African Fusion August 2016

SAIW bulletin board

Supporting good welding practice SAIW’s July graduation dinner for 2016 was celebrated at Emperors Palace on Friday July 22. Presenting the motivational address, Gert Joubert of ArcelorMittal un- ravelled the different roles of those involved in welding projects for the benefit of graduates’ family, spouses and partners.

“ W e talk a lot about the integrity of a weld, but what is that and how does it relate to inspection?” he asks, before identifying three corner- stones for successful welding. “First you need good metallurgy, fromgoodmetallurgists such as our own Professor Koursaris, who understands what happens inside a steel. Having completed an SAIW inspection course, your loved-ones’ heads are full of what happens inside a heat-affected zone; of material microstructures – martensite, pearlite and austenite – and of treat- ment processes such as pre- and post- weld heat treatment. Inspectors have to studied all of these things and yours havepassedexamsabout them,”hesays. Second is the design. “A design engi- neer has in his head knowledge of weld- ing codes, specifications, calculations; yield and tensile strengths of materials, Charpy toughness values; and ductile to brittle transition temperatures. Does this sound familiar? These are also things that inspectors learn about, because they need to ensure that designers’ intentions are being applied correctly,” Joubert explains. Third, he notes, is the welding pro- cess side, with welding engineers and technologists specifying exactly how a weld needs to be completed. “So we need to know about welding processes: MIG welding, pulsed arc, spray transfer, globular transfer, arc plasmas – all of the science that is behind producing a good weld.” Joubert uses the triangle formed by

a three-legged stool to describe good welded construction: “In one corner is the design engineer. But even if that corner is well established, the stool can topple over in any direction. At the sec- ond corner is the metallurgy and all of the knowledge about the metal needed in a sound weld. But even with both of these corners in place, the stool will still roll over along the line between these two points. “So you need a third point of bal- ance. Thewelding processes, the inspec- tion integrity, the welder skills and the quality controls. Unless all three corners of this stool areproperly establishedand in place, good welding will not be sup- ported and the structure beingwelded is heading for collapse,” he warns. “You can’t inspect quality into a bad product. You can’t take a good welding machine and lay down a good weld without any skill. You can’t overlook the loading conditions that a structure has to deal with in practice. Every con- ceivable possibility needs to be in well thought through and brought into bal- ance,” he adds. “Inside and throughout the base of this triangle, all stakeholders need to have knowledge and skill. The knowl- edge that you are bringing into the industry as inspectors is of utmost importance to keep this stool stable and balanced,” Joubert tells graduates, adding “treasure your knowledge and look after it. Keep it in the right place and use it well.” Following Joubert’s talk, two can-

SAIW courses and events Heat Treatment for Engineers, Andy Koursaris 12-16 Sept, SAIW City West, Johannesburg didates received International Welding Tech- nologist (IWT) diplomas; four became Interna- tional Welding Specialists and 15 students were awarded Inspector Level 2 certificates alongwith the IIW Standard Welding Inspector qualifica- tion. A further 13 graduates received SAIW Level 2 Welding Inspector certificates while 51 more graduated as SAIW Level 1 Inspectors, four of them with distinction. Welding Coordination: ISO 3834 and ISO 14731 28 Sept, Secunda; 19 Oct, Johannesburg; 16 Nov, Cape Town; and 23 Nov Durban. SAIW: Laetitia Dormehl +27 86 648 8165 laetitia.dormehl@saiw.co.za Appreciation of welding, Nico Fourie 3-7 Oct, SAIW City West, Johannesburg SAIW: Laetitia Dormehl +27 86 648 8165 laetitia.dormehl@saiw.co.za Two of South Africa’s most recent International Welding Technologists (IWTs) receive qualification certificates from SAIW president, Morris Maroga. Top: Melba Mothapo. Above: Phumudzo Mudau. Shelton Zichawo +27 11 298 2148 shelton.zichawo@saiw.co.za

The SAIW Annual Dinner and Awards S AIW’s 68 th Annual Dinner and Awards ceremony will take place on Friday September 23 at the Gold Reef City Conference Centre. To be MCd by South African radio DJ, singer, actor voice artist, television presenter and traffic reporter, Bongani Nxumalo, with additional entertain- ment from Coda Africa – an exciting merge of an electric violin and cello with a house DJ, an African vocalist and a rock saxophone – the event is sure to be a night to remember. To book, download the booking form from the SAIW website or contact Rencia Grundlingh. rencia.grundlingh@saiw.co.za

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August 2016

AFRICAN FUSION