The welding program at Flint Hills Technical College continues to grow by leaps and bounds, expanding from an 11,000 square foot space to a 14,000 square foot space. The most recent class included 19 students, prompting instructors to add an additional booth to the 18 booths at the school.
Students receive a one year education in welding that focuses on “industrial welding knowledge and skills for entry-level welding processes in shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding and flux-cored arc welding, with an emphasis in structural steel welding.” Additional training is available in the Welding Technology AAS degree program.
The school’s board members visited the recently renovated facility and praised the growth of the program and its strong cash flow.
Welding Industry
Welding Robot Takes on Tough Job
“They used to say that robots would take over the jobs too dirty or dangerous for humans. That is exactly what [Joel Sullivan] had in mind when he created this welding robot. [Joel] designed the robot for the OSB industry. No, that’s not a new operating system, it’s short for Oriented Strand Board. An engineered lumber, OSB is made of strands (or chips) of wood. It’s similar to plywood but doesn’t require large thin sheets of lumber. To make a panel of OSB, a 5-inch thick matt of wood chips is mixed with glue and compressed down to 5/16″ at 7500 PSI and 400° F.”
Welding Jobs and Careers
Michigan Welding Company Plans to Add 100 Positions
“A Michigan industrial technology company plans to add 100 jobs over the next five years after expanding its headquarters in suburban Detroit.
HTI Cybernetics expects to invest more than $20 million to bolster its corporate and manufacturing operations in Sterling Heights, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced this week.”
Grant Makes Welding Apprenticeships Possible
“As the economy gets stronger, manufacturers in the Mahoning Valley are faced with the challenge of hiring skilled employees who are trained to do the work. Pairing increased demand with current employees retiring creates workforce gaps that need to be filled.
Eastern Gateway Community College in collaboration with the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition looks to help fulfill the needs of our area’s manufacturers and workers alike. A $2.5 million grant through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program allowed EGCC to launch a manufacturing apprenticeship program with a focus on welding and machining.”
West Virginia Senate Candidate Visited Welding Shop
“West Virginia Attorney General and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Patrick Morrisey helps stoke a fire as blacksmith Danny Trenary uses his tongs to move a red hot iron rod in the fire during Morrisey’s stop at VinTin Welding and Blacksmithing on Sunday in Falling Waters.”
Welding Education
Women Introduced to Welding Careers
“North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, has a goal of introducing 200 young women to its welding program this school year. They might not all pursue education or careers in welding, but they’re being exposed to a distinct style of industry and art.
A group of 12 students from the Sheyenne Valley Area Career and Technology Center in Valley City, North Dakota, recently visited NDSCS. Their visit was possible through National Science Foundation and Girls Understanding and Exploring STEM Stuff (GUESS) grants.”
Illinois Welder Training Meets Welding Job Demand
To meet area employers’ needs for more highly skilled welders, McHenry County College will offer college-credit classes toward two new welding certificate programs.
The college has offered noncredit Boot Camp welding and advanced welding classes through its Continuing Education Department for 10 years, and college officials decided to expand the current offerings to include credit certificates.
Welding Events
FABTECH
Nov 6, 2018 – Nov 8, 2018
North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event heads to Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA – November 6-8, 2018. The upcoming event is expected to cover more than 625,000 net square feet and anticipates over 35,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibiting companies. FABTECH provides a convenient ‘one stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, see the latest industry products and developments, and find the tools to improve productivity, increase profits and discover new solutions to all of your metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing needs.
Welding Gone Wrong
Missile Tubes Need Costly Welding Repair
“A problem with Columbia-class submarine missile tube welds is more serious than initially thought, causing the contractor responsible to set aside $27 million to cover repair work that is expected to take nearly a year.
BWX Technologies, the sub-contractor building missile tubes for Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat, discovered the welding problems over the summer. Electric Boat had not yet installed the tubes in submarine hulls, Rex Geveden, chief executive of BWX Technologies, said while speaking with Wall Street analysts during a Wednesday morning conference call.”
Welding Class Delayed Due to Roof Leaks
“Alamogordo High School Principal, Dr. Kenneth Moore notified parents of students attending welding classes that the welding program has been temporarily suspended due to safety concerns Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Counselors are working with students to temporarily move them to another elective until safety issues are fixed and secured.”=
Welding Supplies on Sale
Build with Blue continues to offer the best prices on welding helmets and Miller welders, but there’s plenty more to save on, from plasma cutters to the multiprocess welders from ESAB. Check out the great deals being offered at Baker’s Gas and Welding so that you can max out on your savings on welders, welding helmets, welding supplies, and welding safety gear.
