Page 8 - HIWT Winter2016 World of Welding

FABTECH 2016 By Bill Biazzio
More Than Just a Welding Show

Stepping off of the monorail in Las Vegas, The AWS Rolling Thunder was spot on. Welding gauges, tape measures and squares were
welding competition was the first thing one saw and heard. The in use constantly with measure twice and cut once the words of
whirl of grinders and noise from the competition was evident from the day. The contest project was a grill on one side that also held
across the parking lot. Orange safety shields protected the public a griddle on the other side. Square tube and round bar played the
from welding arcs and flying grit, the pungent, acrid smoke from the major framework while hot rolled flat sheet was used to cover
welding processes hanging in the air drew me to the event like a the whole thing. The grill portion was made from ½-inch round
moth to a flame. The first thing I noticed was the Hobart Institute of bar laid out and welded on center; any miscalculation would have
Welding Technology satellite booth set up front and center and the been evident immediately. All the parts were cleaned and the mill
AWS information booth available to the public attending. With the scale removed as the quality of the welding was a big part of the
number of students participating, and the positive attitude that they presentation. Each grill was the same but each was also different
all were displaying, it was apparent that they would be the future of with the addition of add-ons and embellishments that met contest
our industry. guidelines. I had the opportunity to speak with two students from
Mohave Community College, and both had plans to continue with
All of the teams were sent to the competition by their schools and engage in the welding trade. They also took the time to answer
and many raised the money to attend; some even providing their my many questions about the competition. This team had a patriotic
own personal hand tools. All the popular welding processes were twist on their grill with a “We the People” banner over the top and
utilized and the attention to detail that these students demonstrated U.S. Navy on the hand wheels controlling the height of the coals.

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