American Welding Society News

Solving one problem can create another. Safety always comes first. Amid competitive bidding, contract deadlines and the general drive to gain the best productivity and quality, welding operations in the shipbuilding industry face their own set of challenges. That’s especially true when it comes to welding primer-coated steel, a material prevalent for its ability to withstand atmospheric corrosion from sources such as saltwater. Most primer coatings are zinc-based and used on steel that is between 70 to 120 ksi in strength (and sometimes higher).

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is showcasing welding equipment technologies to enhance quality, productivity and cost savings in the shipbuilding industry during the International WorkBoat Show at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, November 30 to December 2. Miller will be located at booth 3141, where visitors can view products, experience live welding demonstrations and speak with Miller representatives who can answer product and welding questions. Hobart will also be displaying its filler metals for shipbuilding applications alongside Miller. ArcReach multiprocess welding systems: ArcReach Technology allows welding operators to change welding parameters at the weld joint without the use of control cables…

When it comes to shipbuilding, welding is the most vital and fundamental manufacturing process in the construction of ships and metal hull boats. At the 2015 American Welding Society’s (AWS) 9th semiannual shipbuilding conference to take place April 7-8, in Virginia Beach, Va., attendees will learn about emerging technologies that are being developed and qualified for use in both commercial and Navy shipbuilding. The conference will include a technical program featuring presentations on additive manufacturing, automation, new filler metals and many other topics. In addition to the formal sessions, the conference will provide several opportunities to network informally with experts from academia and industry, as well as with conference participants.

American Welding Society will host a cponference featuring a panel of welding industry experts will address the latest developments in welding technology from the expanding energy markets February 5-6, 2014 in New Orleans. The demand for new and improved welding technology from the expanding energy markets are starting to pay off in the development of superior hybrid welding processes, new filler metals, and hosts of cladding procedures. The technologies are showing up in nuclear power plants…

Weldcraft has expanded its premium tungsten electrode offering to include 2 percent lanthanated and zirconiated tungsten electrodes. Like its existing tungsten electrode offering – pure, 2 percent ceriated, 1.5 percent lanthanated, rare earth and 2 percent thoriated – the new additions have undergone rigorous testing to ensure the highest quality and performance. The 2 percent lanthanated tungsten electrodes provide similar characteristics as the 1.5 percent lanthanated tungsten electrode, but with improved arc starting and stability, and less tip erosion.

New UltraCore HD-C Wire from Lincoln Electric Provides High Deposition Rates in All Positions for Shipbuilding and Many Other Applications. UltraCore® HD-C is a mild-steel gas-shielded flux-cored wire produced by Lincoln Electric. It’s an ideal choice for out-of-position welding requirements with 100 percent CO2 in the shipbuilding industry and other fabrication applications. Designed to provide high deposition rates and a flat bead appearance in all positions, UltraCore HD-C delivers premium arc performance and fast-freezing slag with a low fume-generation rate. UltraCore HD-C has a wide operating range and is able to reach deposition rates of up to 10 lbs/hour, even in out-of-position applications.

Lincoln Electric Welding Experts to Speak at 14th Annual Aluminum Welding Conference. Two aluminum welding experts will represent The Lincoln Electric Company on the speakers’ platform at the 14th Annual Aluminum Welding Conference, sponsored by the American Welding Society (AWS), Sept. 20-21, at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Lincoln Electric’s Frank Armao will discuss “Metal Preparation for Aluminum Welding” on Tues., Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. Mark Burke, from Lincoln Electric subsidiary company Indalco Alloys, will cover “Gas Metal Arc Welding of Aluminum Alloys” on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.aws.org/w/a/conferences/index.html. For more information on Lincoln Electric, visit www.lincolnelectric.com.

When it comes to shipbuilding, welding is a vital and fundamental manufacturing process in the construction of ships and metal hull boats. At the American Welding Society (AWS) 6th Annual Charting the Course in Welding: US Shipyards Conference, attendees will learn the progress of new and innovative developments, as well as how their potential value and impact to the industry is essential for those in the shipbuilding community. The 2011 Shipbuilding Conference which takes place May 10-11 in Seattle, Washington, will also address the critical importance of welding in the shipbuilding industry by providing current information on new and emerging technologies being developed for shipbuilding applications.

A revised edition of the American Welding Society’s AWS D3.6M Underwater Welding Code, has been published. The standard known as D3.6M:2010 supersedes the 1999 edition. The 142-page book covers underwater welding in both dry and wet environments. All provisions of the document apply equally to new construction and to modification and repair of existing structures underwater. Initially applied as a means of temporary repair for damaged steel-hulled vessels, underwater welding has evolved into an accepted method of construction and repair of engineered structures. Recent applications included engineered repair and alteration of off-shore structures, submerged marine pipelines, underwater port facilities and nuclear power plant components.

VT Halter Marine Inc., a company of VT Systems Inc (VT Systems), announced the appointment of William (Bill) E. Skinner as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Paul J. Albert as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Skinner, who has been with the company since inception, was appointed CEO on 21 April, 2009. Prior to this appointment Skinner was VT Halter Marine’s COO (2005- 2009) and Senior Vice President of Vessel Operations (2002-2005). Skinner had held senior positions in the shipbuilding industry including President of Friede Goldman Offshore Division of Friede Goldman Halter (1997-2002)…

At the American Welding Society (AWS) 6th Annual Charting the Course in Welding: US Shipyards Conference, attendees will learn the progress of new and innovative developments, as well as how their potential value and impact to the industry is essential for those in the shipbuilding community. The 2009 Shipbuilding Conference which takes place June 16-17, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana, will also address the critical importance of welding in the shipbuilding industry by providing current information on new and emerging technologies being developed for shipbuilding applications. In addition to the formal sessions being presented, the conference will provide several opportunities to network informally with experts from academia and industry, as well as with conference participants.

ABS announced the election of Linwood (Lenny) Pendexter to the position of Corporate Senior Vice President and Chief Surveyor by the ABS Board of Directors at a recent meeting in New York. Pendexter has been an active advocate for maritime safety throughout his career. He currently serves as the classification society’s Chief Surveyor, overseeing a global network of more than 1,400 surveyors. He plans to continue stressing the importance  of safety within and outside the organization. “Safety is the heart and soul of ABS and the role ABS plays in the maritime industry,” he says.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Bill Hill has joined the company's energy and marine services group in Anchorage as director of business development. In this role, he will have responsibility for the sales and operation of the North Slope businesses and will work to develop additional opportunities in Alaska as well as the Canadian and Russian Arctic. Hill will report to Bruce Harland, vice president, Alaska contract services. Hill has extensive experience in project management, module construction and transportation, on the North Slope and in Russia.

The American Welding Society (AWS) announces a conference to discuss the latest research findings and practical applications of welding in shipyards and the maritime environment. It will take place June 21-22, 2005, in Williamsburg, VA. Experts from academia and industry will explore the state of the art in shipbuilding technology. Shipbuilders, designers, suppliers, researchers, educators, and administrators involved in ship procurement and construction will discuss the challenges and opportunities that confront the shipbuilding industry today. This two-day conference will concentrate on the use of advanced processes such as friction stir welding and laser-assisted welding, filler metals, and welding-related fatigue issues.

The American Welding Society (AWS) announced that its foundation has received a $1 million pledge from Miller Electric Mfg. Co. and Hobart Brothers Company to provide initial funding for the American Welding Society Welder Workforce Development Program. The AWS Foundation will utilize the donation to fund increased training of entry-level welders and specialized training of existing welders in order to address the shortage of trained welders in the United States. According to AWS and other industry research, the average age of a welder is in the mid-fifties. Fewer graduates entering the profession, coupled with the projected retirement of half of the experienced welding workforce, has led to a shortage of skilled welders that could weaken U.S. manufacturing and the overall economy.