News

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!

'The EUR ING title is recognised by the European Commission, in a statement to the European Parliament, as a valuable tool for the recognition of national qualifications among member states.’

The professional engineers who receive the EUR ING Certificate from ENGINEERS EUROPE may be certain of their competence.

'The EUR ING title is recognised by the European Commission, in a statement to the European Parliament, as a ‘valuable tool for the recognition of national qualifications among member states.’

The criteria for the EUR ING Certificate are described in detail in the "EUR ING Tutorial" and "EUR ING SPEC".

 Some aspects of the European Engineer (EUR ING) title have recently changed.

One of our Members, Aaron Kirkbride BEng MSc IWE/EWE CEng, CQP, MWeldI, MCQI has recently engaged in this process and has given us his thoughts.

“I found the process for applying for EUR ING registration through the Engineers Europe site incredibly straightforward and simple to use, and would recommend fellow IEng and CEng registrants to look at gaining this.”

Good news for IEng applicants! They can also apply where, beforehand, only CEng applicants could.

We hope these changes straightforward the application process and make it easier to earn EUR ING status.

Sources:

https://www.engineerseurope.com/what-eur-ing-certificate

https://www.engc.org.uk/international-activity/european-recognition/eur-ing/european-engineer-eur-ing-registration/

David Harvey PhD AWeldI has worked in welding metallurgy and welding engineering for over 60 years, whilst also being a specialist in arc welding process and more.

He talks us through his career in engineering, his experience being a Professional Member as well as his advice to his younger self, and more.

About You

I am a specialist in metallurgy, arc welding process, and fabrication of various metals, including steels, stainless alloys, tooling materials, titanium, magnesium, cobalt and nickel super-alloys, and proprietary materials.

As well as working in the application of welding metallurgy, I am involved in welding engineering and filler metal selection as well as gas and steam turbine and aerospace metal joining, including MRO of expensive critical components.

Introduction to you and a career in engineering

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

My uncle was the Chief Metallurgist of British Rail and a founder member of the Institution of Metallurgist in 1947, and it was due to him that I became interested in engineering as a young schoolchild! I work with 650 alloys!

When did you join The Welding Institute?

I joined The Welding Institute in 1959 as a metallurgical apprentice at International Combustion Ltd in Derby.

Early Professional Membership

Why did you initially join The Welding Institute?

International Combustion Ltd designed and manufactured advanced power station pressure vessels; and welding technology was a vital aspect of manufacturing and site installation. I am also a Member of similar societies.

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

Branch committee memberships, member of the Aerospace Group, attending many seminars, having many friends and colleagues at TWI, presenting lectures, helping and inspiring and encouraging staff. Creating SMAW coated electrodes, flux-cored filler wire, submerged arc fluxes and a wide range of high purity GTAW filler alloys.

Current Membership

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

It is a necessary link with fellow scientists for fellowship, identification with career progress, inspiration, cross-checking data, procedures and specifications. It has also provided me access to library services, with attending meetings with my peer group, and sharing enthusiasm with similar minded engineering folk with the understanding that the special knowledge benefits industry and universities. It is also a great asset for welders and their managers. It interfaces well with other learned societies.

Future

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

Continue to become a very significant benefit to the industry by solving important problems, especially when no other is capable of such activity. It is so satisfying to save countless millions of pounds for businesses by solving their critical fabrication issues, especially in advanced engineering such as gas turbine production and associated MRO requirements and also general aerospace, nuclear construction, military and defence activities (often against overseas competition). It is encouraging to be a national asset in wealth creation.

Our Structures and Infrastructures Technical Group will be hosting their next Technical Group webinar, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM (UK time) on 19 September 2023.

The event, which is titled, ‘Back-to-Basics: Improving Fatigue Resistance in Welded Joints,’ will be useful for those interested in steelwork fabrication, installation industries, as well as factors affecting the fatigue life of welded joints.

Who Should Attend?

Those involved with the design, detailing, fabrication and installation of structures.

Speaker and Presentations:

• Dr Carol Johnston, Consultant, TWI Ltd - Back to basics: Fatigue Performance of Welded Joints
• Joanna Bonnett, Vice President (Technical Oversight)/Kyriakos Antoniou, Senior Project Manager, COWI UK - Gade Valley Viaduct: A Case Study of Assessment and Remediation of Fatigue

FULL EVENT AND REGISTRATION DETAILS

Our Welding and Joining Processes Technical Group will be hosting their first in-person Technical Group, from 9:30PM – 3:30PM (UK time) on 14 September 2023.

The event, which is titled, ‘In Person: SMRs/AMRs – Manufacturing the Nuclear Future,’ will be useful for those interested in the future of SMR/AMR manufacture.

Who Should Attend?

Designers, manufacturing and production engineers, welding engineers and anyone with an interest in the future of nuclear power generation and vessel manufacture.

Speaker and Presentations:

• Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive, Nuclear Industry Association on Modular and Advanced Nuclear Technologies: Towards Delivery in the UK
• Tristram Denton, Director of Commercial Development, MoltexFLEX on AMRs – Design and Manufacture
• TBC, Sheffield Forgemasters on Manufacture of Nuclear Grade Forgings
• Chris Punshon CEng FWeldI, Head of New Energy Applications, Cambridge Vacuum Engineering on Electron Beam Welding of Vessels for Nuclear Applications
• Dr William Kyffin, Head of Welding and Materials, Nuclear AMRC on Slope Out Welding Development for Thick Section Electron Beam Welding for Pressure Vessel Applications
• Pallav Chattopadhyay, Director Consumables R&D&I EMEA, Lincoln Electric Deutschland GmBH on Developments in Electro-slag Cladding
• Marcello Consonni, Consultant Welding Engineer, TWI Ltd on Overview of Welding Standards for Nuclear Vessel Manufacture - ASME III and IX

FULL EVENT AND REGISTRATION DETAILS

Claire Christey MSc IEng MWeldI is a Team Leader within Port Engineering at the Shetland Islands Council. She has achieved her MSc in Mechanical Engineering and BEng (hons) in Mechanical and Energy Engineering, both from the University of the Highlands and Islands.

She talks us through her career in engineering, her Membership as well as Professional Registration.

About You

When did you join The Welding Institute?

I joined the Welding institute as a student member in 2018 and achieved Incorporated Engineer in 2020.

Please describe your current job role and responsibilities/a typical day in your role:

In my current role I have line management responsibility for a team of senior technical engineers, electrical and marine engineers and responsibility for the maintenance of all the Councils marine fixed assets, ranging from navigation buoys to the Sullom Voe Terminal Oil Export Jettys.

A typical day is highly varied and can involve anything from onsite inspections and surveys at some of the UK’s most remote sites, many of which can only be accessed by ATV or boat to preparation of tender documents and specifications for contracts.

Intro to you and your career in engineering

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

I love the variety of engineering, especially in the marine sector.  I gain an immense amount of satisfaction from fixing things or coming up with improvements.

Early Professional Membership

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

I joined the Welding Institute as a student Member in 2018 whilst I was undertaking my bachelors degree and working for a local engineering and fabrication company.  Once I had passed my degree, I submitted my application and engineering council competence mapping and after passing my interview, I was awarded Incorporated Engineer in 2020.

Professional Membership and Registration: IEng

When and why did you choose to become professionally registered?

I chose to become professionally registered as soon as I had completed my BEng (hons) and was eligible for professional registration.  Professional registration was important to me, being in a remote and isolated location means that the support of an organisation such as The Welding Institute provides resources that otherwise would not be available.

What was the most difficult aspect of becoming registered as IEng and how did you overcome it?

I find talking about myself particularly challenging and so the interview aspect was hard for me.  I focused what I have done through my career and the interviewers were really good at asking questions that helped me to open up.

Current Membership

Which membership benefits do you use the most and find the most helpful and why?

Access to webinars and other online training opportunities are invaluable for maintaining my CPD and keeping up to date with latest developments.

Future (Membership and Career)

What are your engineering aspirations? 

I am currently preparing my competence mapping for CEng and hope to submit and achieve that this later this year.

Would you recommend Membership with The Welding Institute and why?

Yes I would recommend membership, the support is excellent and access to resources has meant that I can progress in my career.

Our Structural Integrity Technical Group will be hosting their first in-person Technical Group, from 12:00PM – 17:00PM (UK time) on 12 September 2023.

The event, which is titled, ‘In Person: Structural Integrity in the Nuclear World,’ will be useful for those interested in the nuclear industry.

Who Should Attend?

Managers, engineers and technicians involved in structural integrity at all levels, and from all sides of the nuclear industry (manufacturers to regulators).

Speakers and Presentations:

• Dr Jack Beswick, Structural Integrity/Finite Element Senior Consultant, Jacobs on, ‘Recent development in R6’
• Dr Steve Jones CEng FWeldI, Professor of Joining technologies: Welding, Brazing and Bonding, University of Sheffield, on, ‘Can we improve welding integrity from an artificial perspective – PROBABLY: The expansion of a Welding Engineer’s toolbox for the future’
• EUR ING Charles Schneider, Technology Fellow, TWI Ltd on, ‘Advanced ultrasonic NDT of austenitic pipework for stress corrosion cracking’
• Dr Huan Wu, Senior Numerical Simulation Engineer, TWI Ltd on, ‘A probabilistic model for the prediction of the distribution of breaching times of carbon steel canisters’
• Dr Gareth Hopkin, Principal Inspector of Nuclear Installations, Office for Nuclear Regulation on, ‘The use of probabilistic safety assessments in the nuclear industry – a regulatory view’

FULL EVENT AND REGISTRATION DETAILS

Having joined The Welding Institute in 1962, Michael B. Flannery IEng MWeldI MEIT is one of our longest-serving Professional Members.

Alongside his links to The Welding Institute, Michael also has an association with The Institution of Engineering and Technology and achieved his ‘Advanced Examination Electric Arc Welding with Credit in 1965’ and ‘Advanced Examination Oxy-acetylene Welding with Credit’ in 1966. From there, he obtained a full Technological Certificate in Fabrication and a Welding Engineering Technicians Certificate with distinction in 1975.

Michael walked us through why he became interested in engineering, his journey within the industry and how being a Member has aided him.

He began, “I first became interested in welding when my father was a vehicle mechanic with The British Oxygen Company,” adding, “He introduced me gas and arc welding associated with vehicle repair.”

Michael’s career saw him work as a welding apprentice at Fraser and Chalmers Engineering Works in Erith, Kent as well as at G. A. Harvey, in Charlton, London.

This followed with work for international companies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, with Michael revealing, “My field of work in welding, included welding supervisor, welding engineer, lecturer in fabrication and welding, chief field engineer, and construction manager.” He continued, “For the past 7 years I have been engaged as facility manager for the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta, Canada.”

Having joined The Welding Institute in 1962, Michael revealed that he was encouraged to join while attending training at TWI, explaining, “The Welding Instructor in the training school encouraged me to join The Welding Institute to keep up with developments in the welding environment.”

Michael was a regular attendee at branch meetings for The Institute in London and Kent, where he was able to “keep myself appraised of developments in welding,” adding that, “on two occasions, I attended The Welding Institute at Abington on seminars related to pipe welding.”

He continued, “The Welding Institute is the source where so many answers to questions are available and has provided information I required on many occasions.”

Looking back over his career so far, Michael said, “My career has covered many different aspects of engineering insofar that welding is and always will be significant in tomorrow’s world,” adding, “Encouragement to my son-in-law to teach welding for the past 16 years and a granddaughter to be in her third year as an apprentice is proof of my commitment to the future.”

While Michael looks to the future and using his expertise to help the next generation, as one of The Welding Institute’s longest serving Members, we had to finish by asking him about his fondest memories from being a Member.

Michael concluded by saying, “As a young apprentice, I became a Member of the Welding Institute with great enthusiasm. My attendance to meetings in London and Kent were very informative, which assisted both my work and technical college training, for City & Guilds of the London Institute,” noting, “As time went on, I attended many lectures and practical applications on research, technology and training by The Welding Institute at Abington and other locations.”

The British Welding Research Association (BWRA), a predecessor to today’s TWI Ltd, purchased Abington Hall in 1946 for £3850, with the surrounding land becoming the headquarters for both TWI and The Welding Institute.

Before this purchase by the BWRA, the land had been used by the military during the Second World War, with both British and overseas troops being billeted on the site as well as at the nearby village of Abington.

The Bertram family, who had been in residence at the Hall when the war broke out, soon moved to live in Devon during the war years, leaving Mr Raymond Lane in charge as bailiff. Mr Lane himself served in both World Wars, first in the army and then as an RAF plotter based at nearby Duxford.

The Military Arrives

Rumour had started to spread through Abington that the army was going to be stationed in the area and before long, lorries began to arrive and tents were erected in preparation for the arrival of the troops.

The London Irish Rifles Regiment were the first troops to arrive in the area, having walked from Cambridge station after coming back from Dunkirk. They were followed by the Royal Medical Corps, the Royal Artillery, the Royal Engineers, Lancers, Signals, the Canadian troops, Cameron Highlanders, and the Lothian Border Tanks Regiment. The tank regiment parked their tanks down Church Lane in Abington before heading off to join the fighting in the Middle East. The Duke of Gloucester while stationed in the area, where they dammed the river so they could test run their vehicles through three to four foot deep water, inspected the tank regiment.

While the troops found themselves camped out under canvas during the war, the officers were billeted in the Old House and Abington Lodge, as well as at Abington Hall itself. Hetty Pavitt (née Cutter), who lived in the area at the time, recalled delivering newspapers to the officers at Abington Hall, having cycled across the nearby meadows.

In addition, there were a number of Polish soldiers stationed at the Hall and camped in the gardens of the Old House for a short while, who were remembered as being “polite and well liked.” Canadian troops also passed through for a weekend of rest and recuperation, where they played softball and a group of Belgian soldiers also passed through before heading off to help relieve Brussels. Meanwhile, Italian prisoners of war were also put to work in the village and on nearby Grange Farm.

The U.S. 8^th Army also spent time stationed in the grounds of Abington Hall ahead of the onset of D Day, with reports saying they enjoyed drinking in the local pubs – The Railway Inn at Pampisford, The Princess of Wales and The Crown. The Three Tuns pub in Abington was, however, the preserve of the officers in the area.

The Crown pub also acted as the section HQ for the local Home Guard, who manned a gun point to defend a bridge behind the Old House, while England cricketer Frank Woolley commanded an RAF searchlight battery at the park.

The War and the Local Community

Aside from the many troops who were stationed at and around the Hall, there were a number of incidents that impacted the local community. Air raid shelters were erected in the gardens of local people and there are reports of a bomb landing on the bridge between Great and Little Abington, another striking the road at the entrance to Abington Hall and a third bomb landing on the nearby North Road. Fortunately nobody was hurt by these bombs, but V1 and V2 rockets were sighted overhead by villagers.

Of course, a number of men went to fight in the war – joining the RAF, army and the Royal Navy, some of whom lost their lives while fighting. The local GP, Dr Wilson, also did his bit locally, training the Red Cross in first aid.

Clearing the Site

At the end of the war, the site was initially cleared by the Royal Pioneer Corps before a small group were formed to continue this work. Mr Tom Patten was released from his military service in November 1945 and joined this group to clear the site on June 1946 as the BWRA moved into Abington Hall.

Of course, as mentioned above, some of the army buildings were repurposed for use by the BWRA while other items, such as a searchlight battery on the site, were decommissioned. The upper floors of the Hall were converted into flats and the history of TWI and The Welding Institute at Abington near Cambridge had begun.