WorldSkills is an international initiative that identifies and nurtures “Trade” and “Skill” talent around the globe. It’s about selecting the best up and coming young talent across a range of skills, and having them compete against one another in their chosen event. They first compete at a regional level, then at the national level, and in the final stage they are sent abroad to step up to the plate on a world scale, and represent their country at the International Competitions which are run every second year.
This year there were 44 Trade and Skill Categories being represented at WorldSkills in Australia.The Skills and Trades ranged from heavy industrial work like Welding or Construction Steel Work,to Plumbing, Auto Body Repair or Landscaping. At the other end of the spectrum, the competition also encompassed Skills such as jewellery, cookery, hairdressing and web design.
The WorldSkills 2014 National Competition was held in Perth – and ran officially from the 18th – 20th September. The day before the competition began, all of the competitors had an official welcome ceremony, and were brought into their respective skill stations where they were given a couple of hours to get accustomed to their workstations and equipment.
The competitors were given 8 hours a day, over 3 days, to complete a given task. Each competitor worked on their own to build, repair or create their project from scratch. To help them along, a number of high profile companies chipped in to provide all of the relevant equipment, utilities and consumables that were required to complete the set task.
CIGWELD is a major Sponsor of WorldSkills Australia, and have supported this years event with a generous range of Professional Level Welding Machines, Safety Equipment and Consumables. The range of CIGWELD equipment assisted competitors with the welding, cutting and gas control, which was required within a number of the Skills and Trades.
These categories included: Welding, Sheetmetal Work, Construction Steel Work, Auto Body Repair, Plumbing and Jewellery.
CIGWELDs Comet Edge Regulators featured heavily throughout the event, as the solution for all gas control.The Comet Edge Blow Pipe and Cutting Attachment, Transmig 175i, Transmig 250i and Professional 220ACDC Inverter are just a few of the CIGWELD products that you would have seen in the Skillaroos workstations.
For a smooth transition into the workforce, gearing competitors with Professional CIGWELD machines provided them with the confidence and knowledge required to enhance their skills to use industry level equipment.
With safety being paramount at CIGWELD, machines are equipped with the latest in welding safety technology – VRD, Voltage Reduction Device, virtually eliminating electric shocks when not welding.
CIGWELD was an initial founder of Worldskills in Australia some years ago, and will continue to support this important program which assists with the development and education of our younger up and coming welding professionals, enhancing both their skills and experience. CIGWELD does more than donate funds and equipment to Worldskills; as a Major Sponsor, staff are involved nationally, and when required, devote time to judging competitions.
CIGWELD Marketing Manager, Laura Carrazza, explains that the WorldSkills sponsorship is just as important to CIGWELD, as it is to the WorldSkills organisation and the Competitors. “The exposure we get from being involved with such an important competition is immeasurable, as it is really about establishing a relationship and loyalty with our young, talented future professionals. The main aim is to have presence at the events, and we believe that through our sponsorship we are able to establish significant brand awareness, and as a result be instrumental in the growth and development at a grass roots level.”
The Welding category was where the largest range of CIGWELD welding equipment was located. The contestants used CIGWELD Transmig 250i Multi Process Welding Inverters, along with 220ACDC Welding Inverters and a range of CIGWELD wires, electrodes and TIG rods. All contestants were decked out in CIGWELD safety gear (Gauntlet or TIG gloves and high impact ProLite Auto Darkening Welding Helmets).
TRANSMIG 250i:
The CIGWELD TRANSMIG 250i is a self contained single phase multiprocess welding inverter that is capable of performing GMAW/FCAW (MIG),MMAW (Stick) and GTAW (Lift TIG) welding processes. The unit is equipped with an integrated wire feed unit, voltage reduction device (VRD applicable in stick mode only), PFC (power factor correction), digital voltage and amperage meters, and a host of other features in order to fully satisfy the broad operating needs of the modern welding professional.
TRANSTIG 220 AC/DC:
Great for the highest quality aluminium weld, the Transtig 220AC/DC combines the finest hardware with the latest digital software control systems, producing outstanding seam quality on even the thinnest materials. With DC stick, AC/DC Lift TIG and AC/DC HF TIG and jam packed with safety features, the Transtig 220 AC/DC is ideal for a range of industries, from boat building and panel beating to precision work in chemistry, wine or water tank installations. Whilst in TIG mode the Transtig 220AC/DC is capable of Pulse Welding, Spot Welding, 2T (Normal) and 4T (Latch) modes.
Welding competitors were asked to perform a number of welding tasks, demonstrating various welding positions, across a range of processes (MIG, TIG and Stick) and also on a range of metals (Mild Steel, Stainless Steel and Aluminium).
The main project was to construct a fully assembled pressure vessel that was visually assessed, as well as pressure tested by judges. Once a winner was selected, that individual then had the opportunity to take on the challenge at the International Worldskills competition in Brazil next year.
A world-class competition which has hundreds of millions of government and industry money poured into it, to make it the renowned event that it is today. We look forward to seeing our Skillaroo competitor’s progress to this next level, and are thrilled that CIGWELD has been a part of this gateway to success and instrumental in their careers.
Winners from CIGWELD Supported categories:-
METALS & ENGINEERING CATEGORIES
WELDING
GOLD – KALLON McVICAR, ILLAWARRA NSW (WOLLONGONG)
SILVER – NATHAN KELLY, MACQUARIE – NSW (ORANGE)
BRONZE – ELTON STEWART-MURRAY, TASMANIA – TAS
CONSTRUCTION STEEL WORK
GOLD – JED SPARKES, SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND – QLD
SILVER – SCOTT BROWN ILLAWARRA – NSW (WOLLONGONG)
BRONZE – MICHAEL JAMES, RIVERINA MURRAY, NSW
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE TEAM CHALLENGE
GOLD – TODD FITZSIMMONS & BROCK GOODWIN, HUNTER NSW
SILVER – BRADLEY CLARKE & MATTHEW LUTTRELL, TASMANIA – TAS
BRONZE – SHARI HUNT & MATTHEW KING, SPENCER GULF – SA
SHEET METAL WORK
GOLD – THOMAS CRITTENDEN, HUNTER – NSW
SILVER – HARRISON DENFORD, SYDNEY- NSW
BRONZE – HAMISH CHAMLEY, TASMANIA – TAS
JEWELLERY
GOLD – JYOTHI FORMAN, MELBOURNE – VIC
SILVER – DOUGLAS ELY, SYDNEY WEST – NSW
BRONZE – SAMANTHA KELLY, ADELAIDE – SA
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION CATEGORIES
PLUMBING
GOLD – DYLAN Di MARTINO, MELBOURNE – VIC
SILVER – SAM GLISSON, BALLARAT/WIMMERA – VIC
BRONZE – SAM GIFFORD, RIVERINA MURRAY – NSW
REFRIGERATION
GOLD – BEAU KUPRIS, SYDNEY WEST – NSW
SILVER – JORDAN WALLWORTH, MELBOURNE – VIC
BRONZE – MARK YOUNG, TASMANIA- TAS
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
AUTOBODY REPAIR
GOLD – TRENT YEO, MELBOURNE – VIC
SILVER – KARL DAVIES, BALLARAT/WIMMERA – VIC
BRONZE – BLAKE HOLDEN, SYDNEY – NSW
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT OF THE YEAR AWARD
PAUL CONDRAN – WELDING
For additional information or photographs, please contact:
Laura Carrazza
Marketing Communications Manager – Asia Pacific
CIGWELD – A Victor Technologies Company
T: 03 9474 7329
M: 0435 968 356
