Welding and Fabrication
■ Gyanendra Prasad is the Technical Assistant - Welding Trade Department of Automotive and Mechanical at the Fiji National University’s National Training and Productivity Centre.
Welding is a trade that can be traced back to the ancient days and can be found around the world – Fiji is no exception.
As the advancement in research on materials grew, so did the types of welding need for it.
Welding is a trade that has joined people and metals all over the world in terms of workshop relations, customer-to-tradesman relations, and above all, revenue to the workshop.
The welding process uses temperatures to melt, soften and determine the flow of the parent material. Pressure may or may not be used to join the materials together.
Filler metal can also be utilized in the welding process. It is noted that the materials used are not solely metals, as welding materials have developed to include plastics, ceramics, and glass.
Construction of numerous modern-day products like buildings, ships, bridges, and recreational facilities all require the latest welding technology and expertise.
Metal Fabrication
A combination of skills to cater for the welding, brazing, and gas cutting prior to the assembly of the weldment, and even beyond, must be performed skillfully to bring the pieces to reality before the eyes of the customers using raw metal stock.
The assembly can be done using mechanical fasteners, and welding.
Weldments are joined using the welding processes. Fabrication steps require blueprint interpretation skills were laying out materials in the desired order occurs, followed by the cutting process, which requires the removal of the unwanted material. The next step is to assemble material in the correct order and orientation by small tacks welds to hold the pieces in place or by using grips and braces and occasionally clamping before full welding commences.
Finally, the finished product is given a check for welding defects, ground to the finish required, and any other machining requirements before it is painted.
Practical Training
The Fiji National University’s (FNU), National Training & Productive Centre (NTPC) provides training in Welding & Fabrication at its centres.
The trainings are tailor-made to suit the current workforce demands.
The training contains 18 modules as follows:
■Workshop and Welding Safety
■We●di■g and Fabrication Level 1
■Computer Fundamentals
■We●di■g and Fabrication Level 2
■Workp●ace Communication and Ethics
■We●di■g Calculation
■Gas Welding and Cutting
■Brazi■g and Soldering
■Arc Welding Technology 1
■Arc Welding Technology 2
■MIG Welding Mild Steel
■MIG Welding Aluminium
■MIG Welding Stainless Steel
■TIG Welding
■High Pressurized Pipe Welding
■E■gi■eeri■g Drawing
■Fabricatio■ Techniques
■No■-Destructive Testing
NTPC is mandated to train industry personnel, whether it be skilling, re-skilling, or upskilling to boost productivity.
Welding Occupational Opportunities
The welding trade has contributed a lot to this day, and without them, there would not be much to see and experience daily.
The ever-growing list of what welding has produced over the years has created a demand for welders.
Having a comfortable ride on a motor vehicle, to experiencing a ride onboard a sugarcane-laden truck along the bumpy roads heading to the sugar mill; or a multi-wheeler truck carting rocks traveling through unforgiving conditions heading to a quarry, all have the structures of the vehicle intact by the welding on it.
Construction industries have seen a spike in steel structures and high rises in building demand for welding to safely secure components of the structure while progressing skywards.
Automotive workshops and garages have employed welders to work on accident vehicles in dire need of alignment or normal panel beating requirements where sheet metal works are needed.
Engineering workshop engagement to fabrication of customer demands has also employed welders.
Amusement centers that have ferries wheels for merry-go-rounds all need welding personnel to keep up the operations as it generates income for the establishment.
Shipbuilding and shipping container fabrications and repairs all have relied on the welding trade to flourish.
Backyard workshops are also on the rise, as most welders are now turning to entrepreneurship to start their own small businesses.
A Dream Come True
A Clerical Officer by profession Manasa D Wainibalagi worked in a routine office job for a long time.
As time went by, the idea to change and move out of his comfort zone and venture into something new eventuated.
A career in the welding profession had been his dream. This passion developed when he assisted welders in his workforce who were constructing steel structure beds for seedlings in a greenhouse.
The erection of new steel buildings and demands in Fiji and abroad for welders further strengthened his desire to pursue training in the welding trade.
He has not regretted his decision and encourages those who would like to pursue a career in welding to learn more about the study opportunities available to them. This trade is now a backup to his current career.
A Passion for Trade
Since his early school days, Anmol Vishek lived with a passion to become a welder.
At school, he was more inclined towards technical drawing classes and was inclined to drawing and developing different shapes and structures.
After completing Year 12 at Batinikama Secondary School, he planned to pursue studies in the trade of welding and & fabrication, with NTPC.
Vishek slowly built confidence and with the assistance of the trainer and his colleagues, he further boosted his confidence through the skills and knowledge that he gained during the training.
Vishek successfully completed all training modules at NTPC and started his attachment at the Fiji Sugar Corporation in Labasa.
He has turned heads during his attachment due to the level of skills, knowledge, and work ethic that he portrayed. He has also worked on the Damodar complex in Labasa and is currently with FSC Labasa mill.
NTPC Technical Training Is Second to None
Participants undertake 70 % practical and 30% theory during training at NTPC.
The training courses are tailormade to enable graduates with a smooth transition into the industry.
The wealth of experience of the trainers at NTPC and the training resources available have assisted participants in bridging the gap between industries and the training institutes increasing employability of graduates.
NTPC welcomes participants in search of upskilling or reskilling, including those who are already working in the industries.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and do not In Any wAy rEflECt or rEprEsEnt the position of the Fiji National University com.fj