Mumbai, December 23, 2016 – Mumbai-based Arcraft Plasma Equipments (I) Pvt Ltd, specialised in design and manufacture of Welding Automation Systems, Plasma Cutting Systems and a well-known provider of Metal Hardfacing and Overlay Solutions, has launched a dedicated Training Centre for Welder Training and Certification.

In later stages Arcraft proposes to launch training programmes for NDT technicians, welding inspectors, supervisors and engineers in various welding inspection, application and code related methods and subjects.

The office of the Centre – located at 124, Diamond Industrial Estate, Ketkipada, Dahisar (East), Mumbai 400 068 – will be formally inaugurated on 2nd January 2017. The training centre is in the same building.

Why do welders need to be certified?

Certification is a procedure to determine if the applicant welder has the skill level required to perform designated tasks. Different certifications are offered depending on what type of work the welder seeks. Generally welders are certified as competent to weld in 6 positions, i.e., 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and 6G.

Certified welders with capable supervision can work with specified drawings and procedures to help produce desired end products. Certifications attest to a welder’s ability to work with specific metal thicknesses, certain types of welds and other specific welding considerations in the welding process he is certified in. There are a number of welder certifications available depending on welding process like Stick, MIG, FCAW, TIG, SAW and many others.

Who is a Certified Welder?

There are no prerequisite educational courses required in order to be eligible to take this performance-based test. Applicants are tested on their ability to perform according to all aspects of a selected Welding Procedure Specification.

What Standards are followed for Certification?

Testing is carried as per procedures used in the fabrication industry, structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal, and chemical refinery welding industries. There is a provision to test to a company-supplied or non-code welding specification. Codes and specifications followed are mostly ASME Section IX with provision to test as per other codes available if required.

Facilities available

Arcraft has well equipped facilities for training, and certification is done by AWS-CWI Inspectors. Radiographic testing and mechanical testing is carried out in ISO certified testing labs.

Background information

Welding is the backbone of manufacturing industries. In the next few years, there will be a huge requirement for welders because of economic growth and to shore up aging infrastructure across the country. Although few companies may hire an inexperienced welder as apprentice, most employers look for welders who have been trained and certified. There is a huge demand for welders abroad and a certified welder is always in demand.

Estimates suggest that for every tonne of steel used, about 5 kg of weld metal is required to be deposited by different welding processes in the end use. The per capita consumption of steel is generally accepted as a yardstick to measure the level of socio-economic development and living standards of people. India with a per capita consumption of 59 kg lags behind the global average of 217 kg, while China boasts a whopping 510 kg.

According to a recent study conducted in Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur, just the auto and auto ancillaries sector together project a shortage of 1.35 lakh welding professionals over the next decade, which indicates the serious need for skills training in this vital sector.