WD-003’s project to revise AS/NZS 2214 Certification of welding supervisors —Structural steel welding has been approved and the revision process commenced. The project will see the standard split into parts and renamed. The existing standard will become Part 1 and will be revised to accommodate welding inspection, similar to the latest revision of AS 1796. Part 2 will cover bolting supervisors

and inspectors, and will be drafted with the assistance of members of BD-001 and ME-029. As previously advised, the long term intention is to add additional parts to cover the qualification of key personnel relevant to AS/NZS 5131. Committee WD-003 was made aware of errors in two Tables within AS/NZS ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders — Fusion welding. A mathematical operator in Tables 8 and 14 was reversed and Standards Australia has since corrected the error. The original ISO text was correct and remains unchanged. Committee BD-023 is currently revising AS/NZS 1594 Hot-rolled steel flat products. Formerly managed by Committee MT-001, this standard

primarily relates to grades of steel used in hot rolled coil product form but also relates to lighter gauge plate manufactured from hot rolled coil for structural purposes. The draft is currently being prepared for public comment. ISO Update ISO TC44/SC10 has completed the revision of ISO 3834 Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials series of standards primarily taking cognisance of changes to ISO 9001 Quality management systems — Requirements and the 2019 edition of ISO 14731 Welding coordination — Tasks and responsibilities. Parts 1 to 5 inclusive have been published and adopted by Standards Australia as direct text adoptions. Revision of Part 6 of ISO 3834 is now well advanced and the FDIS ballot is underway. Consideration for adoption in Australia will commence after finalisation by ISO. TC44/SC10 has also been revising ISO 17660 Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel. This edition is planned to combine the two existing parts into a single document. Work is ongoing. Similarly, ISO TC44/SC11 has been revising ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders— Fusion welding— Part 1: Steels to combine all 5 parts into the one standard. This will simplify the ongoing maintenance and review requirements for the standards currently published as Parts 2 to 5 of ISO 9606-1. A CD draft has been released for ballot and comment by National Committees with the drafting committee next scheduled to meet in November 2023 during TC44 week.

WELD AUSTRALIA RELEASES RESOURCES IN 2023 Weld Australia offers a range of technical resources, with a new Technical Guidance Note released this year. In addition, Weld Australia commenced the publication of Safety Alerts in 2023. All our technical resources are available via the website, free of charge for Weld Australia members. TGN-PG04: Flame Straightening of Structures The objective of this Technical Guidance Note is to identify the factors that influence flame straightening and provide fabricators and users with an understanding of the process so that it can be effectively used when required. Whilst flame straightening is often seen as a ‘black art’, an understanding of how the process works and careful placement of the heating torches will maximise its effectiveness and allow the user to not only straighten warped, bent, twisted, dented and impact damaged workpieces with the flame rapidly, and without impairing the material, but to also create curved structures. Safety Alert: Welders’ Clothing Catching Fire This Safety Alert was issued in response to serious incidents involving welders’ cotton drill clothing catching fire during welding. Commonly used cotton drill clothing in Australia, including high-visibility wear, is typically not flameresistant unless specifically treated, posing a fire hazard. Synthetic materials like nylon or polyester should never be worn while welding due to their potential to melt and cause severe burns. The Alert emphasises guidelines for protective clothing for welders and the danger of exposed undergarments. Safety Alert: Hand-Held Laser Welders Increasing numbers of hand-held laser welder devices are being imported into Australia, posing significant safety risks. These devices transmit invisible laser light energy and can cause severe burns and permanent blindness to personnel directly or indirectly exposed. Welders should use safety precautions including using hand-held laser systems with integrated safety features, conducting laser welding in fully enclosed booths with safety interlocks, wearing suitable protective clothing, and ensuring proper training for welders operating hand-held laser welders.

2023 | Year in Review

QUALIFICATION & CERTIFICATION

WELD AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES NEW COMPANY CERTIFICATIONS In September, we announced that companies can now be certified by Weld Australia to three new Standards: AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management System; AS/NZS ISO 14001 Environmental Management; and AS/NZS ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety. AS/NZS ISO 9001 AS/NZS ISO 9001 is a crucial certification for a quality management system. It is used by organisations to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. First adopted in 1987, over one

million organisations from more than 160 countries have certified to ISO 9001 to meet quality management objectives. Obtaining ISO 9001 certification offers several advantages. It showcases a commitment to quality, assuring clients of standardised, consistent outcomes. This recognition differentiates you in a competitive market, elevating your business reputation. The certification processes can help streamline your operations, reducing wastage, and improving efficiency, to translate into cost savings. It also emphasises continual improvement, promoting innovation and adaptability. This certification enhances customer trust and satisfaction, potentially increasing client retention and referrals.

Lastly, some clients mandate ISO 9001 certification for contractual purposes, widening market opportunities. In essence, ISO 9001 can accelerate growth and boost credibility. AS/NZS ISO 14001 ISO 14001 is one of the most recognised and advanced environmental management systems in the world. It provides a framework for companies, including welding businesses, to minimise their environmental footprint, ensure compliance with applicable legal regulations, and continually improve in these areas. For welding businesses, the benefits are manifold. Besides promoting eco-friendly operations, the certificate process can help reduce waste and energy consumption, leading to cost savings. Achieving this certification differentiates a company in the marketplace, highlighting its commitment to sustainability. This attracts environmentally conscious clients and enhances reputation among stakeholders. Moreover, by adhering to ISO 14001, businesses are better equipped to anticipate and manage environmental risks, ensuring long-term resilience and sustainability. This is essential in an evolving climate, where safer environmental practices should be at a business’ core. AS/NZS ISO 45001 AS/NZS ISO 45001 has wellbeing and safety at its core to minimise workplace-related injuries and poor health. The leadership-lead approach means AS/NZS ISO 45001 meets moral, legal, ethical and industrybest practice when it comes to an employers’ duty of care over staff.

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The certification shares principles with a range of other essential standards within the welding, fabrication and manufacturing space. This certification offers numerous benefits. It not only helps reduce the incidence of accidents and health-related absences but also demonstrates your commitment to the safety of your workforce. This proactive approach to health and safety can enhance a firm’s reputation, boost employee morale, and potentially decrease insurance premiums. Moreover, ISO 45001 helps businesses to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of penalties and lawsuits. International Welding Practitioner (IWP) Qualification Introduced Weld Australia introduced the IIW International Welding Practitioner (IWP) qualification this year. It is awarded to professionals who have demonstrated a thorough understanding of welding technology and its applications. Holding this qualification not only enhances one’s technical expertise but also opens up opportunities for career advancement, international recognition, and the ability to contribute to the highest standards of welding practices. International Welding Inspector – Comprehensive (IWI-C) Weld Australia is currently working on the introduction of the IIW International Welding Inspector – Comprehensive (IWI-C) alternative route for qualified International Welding Engineers (IWEs) and International Welding Technologists (IWTs). This is the highest level of IIW qualification available for welding inspectors.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about qualification or certification email: qnc@weldaustralia.com.au

Improvements to the WeldQ Online Exam System Early this year, Weld Australia rolled out a major new feature for WeldQ, the online exam system. Students are now able to complete online written exams using a single platform. The process has been streamlined as much as possible to ensure that students can focus on the task at hand— achieving the best possible exam result. With the new process, students will use the robust WeldQ platform, along with interactive QR Codes to complete their exams. We are currently working on a WeldQ update, which will see the introduction of live online proctoring and viewing student video feed—an additional layer of invigilation to protect against examination fraud. Weld Australia also launched a brand new phone app version of the WeldQ platform. The app is available for download via both the Android and iOS platforms. The app has made accessing the WeldQ platform—and all the vital information stored within the platform—even easier for welders and employers alike. It will be particularly handy for use on-site or in a workshop when a computer is not readily available.

2023 | Year in Review

COMPANY CERTIFICATIONS

COMPANY CERTIFICATIONS IN 2023 Certification demonstrates a company’s ability to deliver a compliantly welded product, on time and on budget. Certification increases your potential to enter international markets with a competitive edge and improves the likelihood of repeat business. Weld Australia would like to congratulate the companies awarded certification in 2023, including: • Seven new companies certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834 Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials, bringing the total to 82 companies • One new company certified to AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management System • Two new companies certified to EN 15085 Railway applications – Welding of railway vehicles, bringing the total up to 15 companies • One new companies certified to DIN 2303 Welding and allied processes - Quality requirements to be met by production and maintenance companies for military products, bringing the total up to nine companies

Allship Engineering WA and NSW Alliship Engineering is a specialist defence marine repairer with facilities in both Sydney, New South Wales and Henderson, Western Australia. Both of their facilities were certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834 in 2023. Allship provides cost-effective, highquality solutions to get ships to sea, including: machining and milling of steel; coded welding of carbon steel, copper nickel, aluminium and stainless steel; design, manufacture and install of custom thermal heat shields and insulation blankets; and much more For further information, visit: allship.com.au

DJM Fabrications Since 1994, DJM Fabrications has provided superior engineering for mechanical, civil, forestry and mining applications, as well as quality custom metal fabrication for the forestry, mining, and civil industries for numerous clients around Australia. With an emphasis on a quality product and an exceptional level of engineering excellence, their reputation and after sales service is second to none. DJM fabrications was certified to EN 15085 this year, already holding AS/NZS ISO 3834 certification. For further information, visit: djmfab.com

Kitson Manufacturing Solutions Based in Parkes, New South Wales, KMS is a leading provider of integrated manufacturing, building and construction, asset maintenance and service solutions. Since 2014, they have grown from a specialist plant maintenance company to involvement in many major resource engineering projects. KMS has built a reputation for quality and reliability backed by an entrenched safety culture, well maintained equipment and a highly qualified and experienced team who are committed to each and every project. For further information, visit: kitsonsolutions.com.au

Coslee Heavy Metal Fabricators With more than 55 years experience in the industry and produly Australian owned, Coslee specialises in light poles and steel fabrication. Their products include poles of all shapes and sizes, from circular pipe, mid hinge and slip base, through to security camera poles. Based in Thomastown in Melbourne, Coslee’s fabrication services extend to sign structures, bridges, gantries, portal cranes, job cranes, monorails and steel framework. Coslee was certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834 and ISO 9001 in 2023. For further information, visit: coslee.com.au

Hilton Manufacturing With a 20,000m2 high-tech manufacturing facility in Dandenong in Melbourne. Hilton has experience and expertise in all aspects of sheet metal manufacturing for a diverse range of industries. Hilton has heavily invested in its team of 250-odd people, processes and plant to remain competitive. Many of their more repetitive high-volume processes are undertaken by robotics, to ensure cost effectiveness and quality, as well as improved working conditions for their team members. For further information, visit: hiltonmanufacturing.com.au

Outdoor Fabrications Outdoor Fabrications was established in 2000 as a specialist outdoor advertising sign construction company. Until then, most outdoor advertising signs were built by general steel fabricators and designed by engineers with little experience in the intricate workings and needs of safe sign installation. Outdoor Fabrications has pioneered many safer and more economic ways of installing and maintaining large outdoor advertising signage, including but not limited to LED signs, monopoles and lightboxes, and the manufacturing and supply of structural steel. For information, visit: outdoorfabrications.com.au

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Photos Left: One of Allship Engineering’s projects. Photo courtesy of Allship Engineering. Right: Members of the Kitson Manufacturing Solutions (KMS) team. Photo courtesy of KMS.

Metwest Engineering With 30 years experience, Metwest Engineering designs, manufactures, and installs products for many infrastructure projects. Products include road and rail signalling gantries, galvanized steel troughing, galvanized steel trunking, overhead wiring portals, masts, posts, pre-cast concrete bases, elevated platforms, walkways, structural steel, support brackets and bollards. Metwest’s customers include significant private and public companies like RailCorp, Downer EDI, Laing O’Rourke and John Holland. For further information, visit: mwe.com.au Moxon Industries Established in 2001, Moxon Industries is based in south west Sydney. Their 3,000m² state of the art facility houses over 200 machines, including some of the latest CNC machine technology. Moxon Industries is dedicated to providing the highest level of engineering excellence and customer service across key industry sectors such as rail, food, concrete and masonry, civil and defence. Moxon specialises in the design, project management and manufacture of special purpose machines, precision component machining, toolmaking, fabrication and site work. For further information, visit: moxon.com.au

SP McLean Based in Bayswater, Melbourne, SP McLean manufactures highquality stainless steel and carbon steel filtration solutions. They service a variety of industries, including fuel and aviation filtration, pressure vessels, architectural and general metal fabrication, and rolling stock.

Established in 1999 as a small family business, the company now has an impressive team of design engineers, project managers, welder-boilermakers and more. Already certified to AS/NZS ISO 3834, they gained EN 15085 certification this year. For information, visit: spmclean.com.au

Weld Australia’s Certification Services Weld Australia is Australia’s premier welding certification body. We understand the value of ongoing professional and business development and are committed to upskilling the next generation of welders and safeguarding the future of local welding businesses. Our comprehensive range of certification services are designed to help Australian welders, fabrication and manufacturing companies and the industrial sector at large achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. As the International Institute of Welding (IIW) Authorised National Body (ANB) and the Authorised Training Body (ATB), we are able to provide internationally recognised certifications, to the following Standards: • AS/NZS ISO 3834 Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials • EN 15085 Railway applications – Welding of railway vehicles • DIN 2303 Welding and allied processes - Quality requirements to be met by production and maintenance companies for military products • AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management System • AS/NZS ISO 14001 Environmental Management • AS/NZS ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Contact iso3834@weldaustralia.com.au for details.

2023 | Year in Review

MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

WHAT WELD AUSTRALIA PARTNERS HAVE TO SAY Weld Australia’s members and partners are made up of individual welding professionals, as well as companies of all sizes. In fact, Weld Australia members are involved in almost every facet of Australian industry and make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy. We recently spoke with a number of our members and partners, eliciting their feedback on our activities, services and membership benefits.

Javier Lorenzo (Director, S+L Steel) “S+L Steel has been working with Weld Australia (formerly the WTIA) since the 1990s. As a welding and fabrication business, a close working relationship with Weld Australia aligns perfectly with the core of our operations. Weld Australia is always up-to-date with all the Australian and international Standards and regularly disseminates this information to members. The types of jobs we take on—such as those with Roads and Maritime Services in New South Wales—have very high standards for welds and quality control. Given these strict requirements, there is a real need for us to partner up with Weld Australia.” “Weld Australia has assisted us with certification to AS/NZS ISO 3834 – without this, we cannot tender for high quality jobs. In addition, whenever we have technical queries about welding, we trust Weld Australia’s expert team to provide the correct answers. The team is very helpful and encouraging.” “The welding industry is not very big in Australia, compared to other countries. Weld Australia is helping to train apprentices in welding and helping TAFEs to encourage apprentices to join the welding industry. This is vital for the future, and growth, of our industry. In addition, Weld Australia provides in-depth courses for qualified welders, such as International

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Welding Engineers, inspectors and supervisors. Some of our personnel have completed these courses and found them highly beneficial.” Carl Spruce (Director, Outsource Institute) “Outsource Institute became a member of Weld Australia for a number of reasons: industry currency, to remain up-to-date with the welding industry; professional development, specifically for our engineering trainers and assessors who teach welding related qualifications; access to augmented reality welding equipment; and networking opportunities.” “Weld Australia has been very supportive, offering us presentation opportunities and the ability to offer ISO 9606 training to our clients, as well as other special classes to our client and student base. They have also facilitated introductions to promote new business relationships for us.” “We’ve accessed a range of resources and services. Our engineering trainers and assessors have undertaken many webinars. We’ve also been able to on-share key information with our client network to ensure they too remain up to date with industry changes, for example AS 1796 and ISO 9606. Weld Australia has intimate knowledge of ISO 9606 and the use of augmented reality systems to train welders in

the new welder qualification code. Weld Australia is a centralised point of contact for all things related to welding. We live in an information age, and often this can be overwhelming. Weld Australia has provided the industry with a go to location for trusted, current information pertaining to welding, which is wonderful.” “It has led to many mutually beneficial opportunities for both of our organisations and our respective networks. It has ultimately contributed to enhancing organisations and individuals within the Australian welding industry, enabling them to remain locally and globally competitive, both now and into the future.” Sean Lavin (Learning and Development Advisor, Eastern Region, Monadelphous) “Monadelphous recently collaborated with the Weld Australia team to bring their IWI-B program to Papua New Guinea. A groundbreaking initiative, being the first time that this program has ever been delivered in PNG.” “Joe, Guy and the broader Weld Australia team have been a pleasure to work with, offering exceptional support and flexibility to meet the logistical and cultural nuances that come with organising a training initiative outside of Australia, without compromising on quality or the integrity of their IWI-B offering.” “Thank you to Weld Australia for your dedication to helping upskill our PNG citizen employees to acquire essential skills and expand their knowledge, in line with international best practices.” Tim Wilson (Chief Executive Officer, ATNZ) “Working with Weld Australia has been really good—it’s been a really positive experience. All of Weld Australia’s team members have been really responsive and great to work with. We’re looking forward to an ongoing strategic relationship with Weld Australia, and working together on other programs and initiatives.”

WELD AUSTRALIA MEMBERSHIP TYPES • • • • • •

Individual Membership: Open to apprentices, tradesmen, inspectors, supervisors, technologists, engineers, academics and others with an interest in welding. Corporate Membership: Best suited to micro, small and medium businesses. Corporate members have access to a range of exclusive and valuable resources, opportunities and events. Premium Corporate Membership: Ideal for larger businesses, and businesses of any size wanting to take advantage of the premium offering to increase their exposure and visibility in the marketplace. Technology Networks Membership: Technology Networks share resources for engineering innovative solutions to enhance safety, manage risk, reduce cost, and optimise operating efficiency. Technology Network members are primes and Tier One contractors, major asset owners and state authorities. Free Student and Apprentice Membership: As part of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of skilled welders in Australia, Weld Australia is offers free membership to students and apprentices. Free TAFE Membership: Weld Australia is proud to support, and encourage development of, Australian TAFEs and their teachers, which is why we are pleased to offer free membership to both.

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2023 | Year in Review

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