Bandy Killeen took welding classes on the side at West Virginia Northern Community College while working at a marketing company in town. The single mother was one of the only women at the school, and she welded alongside men who were ten or twenty years older, but she held her own.
Her instructors recognized her skill and after graduation invited her to join the college as a welding instructor. Killeen is the first female welding instructor at the school, and she encourages women to give welding a shot to see if it’s a career they may enjoy.
Welding Industry
PG&E Donates Metal to Welding Program
“Butte College’s welding program was gifted 70 tons of surplus metal pipe on Thursday by PG&E.
It took five truckloads to deliver all of the pipe, which PG&E does not anticipate future demand for. It should provide for thousands of hours of welding lessons and hands-on practice for students.”
Inmates Learn Welding and Linked to Shipbuilding Jobs
“Eight Walton County inmates are learning welding techniques and it’s all to help their futures. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has announced these eight inmates will participate in a six-week welding class conducted by Northwest Florida State College.
During the course, inmates will learn flux core welding and how to use tools like a cutting torch and plasma cutter. The class will be taught by NWFSC Adjunct Professor Scott Bennett.”
Welding Jobs
Welding Bootcamp Trains Welders for Jobs
“A welding boot camp for adults that is an eight-week crash course will be offered by Butte County Office of Education, with registration deadline soon. The goal is to get adults into a skilled job as soon as possible.
The deadline to register for the welding boot camp is when the class is filled or Jan. 18. There are two sessions, Jan. 22 through March 14 with class on Mondays and Wednesdays for four hours a day; or Jan 23 through March 15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes are 8 a.m. to noon, to be held in Chico.”
Welding Education
Minnesota College Dominates Welding Competition
“Central Lakes College welding students took a majority of the awards at the 2018 American Welding Society’s Behind the Mask Welding Competition recently in Eveleth.
The competition was for both students and industry professionals. CLC students placed in six of the nine award categories, garnering top honors over both industry professionals and other college students.”
California Welding Program Hosts Lincoln Welding Simulator
“Universal Technical Institute held a reception to celebrate the inaugural Welding Technology Program here — a first in the school’s nationwide, 12-campus network, according to a UTI news release. Those who attended could get hands-on with Lincoln Electric virtual reality welding machine demonstrations.
Instructor- and student-welded art pieces were put on display, and the campus conducted a unique ribbon-cutting that involved a six-foot aluminum steel ribbon to mark the occasion.”
Virtual Reality Welding Training Expanded
“The Michigan Department of Education announced this week that Kent ISD and 13 other ISDs and school districts across the state were awarded Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovation and Equipment Grants.
The grants are intended to expand programs and purchase equipment in manufacturing-related areas. Kent ISD’s award of $300,000 will be used to purchase welding equipment including high-tech virtual reality training systems, expand current welding units in several Kent Career Tech Center programs, and provide welding training for adults, middle schoolers and in summer camps.”
High School Integrate Welding Program into Main Building
“The Welding and Cutting Tech Program focuses on the basic practices and fundamentals of various welding processes such as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)/ Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)/ Stick, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) / Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Oxy Fuel Welding (OFW), Oxy Fuel Cutting (OFC), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), reading blue prints, recognizing welding symbols, and practicing industrial and personal safety.
‘Our career tech programs are unique because they are integrated into the high school, rather than a career center, making us a comprehensive high school,’ said Bing.”
Local Businesses Support Welding Programs
“Welding courses at the Dorchester Career and Technology Center have sparked students’ interest in the trade. That desire to master the craft is being supported by a local business, in recognition of the demands of the job market.
‘Graduating from a welding program with knowledge in more than one process is essential for easy employment and versatility,’ a statement from the school said. ‘The goal is to become a well rounded welder with knowledge of multiple processes such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick), Gas Metal Arc Welding (MiG) and Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIGW) as well as the theory in each process. This is the same for all types of thermal cutting.’”
Welding Events
International Brazing and Soldering Conference (IBSC) 2018
Apr 15, 2018 – Apr 18, 2018
“The IBSC remains the premier event for the brazing and soldering community. For years, the IBSC has provided professionals, scientists and engineers involved in the research, development and application of brazing and soldering, a unique networking and idea-exchange forum.”
Welding Gone Wrong
Texas Fire Linked to Welding
“Firefighters responded to a grass fire in Callahan County on County Road 484. The fire was called in early Thursday afternoon.
According to the Callahan County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was caused by welding. Approximately 100 acres burned. ”
Welding Shop Damaged by Fire
“A welding shop in Anaheim was damaged in a fire that broke out just after midnight Saturday, Jan. 27, fire officials said. No one was injured.
The two-alarm fire occurred in the 500 block of South Central Park Way at 12:16 a.m. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and clean up the area within an hour, according to the Anaheim Fire Department’s Twitter feed.”
Welding Supplies on Sale
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