The bomb squad at the Scranton, PA Police Department had a special request for the Johnson College Welding Training Center. Students were asked to build heavy duty steel frame doors that can hold a door in place for bomb deactivation training.
With the help of their instructors, students welded two steel frame doors that exceeded the department’s expectations. Instructor Anthony DeLucca added that the technical skill required for the project was ideal for students, “This project they were asked to do a lot. Layout work, cleaning work, actually fabricating… putting everything together.” At the end of the day, the students took their skills to another level, while helping their community stay safer.
Welding Industry
Lincoln Electric Acquires European Welding Company
“Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., (the “Company”) (LECO) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Air Liquide to acquire its Air Liquide Welding subsidiary (the “Proposed Acquisition”). Upon completion of the Proposed Acquisition, the complementary business would enhance Lincoln Electric’s global specialty consumables portfolio and extend its channel reach for equipment systems and Harris Product Group solutions in Europe. The combination would also offer European customers more comprehensive welding and cutting solutions, greater technical application expertise and improved service levels.”
Fiber Laser Welding Proves Promising for Many Applications
“Joining dissimilar materials presents some special challenges. Differences in physical and chemical properties of the metals to be welded can lead to the formation of brittle phases, cracks and residual stresses during laser welding, depending on many factors including the properties of the metals being joined, amounts of the various metals, and thermal characteristics of the weld process. The latest in this ongoing R&D effort is fiber laser welding of stainless steel to zinc-coated steel.
Fiber laser welding provides unique benefits. These include low heat input, narrow fusion and heat affected zones, with excellent mechanical properties in materials previously difficult to weld using processes that yield greater heat input to the part.”
Welding Jobs
U.S. Steel Returns to East Texas
“U.S. Steel announced today it plans to re-hire around 200 employees for its operations plant in Lone Star. A company spokesperson told KLTV 7 today that it’s in the process of restarting the #2 Welded Pipe Mill at its Lone Star Tubular Operations.
The company announced last December that it was going to permanently shut down the mill due to market conditions, but now the company says it expects mill production to resume in May.”
Trends in the Aluminum Welding Market
“The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is use of welding robots and automation of welding processes. The use of welding robots and automation of welding processes is one of the emerging trends in the global welding wires market. End-user industries are automating their welding processes with welding robots, thereby increasing the demand for the consumables used during these processes.”
Welding Education
Kilgore College Welding Program Hosts Contest
“The Kilgore College Welding Technology Program and the KC Welding Club will host the second annual welding contest Friday, April 28, with high school students competing from 17 area school districts.
The contest will be held at the Whitten Applied Technology Center on the Kilgore campus, located at 900 S. Henderson Blvd. Registration will be from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and the contest will begin at 9 a.m. The top three winners of the contest will receive KC Welding Technology scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 and additional welding-related prizes.”
Indiana Students Win Skills U.S.A. Competition
“Pike Central High School vocational welding students through the Patoka Valley Vocational Cooperative placed first and third at the Skills USA Welding Contest held April 22 at J. Everett Light Career Center in Indianapolis.
Logan Jacob and Curtis Gress, both seniors at Northeast Dubois High School placed during the competition. Jacob placed first and Gress placed third. Competing, but not placing in the top three, were Chase Brenton, junior at Pike Central High School, and Clint Luebbehusen, senior at Forest Park High School.”
Welding Program Grows Despite Job Market Shifts
“Despite layoffs in the oil field, welders are still in high demand, and enrollment in the Northwest College welding program is increasing, said Bill Johnson, coordinator of the program.
‘Even though the Bakken and stuff shut down, there hasn’t been, really, a loss in welding positions,’ Johnson said. This spring, 75 students are enrolled in NWC welding classes — up from about 40 welding students 10 years ago, he said.”
Welding Events
FABTECH Mexico
May 2, 2017 – May 4, 2017
“Join tens of thousands of industry professionals May 2-4, 2017 at FABTECH Mexico! The event takes place at the Cintermex in Monterrey, continuing to co-locate with the established AWS Weldmex and Metalform Mexico. New for 2017 – FABTECH Mexico recently acquired COATech and will now feature Finishing among the shows technology lineup.”
Welding Gone Wrong
Man Faces Arson Charges After Welding on Day with Wild Fire Warnings
“Charges have been filed against a man for allegedly starting the wildfire that burned more than 32,000 acres and killed hundreds of livestock across three Colorado counties in early March.
Patrick Svoboda, 39, faces fourth-degree arson and reckless endangerment charges in the fire. Fire investigators found that Svoboda had been welding a feed trough in a dry corn field on March 6, and sparks caught the field on fire.”
