Reliable projections show that in the next six years, the U.S. welding industry will require tens of thousands more welders to cope with industry growth. The growing demand for welders stretches across a variety of industries, including agriculture, mining, construction, transportation, plant maintenance, and the fast-growing shale gas sector. Additionally, as the nation’s infrastructure continues to age, those trained in welding and related fields will be needed to help rebuild highways, bridges, and buildings.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for welders, brazers, cutters, and solderers is rising at 6 percent, “as fast as average.” Welding currently is said to be one of the fastest-growing professions in the country as a whole. Reportedly, starting pay is above average, benefits are good, and the future appears bright for welders. straight line wire drawing machine
But the challenge isn’t just to fill this growing demand; it also is to ensure that skills and equipment enable welders to produce top-quality work.
The BLS shows the 2017 median pay for welders in May that year was $40,240 per year and $19.35 per hour. Based on employment projections from 2016 to 2026, the industry has the capacity to employ 404,800 welders, brazers, cutters, and solderers to do a range of jobs that involve using hand-held or remote-controlled equipment (including robots) for joining or cutting metal. The occupation also involves filling seams, indentations, and holes in metal products.
While many welders work in factories and shops, others work in uncomfortable, confined areas and in awkward positions, and often outdoors in inclement weather.
The typical education required to get an entry-level job in this industry is said to be a high school diploma or equivalent. Work experience is considered unnecessary for these positions. However, the caveat is that unless welders enter the industry with thorough training and skills, they won’t earn anywhere near the median income.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) warns that about 60 percent of all manufacturers reject job applications from those in the welding field because of a lack of training and skills. NAM also reports that close to 81 percent of manufacturers in the U.S. are unable to find sufficiently skilled welders to meet their needs. Those with the appropriate skills often earn a starting pay that is considerably higher than the national average.
Generally, it is advisable for those seeking good-paying welding jobs to opt for training that achieves an American Welding Society certification. Courses usually include important basic subjects, such as the principles of metallurgy, OSHA-approved construction site and workshop safety, and welding tool and equipment usage.
Welders and welding companies benefit from investing in the best tools and equipment. This enables them to produce the best possible results and gives them an edge against their competitors. By maximizing efficiency, cutting-edge tools and equipment inevitably make any business more profitable. But it is essential to choose equipment carefully to ensure it is best-suited to the welding jobs undertaken and maximizes productivity.
Tools and equipment to consider include:Welding tablesTurntables and lift tablesWelding jigs and fixtures
A welding table is a must for streamlining operations in factories and workshops. A state-of-the-art, modular, 3D welding table with clamping options is an excellent choice, particularly if it has movable rails and T-slots that support clamps and stops.
The best 3D welding tables may be used in combination with horizontal rotary tables, as well as vertical turntables and lift tables. Together, they enable welders to create their own truly custom welding setup.
Various options, including pivoting welding tables that have hydraulic lift and turning functions, are available. Those that can rotate 360 degrees are ideal for ergonomic welding, allowing welders to be considerably more efficient.
The surface material is also important. Traditional welding tables made from mild steel inevitably end up with spatter from several welding processes. It is time-consuming, if not expensive, to remove. A cast iron surface that is spatterproof offers a distinct advantage for those working with carbon steel.
Welders working with stainless steel prefer a welding table surface made from an aluminum/copper (AlCu) alloy that has a higher tensile strength than carbon steel and won’t cause ferritic scratches or pitting.
But it isn’t just the surface that counts. Traditionally, the welder’s best-kept secret was his jig. Today numerous ingenious devices can be used with top-of-the-range welding tables. These include angles and supports, stop elements, and numerous high-end equipment sets that are available for different types of welding, from universal manufacturing to rack and frame or tube manufacturing.
The welder gets what he or she needs to create ingenious custom jigs in minutes without additional welding procedures to make the jig a reality. Used with high-tech clamping elements, including columns and arms, just about anything is possible.
Also available are special fixtures that can reduce welding time by half for railing and fence production using carbon steel, aluminum, or more expensive stainless steel.
Additionally, T-slot tables may be used with 3D clamping systems as a simple alternative to traditional clamps and stops. They can be used at different angles, even right angles. Easy to use with both flat metal and tubing, this type of system allows access to the workpiece from all sides and angles.
Ultimately, if a welding business is using cutting-edge equipment and employing well-trained staff who are committed to quality, safety, and the best interests of the company as a whole, the all-important bottom line benefits.
See More by Michelle Howell
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