A Message from our CEO

This month, I headed down to Melbourne for a few days. My first port of call was HM Prison Langi Kal Kal. Situated on the Western Highway at Trawalla approximately 140 km west of Melbourne, Langi Kal Kal is an open camp, minimum security protection prison with all prisoners required to work during their stay unless they are over retirement age. As a pre-release prison, Langi Kal Kal specialises in getting prisoners ready for release through on-the job training and employment in a range of industries— including the welding industry.

In 2022, Corrections Victoria expanded the VET Centre of Excellence model to deliver Fusion Welding to ISO 9606 certification standard to complement the Metal Fabrication industry at Langi Kal Kal prison. Federation University delivers the training program with the support of Weld Australia and on-site prison industry staff.

As part of the program, augmented reality (AR) training was introduced to expand the welding skills of the prisoner learners to meet international standards. A welding workshop sits alongside the AR training room so that participants can work on projects to use and practice their welding skills in the physical as well as virtual environments.

Along with representatives from member companies MaxiTrans, Keppel Prince and Hanlon Industries, we toured the prison facilities and spoke with several of the prisoners who are participating in the program.

While there, I also met with the team at Federation University to discuss the progress of the MEM 2.0 Welder Learning Resources. Weld Australia is working with TAFEs across the country through the National TAFE Consortium to create a set of resources mapped to the national MEM training package, so that learning resources for trade students are consistent across the country. This will help ensure consistent training, regardless of where in the country students undertake that training. The new resources are completely online and accessible via phone, mobile device or computer. This will allow students to access learning at the time, place and pace that suits them best.

I then travelled to Perth where I met with several government representatives, including the Western Australia Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston. We had a very productive discussion around the manufacture of wind towers in Australia, focused particularly on the need for mandates around adherence to Australian Standards and local content.

This was followed by a meeting with the Western Australia Department of Training and Workforce Development. On the agenda for this meeting were the opportunities available in microskilling and the reskilling of workers leaving the mining industry to take up roles as welders.

While in Western Australia, I had the opportunity to meet with several of the major players in the defence industry, including Civmec, Austal and ASC. I also toured the facilities of Fremantle Steel and Hofmann Engineering.

Last, but by no means least, I attended the Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology Expo at Curtin University in Perth. EMICoL and Innovation Central Perth hosted the event, which was attended by industry, academics and students. We had our Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulators on-hand, which proved popular with the crowds.

Earlier this month, I also had the opportunity to attend my first two AS/NZS ISO 3834 audits. Having recently qualified as an International Welding Engineer (IWE), I went along with Ross O’Bryan (Engineering Team Manager – East, Weld Australia) to NWEC and SiloDev. For further information, see the article on page 15.

2022 MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS We recently released the results of our 2022 Member Survey. The results demonstrate that significant concerns remain for Australia’s welding industry.

In particular, fabricators are being forced to turn down work due to a severe shortage of skilled welders. Distributed in June 2022 and completed by approximately 140 companies, our survey indicates that skills shortages, local content and sustainability remain high on the agenda for the welding industry.

The results have already been picked up by several major industry publications, as well as talkback radio. I’d like to thank all members for taking the time to complete the survey—your efforts are much appreciated. For further information, see the article on page 9.

BRUCE CANNON WINS THE IIW 2022 THOMAS MEDAL On behalf of the Weld Australia team and Board, I would like to congratulate Bruce Cannon (Principal Welding Engineer, Weld Australia) on winning the International Institute of Welding (IIW) 2022 Thomas Medal. Bruce was presented with the award at the Opening Ceremony of the 75th Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) in Tokyo.

Established in 1997, the Thomas Medal is awarded to an individual who has been involved in IIW and ISO international standards activities for over 10 years, and is recognised by their peers as having actively promoted international welding standardisation. It requires the presentation of a lecture that illustrates the incorporation of global studies in the standardisation of welding technology.

David Lake (Chair, Weld Australia), Doug Hawkes (Managing Director, Structural Integrity Engineering) and Bruce Cannon all attended the IIW Annual Assembly and found it thoroughly informative. For further information, see the article on page 6. WELDING EXCELLENCE AWARDS Weld Australia’s Excellence Awards are one of the most prestigious events on the welding industry calendar. The Awards embody and promote the highest standards of craftsmanship, quality and professionalism.

The 2022 Welding Excellence Awards are a fantastic opportunity for welders, fabricators and educators across Australia to showcase their people and their operations. Winners will be awarded in each state for several award categories.

The awards will then be presented at events held across the country in November 2022. Award entries close on 1 October 2022. I encourage all members to review the categories, and get your entries in over the next couple of months. For further details, see the article on page 8.

Geoff Crittenden

CEO, Weld Australia

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Weld Connect | August 2022 4interactive environment for learning • Virtual Reality / Real-Weld Training: We have acquired some of the most modern and up-to-date visual reality machines, to enhance our students learning.

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