Noah Hayes, 14, has suffered from a rare neuro-genetic disorder known as Angelman Syndrome, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to go trick or treating for Halloween. Hayes dressed as Captain America, but was looking for a way to improve his wheelchair for a costume contest.
That’s where the students from southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College’s welding class come in. The students modified a wheelchair in their welding shop, adding Captain America shields to the side of the wheelchair and several extensions. The picture of Hayes in his wheelchair has been a sensation on Facebook and could result in him winning the Tim Short Ford Halloween costume contest.
Welding Industry
Highly Efficient Welding Technique Developed at Ohio State University: Engineers at The Ohio State University have developed a new welding technique that consumes 80 percent less energy than a common welding technique, yet creates bonds that are 50 percent stronger.
The new technique could have a huge impact on the auto industry, which is poised to offer new cars which combine traditional heavy steel parts with lighter, alternative metals to reduce vehicle weight.
Lincoln Electric Plans to Open New Welding Center: The Lincoln Electric Co. announced plans to invest about $30 million in a new Welding Technology Center on its Euclid campus. Groundbreaking is expected to start in early 2016.
The center, that’s expected to open in 2017, will focus on training welding educators and industry leaders. The company reports they’re building the new facility to address a rising demand for welding education and career pathways in welding and advanced manufacturing. Lincoln Electric also plans to dedicate resources to support welding training for veterans at this facility.
Welding Jobs
Welding Careers Open Up in Alaska: Wednesday, Cari-Ann Ketteling with the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium (APICC), and Riley Peck, who currently works in the welding industry, joined Daybreak to talk about career opportunities. Welders can make more than $100,000 per year, and companies like Tesoro and Vigor Alaska are currently hiring.
High school graduates starting from 2011 qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. They may be eligible for $4,755 each year as long as they stay at or above a 2.5 GPA.
Welding Education
Roanoke Welding Program Wins $200,000 Grant: Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the winners of the first Governor’s Competition for Talent Solutions on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The Botetourt Education Foundation was a winner. The grant is a $200,000 match for the funds already raised for the Botetourt Technical Education Center’s new welding lab to be applied toward work force development.
Arizona Welding School Wins Competition: The Arizona Western College welding fabrication team recently nabbed first place after facing off against two other college teams in the fourth annual Welders Without Borders: Welding Thunder Team Fabrication Competition.
This year, the two-day competition took place at Mohave Community College in Kingman on Oct. 15. The contest is a team invitational that had college and high school teams attending from Arizona and California.
Chicago Welding Project Expands: The new Welding Technology degree program at College of DuPage will prepare students to earn credentials from the American Welding Society.
Recently approved by the Illinois Community College Board, the program trains graduates for occupations in production, structural, aerospace, renewable energy, pipeline and prototype welding. David Ellis, COD Instructor of Welding Technology, said the degree is a natural extension of the existing program, in which students just starting out earn the Welding Technology certificate and learn basic welding techniques.
Welding Events
FABTECH
FABTECH brings a wealth of innovation and technology solutions to Chicago, IL November 9-12, 2015… More than 40,000 attendees and over 1,500 exhibiting companies are expected to gather once again celebrating metal manufacturing at its best. The event also provides learning opportunities beyond the show floor with over 100 educational sessions and expert-led presentations covering the latest trends and technology in the metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing industries.
Welding Gone Wrong
Welding Fire Injures Workers but Contained: Workers are being treated for burns after a welding accident at the Mill Creek Generating Station Thursday afternoon, according to Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E). The incident was first reported just after 1:30 p.m. as an explosion, according to Louisville MetroSafe.â
