CoE On Thermal Cutting & Welding At Govt ITI Jajpur: Advanced Industry Oriented Training Facility For Youth
The Section of Welding & Cutting at Govt ITI Jajpur has recently been renovated. A Center of Excellence (CoE) in ‘Thermal Cutting and Welding’ has been established at the skilling institution. With this new CoE, the local youth taking admission to the ITI can further enhance their skills in the domain with industry-oriented training and dream of a better future.
Supported by Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), these advanced Centres of Excellence (CoE) are being established in a total of 14 Government ITIs and Polytechnics in 5 mining-affected districts. The CoEs are being facilitated at Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jharsuguda and Deogarh districts along with Jajpur across 8 ITIs, 3 Polytechnics and 3 Engineering Colleges.
The state government established the Govt ITI Jajpur in the year 2015. Currently, the skill center trains the youth of Odisha in five trades like; Fitter, Electrician, Mechanic Motor Vehicle (MMV), Welder and Computer Operator Programming Assistant.
The CoE boasts of modern infrastructure developed with the technical support of the multinational company Messer Cutting Systems. By providing future skills through such advanced centres, the state govt aims at producing skilled professionals of tomorrow. By supporting the CoE, OMBADC complements the state govt’s ‘Skilled in Odisha’ initiative.
The Center of Excellence in Cutting & Welding at Govt ITI Jajpur established with OMBADC funding features state-of-the-art laboratories for students. It includes machines for laser cutting, plasma cutting, destructive and non-destructive testing along with modern welding machines. Students in the CoE learn by operating on these equipment and are hence skilled to work efficiently in various industries in the future.
“Today, there is a rising demand for skilled professionals in different industrial organizations both locally and globally. Hence, Govt ITI Jajpur trains youth using the latest tools, technology and curriculum to make them industry-ready. Supported by OMBADC, industry-standard modern machines and tools are installed at the CoE further sharpening our students’ skills,” said Er Sabitarani Sahoo, Principal, and Government ITI Jajpur.
Trainers and students from various Government ITIs across the state come for training at the CoE on ‘Thermal Cutting and Welding’ at Government ITI Jajpur. During the academic year 2022-23, students from government ITIs in Bhubaneswar, Pattamundai, Berhampur and Barbil came here in 6 batches for training. In 2023-24, 20 such batches are targeted for imparting advanced training in ‘Thermal Cutting and Welding’.
Along with training in respective trades, the Govt ITI Jajpur also imparts necessary coaching to students on successfully navigating placement interviews in their respective fields. Additional training programs for students are also conducted at the ITI in collaboration with various industrial institutes. OMBADC has also provided financial support for the development of additional infrastructure at Government ITI Jajpur.
Air Industries Group adds important Arresting Gear Welding Capability to Support U.S. Navy E-2D Aircraft Program
www.airindustriesgroup.gcs-web.com
Air Industries Group announced that, in conjunction with a major OEM customer, it has secured the welding equipment, related tooling and peripheral equipment used to weld the arresting gear that secures the E-2D aircraft’s tail hook, which is essential for landing on aircraft carriers. The Company noted that this machinery is the only equipment currently certified to weld the arresting gear.
(Photo: Business Wire)
The equipment is being installed at Air Industries’ Sterling Engineering facility in Connecticut.
Mr. Lou Melluzzo, CEO of Air Industries, commented: “With the addition of the arresting gear welding equipment, Air Industries will become the sole provider in our industry of a mission-critical welding process for the E-2D platform. This action will not only secure our position as a key supplier to a major aircraft program, but will also form the basis for an expanding portfolio of special processes to include welding capabilities.”
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a carrier-based, battle-management aircraft, the “digital quarterback,” managing the airspace and keeping carrier battle groups out of harm’s way. It is the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy theater air and missile defense architecture in the littorals, overland and open sea operations. The E-2D aircraft is still in production, and approximately 65 E-2Ds are active in the fleet, which is forecast to expand by more than 40% to 93 aircraft in 2027.
Mr. Melluzzo added, “The importance of the E-2D to our nation’s defense posture – and to Air Industries’ growth – cannot be over-stated. For many years, our Company has supplied landing gear, arresting gear, hooks, and other products for this platform. Our E-2D product backlog is close to $20 million, or 29% of our total backlog. Also, many of the products we manufacture for this aircraft besides the full landing gear are ‘consumables’ that must be regularly replaced based on usage. The welding equipment enhances our partnership with the manufacturer, and with after-market suppliers supporting the E-2D program.”
Mr. Melluzzo also noted, “Welding complements the vertical integration of other processes such as painting, which Air Industries has recently brought in-house, in a strategy designed to shorten production times and reduce costs.”
Weld Australia launches National Resources for Mem Training Package
www.weldaustralia.com.au
Weld Australia is pleased to announce the launch of a new suite of learning resources for the Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package.
Weld Australia has designed and created a suite of resources for delivery of the 12 welding and fabrication units of competency in the Manufacturing and Engineering (MEM) Training Package.
According to Geoff Crittenden (CEO, Weld Australia), “Our resources help simplify the learning process for students, teachers and training institutes and—most importantly—place the student at centre of the learning process.”
Branson Welding and Assembly at Emerson
“Weld Australia believes that a national industry, which has a national learning package, needs national learning resources. Whether you’re an apprentice in Kalgoorlie, Ultimo or Davenport, you should have access to the same, high-quality training. Our goal is to help ensure that high-quality welder learning is consistent across the country.”
Welders are more in demand than ever—labour shortages are inhibiting the growth of Australia’s welding industry. According to Weld Australia’s members, 50 per cent of Australia’s welding workshops are currently operating at 80 per cent of their capacity or below. When asked why this is, a lack of skilled workers was the overwhelming answer.
“This labour shortage comes as no surprise. Weld Australia has been calling for urgent action for over five years. We estimate that Australia will be at least 70,000 welders short by 2030,” said Crittenden.
“And yet, the number of welding trade workers in Australia dropped by 8 per cent in the course of just five years, and completion rates of welding apprenticeships continue to fall by as much as 23 per cent annually. It is essential that welder training is revolutionised with online, accessible and engaging learning resources.”
Weld Australia formed a national consortium of TAFEs to work on the project. Over the last two years, the consortium has collaborated with us to develop the most engaging, up-to-date resources possible. Members of the consortium piloted use of the resources, and some TAFEs have already permanently adopted them.
Weld Australia’s MEM Resources have been built with students, teachers and training organisations in mind. It reimagines the learning process with its user-friendly interface, diversified delivery methods, and audited and accurate material. The new MEM resources are completely online and accessible via phone, mobile device or computer. This allows students to access learning at the time, place and pace that suits them best.
TWF- CWB Group signs MoU on mutual recognition and promotion of welding personnel qualification and certification systems
www.weldfa.org
The Welding Federation (TWF) and Canadian Welding Bureau Group (CWB Group) are both pleased to announce to Africa’s manufacturing industry of a TWF – CWB memorandum of understanding effective 14th of August,2023.
This memorandum of understanding details mutual recognition of personnel qualification certificates from both bodies. Specifically, it implies mutual recognition and promotion TWF personnel qualification diplomas in Canada’s manufacturing industry and its domain of influence and CWB personnel certification system in Africa’s industries.
CWB is an institution with decades of top-level performance history with several ice breaking contributions to the welding industry globally. A firm reputation in premium services and a wide collection of high-quality welding standards and codes developed through years of research and data gathering. Expert opinion will readily posit that CWB implements the most rigorous welding standards and personnel qualification requirements across different spectrums and areas of specialization globally.
Ayo Adeniyi, Executive Director of TWF states “In Africa, we need jobs, because there are more idle hands than engaged hands. Unfortunately, either ignorantly or by deliberate misguidance we have often confused activities for productivity, motion for accomplishments and most importantly, certificates for empowerment. While skill consists, it is but a component of the empowerment matrix. What Africa needs is an industry solution, not simply empowerment”. Growing industries goes far beyond just skill development, it is system thing and this is what TWF is addressing.
The TWF-CWB group collaboration is a perfect union in a perfect time that is sure to make positive impact for Africa in terms of identity management, access to opportunities beyond Africa, access to high quality skills and research support. In two opinion polls conducted in the first and second quarter of 2023 with a focus on access to professional jobs, as well as general standards of living, North America came distance first, followed by Asia and Middle East.
Ayo comments further, thanks to the unalloyed commitment of members of TWF board on the vision and passion to establish the emerging narrative now being witnessed though this publication, A new narrative to put Africa on the scene, to capture and apply African solutions in Africa’s industries. Africa has enough potentials to engage its skilled population and demand more, it however needs to integrate capacities and capabilities to adequately harness these potentials. Including attracting or connecting Africans to opportunities beyond Africa due to its high youthful population.
The TWF-CWB MOU will empower Africans with both the skill to demonstrate expertise in Africa’s industries and also equip candidates with the skill and access to opportunities in Canada’s industries, specifically in boiler making and automotive welding.
Full accreditation of Vocational Training Institutions (private and public) within the TWF network will commence by last quarter of 2024 for implementation of TWF Welder and welding Inspector programs across all member states, as well as CWB Boiler welder and Automotive welder programs. The latter will serve to formalize Africa’s automotive repair industries, professionalize the practice, and create access to jobs both within and beyond Africa.
The TWF network currently spans across 16 member countries in Africa and growing. The purpose of TWF as Africa’s table of solutions in manufacturing is to keep building capacities, sustaining frameworks for the integration of national capacities and resources, and optimize opportunities associated with manufacturing industry across all of Africa’s members states at an Africanized cost.
TWF 2nd Annual Assembly and conference on “Materials Manufacturing Technologies- Managing Capacity Africa” is scheduled to hold from 5-8 March,2024 in the iconic city of Lagos, Nigeria. www.twfassembly2024.org
Air Water expands its Industrial Gas Business in North America
— Acquisition of welding supply and industrial gas distributor in Arizona
Air Water Inc. in Japan, announced that its subsidiary Air Water America Inc. (headquartered in New Jersey, USA,) acquired 100% of the of equity of Phoenix Welding Supply LLC. (PWS) on April 28, 2023. PWS is leading independent gas and welding products distributor in Arizona with nine serving locations. Air Water Inc. is currently involved in the distribution of industrial gas in the USA a key market in its global gases business. This acquisition in the Southwest adds a third operating region in the USA for Air Water America, Inc. supplementing Air Water’s existing business in the Northeastern and Midwestern USA.
Air Water Inc. in Japan, announced today that its subsidiary Air Water America Inc. (headquartered in New Jersey, USA,) acquired 100% of the of equity of Phoenix Welding Supply LLC. (PWS) on April 28, 2023. PWS is leading independent gas and welding products distributor in Arizona with nine serving locations. Air Water Inc. is currently involved in the distribution of industrial gas in the USA a key market in its global gases business. This acquisition in the Southwest adds a third operating region in the USA for Air Water America, Inc. supplementing Air Water’s existing business in the Northeastern and Midwestern USA.
NewTek Custom Position Sensor detects part errors in Automotive Resistance Welding Machines
NewTek Sensor Solutions has designed a custom LVDT position sensor for resistance spot welding machines used in automotive plants to detect missing or misaligned parts in nut and stud welding. Cars contain hundreds of welded nuts and studs that hold them together. Properly securing the right nut and stud to different car components is critical to safe operations.
Working in conjunction with the resistance weld control equipment, the NewTek custom LVDT detects and reports different conditions including: weld pin extended position, double part, misloaded part, incomplete weld, weld pin retraction, upside down nut, wrong or missing part. Based on programmed system spec limits, the position sensor will trigger a go/no go response with each pass.
Designed to fit inside the weld body of the machine, the AC-operated LVDT sensor has a very high stroke length ratio and excellent repeatability that is critical to the application. Remote signal conditioning allows the LVDT to fit inside the small space while being resilient to high levels of shock. With extremely high measurement resolution of ~0.0009” (0.02mm), the position sensor detects minute changes in process conditions.
As is fundamental with all LVDTs, the sensor has no contact between its core and coil structure so parts do not rub together or wear life for longer mechanical life. The linear variable displacement transformer also has internal magnetic shielding that reduces effects of AC or DC fields.
NewTek possess the inhouse engineering and domestic manufacturing capabilities to design and build customized AC- and DC-operated LVDT Position Sensors that may include radiation and submersion resistance, higher temperature exposures, ratiometric output, high stroke-to-length ratios and specific electrical output requirements. Sensors can be constructed ceramic and special core materials, with alloys such as Monel, Inconel, Hastelloy and Titanium used in the sensor body.
Canada opens new economic immigration streams for skilled refugees and other displaced people
Refugees and other displaced individuals are forced to restart their lives when they flee their home country, but they should not have to start from scratch, particularly when it comes to acquiring skills, training, experience and education. Through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), Canada is tapping into talent that is too often overlooked by creating more opportunities for skilled refugees and other displaced individuals to immigrate and to use their education, training and experience to continue their careers in Canada.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that Canada has launched two new EMPP streams, fulfilling a commitment made on March 27, 2023. Candidates can also continue to apply through existing regional EMPP economic pathways.
These new immigration streams provide Canadian employers with the opportunity to access a talent pool of skilled refugees and other displaced people from around the world. This access allows Canada to not only increase its economic immigration and fill in-demand jobs, but also to complement its existing humanitarian commitments.
By implementing efficiencies and improvements learned through collaboration with partners during the rollout of the first EMPP streams, newcomers using the EMPP will now be able to move to Canada and start working here more quickly. These new streams also reduce barriers to access since candidates do not need Canadian work experience to apply.
Of the two new streams announced today, one is tailored to candidates who have a job offer from a Canadian employer and the second is available to highly-skilled refugees without job offers.
Through the EMPP Federal Skills Job Offer Stream, Canadian employers can hire qualified candidates to fill a wide range of in-demand jobs, including nurse aides, personal support workers, long-term care aides, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, logistics and warehouse workers, tourism and hospitality workers, and truck and delivery service drivers.
The EMPP Federal Skills Without a Job Offer Stream recognizes that certain candidates have skills that are in high enough demand that they will find work after they arrive in Canada.
EMPP gives refugees and other displaced people the chance to make the most of their skills to improve not only their lives and those of their families, but also the communities and workplaces that welcome them.
Expanding and scaling up the EMPP is part of Canada’s ongoing efforts to embrace its role as Chair of the Global Taskforce on Labour Mobility by modelling labour mobility programs for like-minded countries, and to make Canada’s immigration system more responsive to the needs of our economic and humanitarian commitments.
“Helping employers access a new global talent pool is another way we are using our immigration system to address ongoing labour shortages. Finding these skilled workers among people who happen to be displaced abroad and lack a durable solution is a made-in-Canada solution that we are promoting globally. Canada will continue to develop and scale up these types of innovative measures that allow us to welcome more vulnerable people, while helping businesses find the skilled workforce they need to grow.”
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
DPIIT notifies Quality Control Orders for ‘Smart Meters’ and ‘Welding Rods and Electrodes’
www.pib.gov.in
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry has notified 2 new Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for ‘Smart Meters’ and ‘Welding Rods and Electrodes’, on 14th July 2023. The QCOs will come into force six months from the date of notification.
The Smart Meters (Quality Control) Order, 2023 QCO mandates compulsory certification under IS Standards for “A.C. Static Direct Connected Watt Hour Smart Meter Class 1 and 2” and “A.C. Static Transformer Operated Watthour and Var-Hour Smart Meters, Class 0.2s, 0.5s and 1.0s” for the products manufactured for domestic market or imported into India.
Smart Meter is an electronic device that records information such as consumption of electric energy, voltage levels, current and power factor. Smart meters communicate the information to the consumer for greater clarity of consumption behaviour and electricity suppliers for system monitoring and customer billing.
The Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023 mandates compulsory certification under IS Standards for “Covered electrodes for manual metal arc welding of carbon and carbon manganese steel”, and “Welding rods and bare electrodes for gas shielded arc welding of structural steel”, for the products manufactured for domestic market or imported into India.
Welding Rods are used in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), also known as stick welding. The rod has two purposes, i.e., to provide filler metal to the workpiece and to conduct electric current to the arc. Further, welding electrodes are metal wires baked on chemical coatings. The coating protects the metal from damage, stabilizes the arc, and improves the weld.
DPIIT in continuous consultation with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and stakeholders has been identifying key products for requiring implementation of QCO. This has led to the initiation of development of 64 new QCOs covering 317 product standards.
DPIIT is focusing on establishing a quality control regime for its key products such as insulated flasks, potable water-bottles, flame-lighters, smart meters, wielding rods & electrodes etc.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, while emphasizing on the importance of manufacturing quality products said –“With our people’s ability and the nation’s credibility, Indian products of top quality will travel far and wide. This will also be a true tribute to the ethos of Aatmanirbhar Bharat- a force multiplier for global prosperity”.
Quality control ecosystem in India is based on the standards developed by BIS, the National Standards Body of India. BIS is engaged in the activities of Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Quality Assurance of goods, articles, processes, systems and services. The Indian Standards established are voluntary in nature which can be made compulsory by the Central Government through issuance of a Quality Control Order (QCO).
QCO is a mandatory certification scheme, whereby compliance to specified list of Indian Standards applicable to the concerned product is made compulsory by the Central Government under various considerations including public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security.
Prior to the notification of the QCOs, extensive stakeholder consultations with key industry associations and industry members were conducted for their inputs. The draft QCOs were then approved by the Hon’ble Commerce & Industry Minister followed by legal vetting by the Department of Legislative Affairs. Subsequently, the QCOs were uploaded on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) website for 60 days, inviting comments from WTO member countries.
In order to safeguard the domestic small/micro industries, ensure smooth implementation of the QCO and Ease of Doing Business, relaxations have been granted to small/micro industries in terms of timelines.
With the implementation of the QCOs, manufacturing, storing and sale of non-BIS certified products will be prohibited as per the BIS Act, 2016. The violation of the provision of the BIS Act can attract a penalty of imprisonment upto two years or with fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence. In case of second and subsequent offences, the fine will increase to Rs 5 lakh minimum and extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles.
The implementation of the QCOs for these products is crucial not only for safety of the consumers, but it will also only improve the manufacturing quality standards in the country and curb the imports of sub-standard products into India. These initiatives, coupled with development quality testing labs, product manuals etc. will aid in the development of a quality ecosystem in India.
With the aforementioned initiatives, the Government of India aims to develop world-class products of good quality in India, thereby fulfilling the Prime Ministers’ vision of creating an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
GPA Azimatronics expands partnership with Hypertherm Associates with robotic software
www.hyperthermassociates.com
Hypertherm Associates, manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, is pleased to announce an expanded partnership with GPA Azimatronics, the division of GPA Group that offers automation of production processes and the integration of robotic systems for industry in general. GPA Group is a trusted Hypertherm Associates partner and now becomes a Robotmaster Authorized Partner, offering advanced robotic programming solutions in Mexico.
For the past two years, GPA Azimatronics has been working with Robotmaster® software to provide cutting-edge robotic programming solutions for cutting and welding applications. The addition of Robotmaster to their product portfolio has enabled the company to expand and diversify the solutions it offers, providing customers with an efficient way to program their robotic systems and reduce downtime. As an offline programming software for robots that helps manufacturers maximize productivity on production runs of all sizes, Robotmaster makes programming parts of any complexity quick and easy as a result of its integrated CAD/CAM functionality.
“Robotmaster has allowed us to add additional value to robotic cutting and welding applications in the metalworking and automotive industries. Thanks to this software, we have been able to test, and present solutions tailored to the specific needs of our clients, demonstrating that it is possible to work offline to reduce downtime in their production lines”, said Jonatan Gonzalez, Controls Coordinator at GPA Azimatronics.
With the addition of Robotmaster software to their product portfolio, GPA Azimatronics offers a world-class automation package that pairs Hypertherm plasma equipment and efficient offline robot programming capabilities.
Patrick Chelli, Software Sales Manager at Hypertherm Associates, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “GPA Azimatronics has built a strong reputation in the field of industrial automation for over 20 years. Our team is excited and believes that this partnership will encourage manufacturers in Mexico to trust GPA for their automation needs”.
