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New Technology at West Notts College Improves Skills
08/07/2008
West Nottinghamshire College fabrication and welding students are reaping the benefits of new equipment funded by East Midlands New Technology Initiative (NTI).
As part of their apprenticeship, students are required to produce and test weld samples to BS standards in a variety of weld positions using specialist equipment in order to obtain a Level 3 Technical Certificate. Now, thanks to the NTI’s High Performance Engineering Network grant, tutors are able to set up and train students using new Migatronic positional welding machines.
Richard Davies, course tutor at West Notts College, says: “The results of the new equipment have been very encouraging – the quality of the welds are superb, ease of operator use is better than standard weld sets and the capability of the sets to adapt to a variety of materials has been enhanced. We are now able to deliver coded welder training for aluminium, stainless and allow steels in high performance production applications.”
One of the students on the course is Gareth Shipley, who completes his apprenticeship this summer. He says: “The equipment has enabled me to try new technology, for example synergic pulse settings, which improves weld penetration. Having the qualifications and knowledge behind me as well as learning about the new weld machines has taken welding to another level. I now hope to continue learning the trade through work gaining experience in a wide variety of jobs.”
High Performance Engineering
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