News

History of The Welding Institute

This year, The Welding Institute celebrated one hundred years since it was established in 1923 as ‘The Institution of Welding Engineers.’

The formation as a professional engineering institution, supporting the development of Members in the fields of welding, joining and allied technologies, has enabled The Institute to act as a voice for industry, providing authoritative guidance to bodies including the British Standards Institution, the Engineering Council, and the UK government.

Licensed by the Engineering Council, The Welding Institute is an independent body promoting and advancing the welding, joining and allied technologies. The Institute is also licensed by the Engineering Council to assess Professional Members in becoming professionally registered as Chartered Engineers (CEng), Incorporated Engineers (IEng) or Engineering Technicians (EngTech).

 

Annual Dinner

This year saw several events to celebrate our 100^th anniversary, including a special centenary dinner at King’s College in Cambridge. The evening was a celebration of The Institute and was an excellent way to meet contacts from our wide Industrial and Professional Memberships, our academic partners and TWI's own staff. 123 people attended the event, including 50 people from The Welding Institute, who all got to hear speeches from Baroness Brown and The Welding Institute CEO Dr Aamir Khalid.

Riverboat Jazz Cruise

Another event which took place during our centenary year was The Riverboat Jazz Cruise, which took place on Sunday, 19November 2023. The Welding Institute celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the Institute of Welding Engineers with a riverboat cruise on the Thames, organised by the London and Kent Branches.

80 Professional Members, family members and guests attended, including TWI Research Director, Paul Woollin, TWI Group Manager for Marketing, Mike Emmett, London Branch Programme Secretary, Alan Denney and London Branch President, Eric Martin, who each gave a speech whilst cruising along the river.

IACS Ltd and IABCO (I.A Barnes and Company) sponsored the event, with guests boarding the boat, The Golden Salamander, and cruising along the Thames from Westminster to Tower Bridge. The guests were treated to prosecco/fruit juice upon arrival, which was then followed by a two-course buffet meal and live music from a three-piece jazz band.

Welding Institute Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter Launched

On 20 October 2023, Members of The Welding Institute attended the launch of the new Charter for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. The event was hosted by Dr Claire Kimpton (Chair of Professional Board) and, in the presence of the President Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Members showed their support for an open and all-inclusive organisation that aims to provide equality of opportunity to all, irrespective of grade or experience. Our President, committee and working group chairs signed a specially created charter document, which sets out and outlines our commitment.

Member Case Studies

Over the year, The Welding Institute has been publishing case studies from exceptional individuals who have volunteered for the Institute and those who are long serving Members from the UK and overseas.

Siew Yap Wong is one of our longest serving overseas Members. He joined The Welding Institute in 1970 as a Member and is still a Member to this day. When Siew Yap Wong became a Member of The Welding Institute he was working as a Welding Researcher Engineer at the British Steel Corporation. Since retirement, he has conducted a course on materials and their behaviours on the IIW (International Institute of Welding) at TWI Malaysia.

Another case study published this year was about long serving Member, Alan Gifford, who joined The Welding Institute in 1958, having started working in a small chemical factory laboratory, where he did all of his studies as day release and evening studies. After Alan retired, he continued to be a Member of CEN Committee for water tube boilers. Alan was always associated with both the East Midlands Branch and at TWI, where he was Chair of the former and a Member of TWI’s Council.

We also heard from Aaron Kirkbride, a Welding Engineer with Rolls-Royce Submarines. He became an associate student (AWeldI) Member of The Welding Institute in 2013 because one of his supervisors at the time was Chair at their local Branch. Aaron ended up becoming a Professional Member (MWeldI) once he became professionally registered and places a big emphasis on volunteering for The Welding Institute. He is a Committee Member and Young Members representative for the East Midlands Branch and was previously a Committee Member and the Secretary for the South-West Branch. Aaron also mentors colleagues applying for Membership, playing a crucial role within volunteering in The Welding Institute.

We also published a case study about Sophie Dawson EngTech TechWeldI, who is a Nuclear Welding Inspector (Project Inspector) at Sellafield Ltd. She chose to pursue an NWIT apprenticeship, as well as CSWIP 3.0 and PCNs Level 2 in DPI, MPI and UT NDT testing techniques. To complete her NWIT apprenticeship with Sellafield Ltd, Sophie needed to join The Welding Institute, following an interview with a TWI panel, which Sophie completed successfully.

Over the year we heard from many of our Members including some of our longest serving Members overseas as well as in the UK, and volunteers, students and those that are professionally registered. We would like to thank all those that contributed and those that read our case studies celebrating the individuals that make The Welding Institute.

The Welding Institute had a great year celebrating its 100^th Anniversary, we are extremely grateful to everyone who has made this year a success and for the continuous support - we look forward to the future ahead.

On Sunday, 19 November 2023, The Welding Institute celebrated the 100^th anniversary the Institute of Welding Engineers with a riverboat cruise on the Thames, organised by the London and Kent Branches.

80 Professional Members, family members and guests attended, including TWI Research Director, Paul Woolin, TWI Group Manager for Marketing, Mike Emmett, London Branch Programme Secretary, Alan Denney and London Branch President, Eric Martin, who each gave a speech whilst cruising along the river.

The event was sponsored by IACS Ltd and IABCO (I.A Barnes and Company), guests boarded the boat, The Golden Salamader, and cruised along the Thames from Westminster to Tower Bridge. The guests were treated to prosecco/fruit juice upon arrival, which was then followed by a two-course buffet meal and live music from a three-piece jazz band.

We would like to thank everyone who attended the riverboat cruise and also to thank those who organised this wonderful event for their hard work.

Hugh McPhillips IEng MWeldI, AWS is the Managing Director and owner of Genetic Education Training Services Ltd. Hugh has 35 years’ experience as a Lecturer, Workshop and Curriculum Manager at the College of North West London, as well as 12 years as an Education Consultant in Engineering. Hugh works with colleges and private training providers on course curriculum, apprenticeships and the new T-Levels.

Intro to you and your career in Engineering

When did you join The Welding Institute?

‘I joined The Welding Institute in 1973, after I had gained my Full Technological Certificate as a Tech WeldI Member.’

Please describe your current job role and responsibilities

‘I am working with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE), City & Guilds as a T-Level Ambassador, and as a Member of the Employers Information Board (EIB), which is working with The Royal Academy of Engineering. I am also working as a Technical Advisor for a new Virtual Environment Welding Programme alongside my own Welder Approvals Programme. I am also the Educational Editor on the Welding and Joining Matters Journal.’

Why did you choose a career in Engineering?

‘At school I did metalwork, woodwork and technical drawing as a part of the curriculum offer, and it was in these subjects that I had the most interest, this led me to a five year apprenticeship with Kodak Ltd on the maintenance side of the company.’

What is one of your biggest career highlights or achievements that you’re most proud of?

‘One of my biggest career highlights is submitting and becoming part of a national consortium to act as a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Welding and Fabrication, in conjunction with The Welding Institute, Keighley College and People’s College Nottingham, as well as being the National Training Manager for the WorldSkillsUK Construction Metalwork Competition.’

What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career and how did you overcome this?

‘One of my biggest challenges was keeping our fabrication and welding workshops open during a downslide in apprenticeship training by diversifying our curriculum offer and moving to a roll-on, roll-off programme, giving greater flexibility to clients and employers alike. We also became part of an innovative programme in classic car restoration skills, maintenance programmes for NHS Trusts and self-funded work, such as welder approvals.’

Early Professional Membership

Why did you initially join The Welding Institute?

‘I joined The Welding Institute as a means to gain additional learning, and being recognised as having reached a standard within a Professional Institute, with access to a wide network of organisations and professional colleagues.’  

Tell us a bit about the process of becoming a Member of The Welding Institute?

‘I initially joined as a Tech WeldI Member, and progressed to become an Incorporate Engineer and MWeldI.’

Professional Registration

Are you professionally registered?

‘Yes, I became an IEng and MWeldI in 2010 and AWS in 1990.’

What was the process of Professional Registration like and why did you choose to become professionally registered?

‘In both education and in business, having post–nominals gives you some prestige and identity within the industry.’

Current Membership

How has Professional Membership/Registration helped you throughout your career?

‘Professional Membership has given me access to a network of organisation and personnel, to assist me whenever I have needed support and guidance.’

What Membership benefits do you use the most and fin the most helpful and why?

‘One of the most helpful benefits is the technical access, association with other like-minded Institutes and knowledge of innovative processes.’

About Volunteering

What current volunteer roles do you undertake?

‘I volunteer in several roles: President and Chairman of the South West Branch of TWI, Branch Management Member, Virtual Panel Reviewer, Association of Welding and Fabrication Trainers in Education (AWFTE) Management Member and Educational Editor on the Welding and Joining Matters magazine.’

Future (Membership and Career)

What are your engineering aspirations?

‘One of my aspirations is to promote a new approach to how technical information is presented, to make it more user friendly and interactive. Another aspiration is to promote apprenticeships for all; regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or impairment, with effective support mechanisms and funding.’

Would you recommend Membership with The Welding Institute and why?

‘In my case it has helped to promote my working life and has given me an insight to other areas of the industry.’

What advice would you give or what would you say to your younger self beginning your career in engineering?

‘Some advice I would give is to be open to all opportunities, and be prepared to put in the ground-work, as it will pay dividends in the future. The more versatile you are the more employment opportunities will come your way. Also, never assume and always ensure that you double check any statements that you may make.’

Mr Thomas Drew EngTech TechWeldi is the new Chair for the West Midlands Branch of The Welding Institute. Thomas works as a CSWIP 3.2.1 Senior Welding Inspector, his job title is Responsible Welding Coordinator, having studied for a HNC in physics at Loughborough University.

When did you join The Welding Institute?

‘I became a Member in May 2022. My previous employer was an Industrial Member of TWI, who granted me an Associate Membership (AWeldI).’

Please describe your current job role and responsibilities

‘I hold the position of Responsible Welding Coordinator at Transcal Engineering Ltd. My role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities focused on overseeing and managing all welding activities within the organisation. As the coordinator, I lead a team of eighteen and more skilled welding personnel, recognising the specialised nature of welding and the crucial need for meticulous coordination. This is to establish confidence in welding fabrication and ensure reliable performance in service.’

‘A significant part of my responsibilities revolves around ensuring compliance with various management systems, including ISO 9001, BS EN ISO 3834, BS EN 15085 and DIN 2303. I actively develop and implement Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), and I am accountable for maintaining Welder Certification (WPQ) to uphold the highest quality standards.’

‘In addition to managing certifications, I play a pivotal role in fostering skill development and performance improvement among inspection and welding personnel. This involves maintaining and reviewing competency matrices, which guide my efforts to nurture and enhance the team’s capabilities.’

‘Ensuring precise adherence to drawing specifications and welding procedures is of paramount importance in my role. Consequently, I supervise welding personnel closely, preparing them for complex tasks and providing guidance as needed.’

‘Quality control is a critical aspect of my responsibilities. I coordinate quality control inspections, overseeing welding inspection processes and equipment, as well as ensuring that appropriate training, documentation, procedures, and calibration controls are effectively in place.’

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

‘I am fortunate to come from a family with a rich engineering heritage. My father, a Chartered Senior Instrument Engineer, has achieved remarkable feats in his career. Equally inspiring is my grandmother, a real trailblazer, as the first woman to join the Engineering Drawing Office, setting an example for others to follow. Moreover, my grandfather’s role as a Machinist Apprentice Trainer left a lasting impact on numerous apprentices, nurturing their technical skills and instilling a deep passion for precision engineering. His legacy as a mentor and educator continues to resonate, inspiring subsequent generations, including myself.’

‘The collective dedication to problem-solving, technical expertise, and innovative spirit within my family has been a driving force behind my decision to pursue a career in engineering. Their exemplary achievements and unwavering support have provided me with a strong foundation and continue to motivate me to make my mark in the world of engineering.’

What’s one of your biggest career highlights or achievements that you’re most proud of?

‘One of my most significant career highlights and achievements that fills me with immense pride occurred in March 2023, when I had the pleasure of announcing Transcal Engineering’s successful accreditation to the German Military Welding Standards, DIN 2302. This accreditation marks a pivotal moment for Transcal Engineering Ltd, as it expands our range of manufacturing capabilities, building on our already successful history with ISO 3834-2 and EN 15085-2.’

‘Over the years, we have established a strong track record working with Tier 1 defence companies on both British and international military vehicles. With this new accreditation, Transcal Engineering Ltd is now officially approved and technically capable of delivering welded components that met the general and special requirements for German military vehicles. This accomplishment reinforces our commitment to excellence and showcases our dedication to meeting the highest industry standards.’

‘The DIN 2302 accreditation opens exciting opportunities for Transcal Engineering, allowing us to take on more diverse and challenging projects within the defence sector. It is a testament to the hard work, expertise and unwavering commitment of our team, who continuously strive for excellence and innovation in our field.’

‘As we look forward to the future, this achievement serves as a milestone in our journey, motivating us to reach even greater heights and solidify our position as a trusted and capable partner in the military vehicle manufacturing industry.’

What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career and how did you overcome this?

‘During my formative years as a Coded TIG Welder, I dedicated myself to an unwavering pursuit of excellence, upholding a strong commitment to quality and adherence to standards. Among my most significant challenges was mastering the intricate art of turbine blade weld repair for GE and Siemens industrial turbine power generators. Successfully overcoming this hurdle, I developed a highly effective welding procedure that effectively tackled the critical problem of micro cracking in Inconel-susceptible materials.’

Professional Registration

‘In February 2023, I achieved professional registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech) of the Engineering Council.’

What was the process of Professional Registration like and why did you choose to become Professionally Registered?

‘The process of Professional Registration began back in September 2022, and was indeed quite extensive. Becoming professionally registered was a decision I made based on several important factors;’

‘Firstly, to further enhance my credibility and recognition within the engineering community. It signifies a formal acknowledgement of my skills, knowledge, and expertise as evaluated by a recognised authority like the Engineering Council. This recognition not only bolsters my confidence in my abilities, but also provides reassurance to employers, clients and colleagues about the quality of work I can deliver.’

‘Secondly, becoming professionally registered aligns with my commitment to personal and professional development. Throughout the process, I had the opportunity to reflect on my career journey, identify areas for improvement, and gain new insights into various engineering disciplines. Engaging in continuous learning and skill enhancement is crucial in a rapidly evolving field like engineering, and obtaining Professional Registration serves as a testament to my dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry.’

‘Additionally, being professionally registered allows me to access a wide range of networking opportunities and resources. It opens doors to professional networks, conferences, and workshops, where I can collaborate with like-minded individuals, share knowledge and contribute to the advancement of engineering.’

‘Lastly, as an engineering professional, I believe in upholding the highest ethical standards and contributing to the betterment of society through my work. Professional Registration underlines my commitment to adhering to a strict code of conduct and promoting ethical practices within the engineering profession.’

‘While the process of Professional Registration was indeed lengthy, the benefits and rewards it offers far outweigh the efforts invested. The journey has been both challenging and fulfilling, and I am proud to have achieved this milestone in my engineering career. It has reinforced my passion for the field and motivated me to continue striving for excellence in all aspects of my work.’  

Lotte joined TWI Ltd in December 2005, working for the TWI Training School as an Administrator for the EWF/IIW Welding Diploma course. She then moved to the NDT Section as a Project Leader, working with technical Project Leaders and Proposal Writers on coordinating EU collaborative projects before finally joining The Welding Institute department in 2008.

Lotte has been responsible for managing the Membership Team since 2014, ensuring compliance with regulations, streamlining processes, and promoting customer service and Member focus throughout. As well as her regulatory role, Lotte has trained hundreds of volunteers who support our work on peer reviews - a key benefit for all our Members. Prior to this, Lotte’s background had been mainly in the Danish IT industry before her move to the UK in 2005. 

Having worked for the Professional Membership department for 15 years, Lotte brings a lot of experience and enthusiasm to the Section Manager role, and is looking forward to working with our Members (both Professional and Industrial), our volunteers, and TWI colleagues to further promote The Institute and its activities. Our 100^th anniversary in 2023 has provided everyone with the opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions to industry delivered over the years by The Institute and its Members and to look forward to the future. 

One of our key priorities for 2024 will be to promote and encourage professional development for all our Members, with a view to progressing those eligible for higher Member grades and Engineering Council registration. To achieve this, we are hoping for continued investment (of time) and support from our Members, as we will need more Members to step forward for training as Volunteer Assessors.

In addition to getting our Members appropriately registered, we will continue our work with industry, universities, colleges, and other education providers to secure much-needed ongoing provision of relevant qualifications covering welding and joining disciplines.  

To support all of the above, we remain indebted to our dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to support The Institute, our branches, events and educational outreach. Our sincere thanks goes to you all. With the end of yet another year in sight, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed in any way to the running of our Institute in this very special centenary year. We look forward to working with you all again in 2024 to take The Institute forward together. 

Alan Gifford was born in the late 1920s and went to school throughout the war. He started working in a small chemical factory laboratory in 1946. Alan did all of his studies as day release and evening classes at the local technical college. After several unsatisfying jobs at small companies, Alan moved to International Combustion Ltd (ICL) in 1950, a large boilermaker, as a chemist/metallurgist. Soon after this Alan decided to focus entirely on metallurgy, which he found more fulfilling.

Around 1954, the company entered into the nuclear age and from then Alan was linked to the welding and testing of welds rather than working on failures and material control, which were otherwise the main activity in the laboratory. When Alan was professionally active, he also held FIM and FIQA but lapsed these when he retired. He was also a board member of the Pressure Vessel Quality board of Inst Mechanical Engineers. Alan was also a member of the IIW committee on welding consumable. However, he held onto his FWeldl and CEng, since these were his strongest attractions.

About You

When did you join the institute?

‘I joined the Institute on 12 June 1958 and I joined the BWRA soon after this and attended local branch meetings, I soon found myself a member on the committee of the East Midlands branch and later its Chairman. I later became a member of the Institute’s Council and Chairman of the Quality Board.’

Intro To You And Your Career In Engineering

Why did you chose a career in engineering?

‘I initially started life aiming to be a chemist, but soon found metallurgy much more interesting, as well as satisfying. I was much happier working within this role and industry.’

Early Professional Membership

How would you say professional membership has helped you throughout your career?

‘In the mid-1970s, I was persuaded to move into quality management, but was able to continue my involvement with welding-based committees. Since welding quality was essential to the company, I knew that benefits of participation on courses at TWI would be beneficial. I was able to ensure that many of my staff went to TWI at Abington for tuition. Quality in welding was, and still is, a key issue and, with Tim Jessop (a colleague, who was a member of TWI STaff), we established a Quality Board at TWI of which I was Chairman. This met regularly and set specific criteria for many aspects of the various processes. During this period I was awarded (with Owen Gorton) the Larke Medal by TWI for a paper on the repair in situ of a huge ammonia converter. Then, in 1992, I received the Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding service to TWI.

‘In the 1980s I headed up a small team of engineers, metallurgists and welding engineers who provided a roving service to all of the 50 or more companies which formed Northern Engineering. The scope was wide, from micro pumps to ship building cranes; help from TWI was always on hand when needed. In 1990, I returned to ICL and re-established the organisation of quality, in all departments, whereby quality was the responsibility of individual directors, rather than a quality department.’

As one of The Welding Institute’s longest serving Members, what are one or two of your fondest memories from being a Member?  

‘My first contact with the BWRA was to attend a meeting in Princes Gate in London, with the laboratories director, to attend a lecture, which was titled something like, ‘Welding at Low Temperatures.’ It turned out to be a lecture on maintaining tractors in the trans-Antarctic for an expedition! This was very interesting, however was not welding of low-temperature steels, which is what I expected. The next visit I went to at the Princes Gate was a 5-day course on, ‘Welding for the Nuclear Industry.’ This included a day visit to TWI’s headquarters at Abington, which was my first (of many) visits, where I witnessed Dr Alan Wells carry out a brittle fracture test on a 3-inch thick plate in a little hut at the back of the hall. I resolved that I never would want anything that I was responsible for, or involved with, to fail in that manner. ICL never had an in service failure of a pressure vessel.

‘In 1957, ICL built a dedicated heavy engineering shop able to handle a plant weighing up to 200 tons. In 1959, I was appointed as assistant welding engineer and, about that time, ICL received the contract to build the heat exchangers for AGR Windscale, which were quite considerably larger than anything previously taken by the company. During this construction the Welding Engineer at the time left, rather hastily. I was then promoted, in 1960, to take over his role as Company Welding Engineer, responsible for both works and site welding.

‘About that time ICL received an order for building the nuclear plant at Trawsfynydd, in North Wales. This involved the fabrication of components for 12 x 450 ton vessels from the works at Derby and assembling on site as well as all the heat exchanger tubing and associated gas ducting. At the same time, we embarked on building the boilers and steam drums for the 4x500MW boiler units at Kingsnorth, quite a baptism for a young man of 30. These were followed by two more 4x500 MW boilers and steam drums and another nuclear heat exchangers set at Dungeness. After these projects were successfully completed there followed a succession of steam plant and vessels for the nuclear and chemical industries, the oil and gas industries and off shore rig.

‘I was responsible for producing the first boiler drum in the UK using electro slag welding and also using submerged arc stainless steel strip for cladding various pressure plant. Perhaps my most satisfying achievement was to introduce argon arc welding on site for the root runs for boiler tubes and having the first ever UK high pressure boiler – over 5,000 site tubes welds - which did not have a single leak on hydraulic test to about 5000psi.’

Future (Membership And Career)

‘Throughout my working career, I was always associated with both the East Midlands branch and at TWI, where I was Chair of the former and a member of TWI’s Council. When I retired in 1992 I continued to be a member of the CEN Committee for Water Tube Boilers, where I specialised in the Manufacture and Testing sections. This was eventually published as EN12952, although the subsequent move away from fossil fuels has limited its use.

‘Over the span of some fifty years, welding dominated my life, regardless of the role in which I was employed. Even now, I maintain an interest in welding as a retired Member. I receive the new magazine, ‘Welding and Joining Matters,’ and I sign in for the occasional Zoom meeting - if the subject matter appeals to me.’

On 20 October, 2023, Members of The Welding Institute gathered in Cambridge to mark the formal launch of our new Charter for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Hosted by Dr Claire Kimpton (Chair of Professional Board) and in the presence of our President Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Members asserted their support for an open and inclusive organisation that aims to provide equality of opportunity to all, irrespective of grade or experience.

Our President, committee and working group chairs signed a specially created charter document which sets out our commitment.

 

In her introduction, Claire Kimpton noted that this is the start of a journey and the signing marks a public commitment by our committee and working group chairs on behalf of the membership to our ambition.

Our speakers, Julia King, Professor Steve Jones and Dr Melissa Riley spoke with incite and passion of their own experiences and hopes for the future. Their thoughtful observations prompted much thought and discussion over the celebration lunch that followed.  

We hope that all of our Members will engage with our ambition to support, include and encourage both existing and new Members of The Welding Institute to make us a bigger, bolder and stronger organisation in the future.

For more information, please click here.

Credits to Phil Mynott Photography.

Mr Siew Yap Wong joined The Welding Institute whilst pursuing his MSc at Cranfield, becoming a Student Member in the 1970s and going on to be a Member for forty four years.

Having completed his BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southampton in 1978, Mr Wong began his MSc Welding Technology at Cranfield Institute of Technology in 1979 before continuing his studies and completing his MBA in 1989.

About you

When did you join The Welding Institute?

“I joined The Welding Institute whilst pursuing my MSc at Cranfield and became a Student Member. Upon graduation from Cranfield in 1979, I became a welding research engineer at the British Steel Corporation, Middlesbrough. We focused on an ECSC-funded project on the HAZ properties of BS4360 grade 50 equivalent steels.”

Mr Wong returned home to Malaysia to work in a BOC-related company in 1982 (Malaysian Oxygen Bhd-Mox) as a technical manager for welding, providing technical support for its welding business and customers, as well as being a quality control leader in the production of welding consumables (electrodes). Altogether, his career spans more than thirty years with the BOC/Linde Group of companies (from 1982 to 1994 and then from 1996 to 2014). This included a broad career development path and senior management roles, for example, C-Suite. He embarked on a corporate role at MOX - business planning and marketing for a whole company, including the main business line of industry gases. This lead on to strategic development, embarking on mergers and acquisition, including leading the integration of acquired companies. He then joined the BOC regional team, which concentrated on product management of bulk liquid gases for its markets in South East Asia. After this stint, in 2008, he returned to head its business in Malaysia, becoming the first local person to head the BOC’s business.

Intro to you and your career in engineering

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

“I joined a technical secondary school following mechanical sciences to O-Level grades. This is where my interest of aircraft (as well as Airfix Modelling and Flight Magazine) began. After my A-Levels I was accepted to study aerospace engineering and so I chose mechanical engineering as there’s not so much of an aerospace industry in Malaysia. I was first introduced to welding as a topic (materials module) in my final year. For my final year project, I chose to look at the effects of niobium (Nb) in submerged-arc weld metals. This was selected as the best project work by a student in Mechanical Engineering, which earnt the prize of Mechanical Engineering. This motivated me to study and further expand my knowledge on welding through the postgraduate course at Cranfield Institute of Technology. On completing the course, I was accepted to a research role with The British Steel Corporation. All of these experiences cemented my interest in welding and fabrication, with welding metallurgy remaining a field of interest even till today.”

Early Professional Membership

As one of our longest serving Members based in Malaysia, what has been the most valuable benefit from being a Member?

“I am proud to be a Professional Member of a world recognised welding body. It bears testimony to be a ‘certified’ welding practitioner in the field of welding, science and associated technology. Also, being a Member means continuous linkage to international welding bodies, progressing with the developments of welding science, fabrication technology and standards. I believe I am able to bring my experiences and knowledge in helping to foster welding learning in Malaysia, especially through WIM (The Welding Institute of Malaysia).”

As one of The Welding Institute’s longest serving Members in Malaysia, what are one or two of your fondest memories from being a Member?

“One memory is being able to refer to works of peers and giants in the field of welding. Another memory is continuing an unbroken Membership of TWI and being elected as a Fellow in 2019.”

Professional Membership and Registration: CEng

Current Membership

What have been some of your core involvements with The Welding Institute?

“Since retiring, I have conducted the course on materials and their behaviours on the IIW (International Institute of Welding) course at TWI Malaysia as part of giving back, as well as learning/re-learning in the welding of various materials. I am also serving as an advisory board Member of WIM IIW authorised Nominated Board (Malaysia).”

Future (Membership and Career)

What advice would you give your younger self, beginning your career in engineering?

“Beyond just general mechanical engineering (or aerospace engineering), do not be surprised to develop fresh interests in new subjects early in your career path, as well as educational paths - like I did. Welding caught my interest and attention only in my final undergraduate year, where my motivation became heavily boosted by being selected as Best Project Work for the 1978 course cohort.

“Beyond engineering, do not be surprised to discover the essentials of management and business planning. As well as gaining further awards and career satisfaction in senior general management and C-suite. These were definitely not in my mind nor thoughts at the beginning of my career. I just wanted, or aimed, to be a good technician.”

Our Materials Technical Group will be hosting an in-person event, from 12:00PM – 17:00PM (UK time) on 9 November 2023.

The event, which is titled, ‘HIGH STRENGTH STEELS – PROPERTIES, WELDABILITY AND APPLICATIONS - including demonstrations of monitoring software and current welding equipment,’ will be useful for those interested in high strength steels (HSS) as well as those interested in seeing relevant welding equipment systems and more.

Who Should Attend?

Welding engineers, production personnel, and inspection and QC personnel, welding metallurgists working in the structural, offshore, and process industries. The event will also be of interest to engineering students, welding technicians and industrial project personnel.  

Speaker and Presentations:

• Tom Cosgrove, Sandberg - High Strength Steels for Structural applications
• Dr Vahid Hosseini, Research Scientist, ESAB - Filler Metal Development for 1100 MPa Yield Strength Steel
• Alan Denney, Consultant - Centreline Cracking in High Strength Structural Steel
• Geri van Krieken, TWI Ltd - Welding of High Strength Steels
• Hugo Costa, ESAB Digital Solutions - Introduction to the INDUSUITE Cloud-based Digital Solution Suite
• Peter Ankers, Business Development Engineer, ESAB and Darren Clews, ESAB Arc Equipment Manager - Live Welding, Real-time Data Collection and INDUSUITE Applications Demonstration

FULL EVENT AND REGISTRATION DETAILS 

Professor William Lucas has an extensive background in welding and metallurgy – achieving his PhD and DSc from the Queen’s University of Belfast in 1967-70 and 1987 respectively. He took some time to speak to The Welding Institute as part of our centenary celebrations about his career and experience with The Institute…

Can you start by telling us about how you got involved in engineering, joining The Welding Institute and working at TWI?

I left school at the age of 16 to work at Leyland Motors, Leyland which was a major manufacturer of heavy trucks and buses. It was as an apprentice Metallurgist working in the foundry that I gained my first experience of casting and welding of metals.

After obtaining my first degree in Metallurgy in Manchester in 1967, I studied explosion welding at Queens University of Belfast obtaining a PhD in 1970. My two professors encouraged me to join The Welding Institute because of my keen interest in welding.

I began my working life at TWI as a Scientific Officer in the Arc Welding Department in 1970. In 1985, I became the Head of the Arc Welding Department and Technology Manager in 1993 before retiring in 2007. However, I continued to work part - time on a number of different projects for several years afterwards.

What are some of your professional achievements?

I supervised many welding projects for TWI Member companies in the power generation, nuclear, petrochemical, offshore, shipbuilding and automotive industry sectors. I have provided expert technical advice and acted as an expert witness in a number of company / contract disputes, both in the UK and in France and Norway. 

 My research has led to new welding processes and techniques including pulse mode of operation AC and microwave welding, CCD based sensor systems for control of arc and laser welding processes, and instrumentation. In collaboration with Liverpool University, I pioneered microcomputer techniques for process control and data analysis, as well as producing the first 3-axis arc-welding robot. In 1983, I set up a section at TWI devoted to research into microcomputers for information technology. Over twenty software programs were written on welding engineering and over 2,000 packages sold worldwide. Three AI systems were written, including a welding procedure generator, a machine fault diagnosis and a defect analysis program.

My research work and industrial practice guidelines have been published in four textbooks and in over 150 technical papers. In recognition of my contribution to the advancement of welding technology internationally, I have been awarded the following:

• Sir William Larke Medal (1984); awarded by The Welding Institute for the development of the AC MIG welding process
• Sir William Larke Medal (2002); awarded by The Welding Institute for writing the series of Job  Knowledge for Welders articles for welding engineers and welders
• The Paton Award (2003); awarded by the IIW / National Committee and EO Paton Electric Welding Institute, Ukraine (2003), for significant contribution to the advancement of science and technology
• AA Smith Award (2008); awarded by the IIW for the contribution to the activities of the International Institute of Welding
• Distinguished Service Certificate (2018); awarded by the British Standards Institute for the development of British, European and International standards 
• Distinguished Service Award (2020); awarded by The Welding Institute in recognition of contributions to the operation, events and promotion of membership and status of The Welding Institute

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

As a metallurgist, I was very interested in understanding the processes and mechanisms for joining metals. At the outset of my career, there was very little fundamental knowledge on arc welding processes, the cause of weld defects and the failure of welded components and structures. With a background in metallurgy, I have been able to develop new arc welding processes and control techniques in order to apply arc welding in a wide range of industrial applications.

When did you join The Welding Institute?

1970, with Professional Membership in 1983

Why did you initially join The Welding Institute?

In recognition of its technical and professional standing in British industry.

What have been some of your core involvements with The Welding Institute?

I have been a member of The Welding Institute's Education and Accreditation Board for over 10 years and I am currently the Chairman of the Board. For many years, I acted as an approved assessor in professional review interviews and I represent The Welding Institute on the Engineering Council's Engineering Accreditation Board. I am also an approved accreditor for The Welding Institute's accreditation of university courses. 

How would you say Professional Membership has helped you throughout your career?

As a Fellow of The Welding Institute, I am recognised as an expert in welding technology - both technically and professionally - in the UK and worldwide.

As one of The Welding Institute’s longest serving Members, what are one or two of your fondest memories from being a Member?

I was encouraged to organise several Welding Institute events and to chair seminars and workshops on welding technologies both here and abroad. This paved the way to establish international links with universities and centres of excellence over many years.

As the winner of the Distinguished Service Award in 2020, please could you tell us about this accomplishment?

The citation for the award was as follows:

‘The award was conferred  in recognition of outstanding contributions to the operation, events and activities of The Welding Institute as a result of which the membership, status and position of the Institute has been significantly advanced.’

Finally, what advice would you give to your younger self, beginning your career in engineering?

Welding engineering is a very rewarding profession, offering the opportunity to develop technologies to improve welding processes, increase fabrication economics, and overcome production and quality problems. 

Join The Welding Institute not only to establish your technical and professional standing in industry, but also as an opportunity establish relationships with people who share a common interest in developing welding technology. Attendance at Branch, National and International meetings will broaden your perspective of the work of engineers and the needs of industry across the world.

You will share knowledge and experiences with a wide range of people throughout the world, some of whom will become friends for life.

Finally, on a lighter note, the practical experience gained in mechanical engineering and electronics will be invaluable when called upon to fix grandchildren's toys, to repair bicycles or to carry out 'dangerous' experiments in your workshop!