African Fusion November 2018

SAIW bulletin board

Yaskawa future welding robot handed over to SAIW

O n November 20, 2018, Yaskawa Southern Africa officially handed over a Yaskawa Robot Welder to sup- port SAIW’s vision for modernising welder training. Complete with an SKS welding power source, the robot now installed in SAIW’s Technology Centre is ideal for developing people with ro- botic skills who are needed by the likes of the automotive industry for setting up, programming and operating weld- ing robots on production lines. The new robot forms part of the SAIW Future Welder Training Centre with its focus on using modern technology to develop new-generationwelders for the modern workplace. “The Yaskawa robot welder is a fully functional robot cell, so we have installed it in our Technology Centre,” says SAIW training manager, Shelton Zichawo. “As well as being used for student demonstrations and training, it will also enable us to do welding trials and procedure development for fabrica- tors seeking to adopt more productive modern methods,” he adds. From a training perspective, using the Yaskawa robot is at the end-point of the new International Welder Train- ing Course that the SAIW is currently developing. The first of these courses will be presented in March 2019 by the W hile SAIWhas long offered courses leading to Competent Person certification for in-service inspection of steamgenerators and pressure vessels; and Inspector of Pressure Equipment (IPE) certification for new vessel con- structions and repairs, an additional need has now been identified for the certification of Pipeline Inspectors. The South African Pressure Equip- ment Regulations (PER) requires that in- stalled, in-service and new pipelines be assessed in accordance with SANS 347: Categorization and conformity assess-

Institute’s virtual and robotic welder trainer, Lourens Hand, who will be supported by the manager of practical welding, Willie Williams. “This is a brand new course that we are piloting based on the IIW’s Interna- tional Diploma in Robotic Welding – basic (IRW-B). Ultimately, we hope that, like most other SAIW courses, the SAIW IRB-basic course will also have full IIW accreditation,” notes Zichawo. The course will give robot welders the necessary theoretical knowledge on welding technology and equip him or her with the skills tomanage all aspects of a roboticwelding operation, including design of the welding task, program- ming the robot, safety and troubleshoot- ing of the welding operation. The course gives candidate anunder- standing of: terminology used for robot welding; the different levels of automa- tion, mechanisation and robotics for welding; the quality assurance, quality control and inspection applied in robot welding; productivity and economics of welding; NDT of roboticwelds; technical drawings, welding symbols and their interpretation and application; and much more. On the practical side, welders and robot operators will be exposed to programming a robot welder, online

The Institute’s virtual and robotic welder trainer, Lourens Hand, and SAIW’s manager of practical welding, Willie Williams, show off the Institute’s Yaskawa robot welder. and offline, and how to make these programs efficient. The use of seam tracking systems and sensors is also introduced and the practical module, which is where the Yaskawa robot comes in, teaches the welding opera- tor about how to implement welding procedures and to do qualification tests as required by ISO 14732. “While we are targeting the auto- motive industry and trailer, tank and other large volume manufactures of welded components, quality and com- petitiveness are becoming increasingly important and both small and large fab- ricators can benefit by adopting robot solutions,” says Zichawo. shelton.zichawo@saiw.co.za theoretical course, followed by an examination. The candidate is then re- quired to gain experience as a Pipeline Inspector for two years before applying for certification. laetitia.dormehl@saiw.co.za

New PER/SANS 347 Piping Inspectors course ment criteria for all pressure equipment. SAIW’s new Piping Inspectors course is based on these certification require- ments and consists of a one-week

SAIW Youth Welding Challenge 2018/2019 T he Southern African Institute of Weld- ing [SAIW), in conjunction with its members, partners and sponsors, is proud to announce that entries are open for the 2018/19 SAIW Youth Welding Challenge. The competition, which will be held from 14 to 18 January 2019, seeks to identify awelder, below the age of 22 years as at 31 December 2019, who is the most proficient in South Africa in welding three material categories: carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminium; using four welding processes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAWand FCAW. The overall winner of the competition will receive a R15 000 cash prize and there are further cash prizes for the overall

runner-upaswell as for thewinners of each metal category. Young welders from learning institu- tions and the workplace are invited to enter the competition. Entries must be accompanied by a short CV detailing the entrant’s current skill’s level and abilities. The competition will be held at the SAIWHeadOffice in Johannesburg and the SAIWwill take responsibility for each com- petitor’s transport and accommodation. For those wishing to become SAlW’s welding champion, visit www.saiw.co.za/ saiw-youth-welding-challengetodownload the entry form. Or contact Samuel Mnguni. samuel.mnguni@saiw.co.za

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November 2018

AFRICAN FUSION