Welding
About the competition
The SkillWeld competition is brought to you by prime sponsor Air
Products and generous industry support. The SkillWeld Committee
organise the competition.
SkillWeld is the UK’s premier welding competition, and has
direct links to WorldSkills UK and WorldSkills International. As
competitor numbers have been growing consistently over a number of
years, the SkillWeld Committee has decided to introduce a passive
stage to the competition structure, which we feel will give more
trainee welders the opportunity to participate in the competition,
raise the skill level of competitors attending Semi Finals
(previously called regional heats), assist with competitors’
progression and enhance the 'competition experience'.
The SkillWeld 2012 competition will be made up of the following
stages:-
I. Registration
II. Passive Heat
III. Semi Finals
IV. National Final
Who can enter?
The SkillWeld competition is aimed at technicians working and/or
training in the welding industry at an advanced or higher level.
Please note there are no age limits for SkillWeld competitor entry,
however age restrictions do apply to competitors progressing into
WorldSkills International Competitions
How many competitors can enter from each
organisation?
No restrictions.
Competition Structure
Stage one: Enter online by 30th December 2011.
Stage two: Passive Heat
All entrants will be asked to fabricate and weld a small
fabrication test piece. The completed fabrication will be marked by
their lecturer/trainer jointly with an Air Products judge against a
supplied marking sheet. There will be a time limit and all welds
must be completed. The Passive Heats have three welding processes,
TIG, MMA and MAG, all Low Carbon Steel. A straightforward welding
job to encompass positional welding, penetration and appearance are
important. All competitors wishing to compete at the Semi Finals
must participate in the SkillWeld2012 Passive Heats. Those welders
who perform best in the Passive Heats will be invited to take part
in the SkillWeld2012 Semi Finals.
Stage three: Semi Final
There will be seven regional centres in the UK mainland. Entry
into the Semi Finals will be by invitation only.
The Semi Finals will use the four SkillWeld weld tests used
previously.
No. 1 - Carbon Steel pipe MMA - HL045
No. 2 - Aluminium pipe to plate. A/C TIG - Horizontal Vertical
(PB)
No. 3 - Stainless Steel, 3mm Fillet. DC TIG OVERHEAD (PD)
No. 4 - Carbon Steel 10mm. FILLET. MAG VERTICAL UP (PF)
Time is limited, tests are marked by SkillWeld judges and
material is free issue.
Stage four: National Final
The top ten competitors from the SkillWeld Semi Finals (held in
January/February 2012) will be invited to take part in the
SkillWeld National Final to be held at TWI.
The SkillWeld 2012 Finals will be held at TWI Abington between
10 and 13 April 2012.
NB: Competitor entry to the Finals will be by invitation
only.
Test objects will include a Low Carbon Steel Fabrication
involving multi-process and various joint configurations, a
Stainless Steel Pipe Butt Joint (DC TIG) an Aluminium Fabrication
with fully penetrated Butt Welds in varying positions, and two Butt
Joints in Low Carbon Steel using two welding processes and subject
to radiographic inspection.
For further information or to register, please visit
http://www.airproducts.co.uk/skillweld/
Competition Partners
The competition is sponsored by Air Products and is organised by
the SkillWeld Committee in Association with Semta and leading
industry partners.