Page 6 - HIWT Winter 2017 World of Welding

How the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology Helps the Inspection Industry

Explore the offerings this educational establishment provides to both students and businesses

By Kristin Campbell

There are several reasons why more than 100,000 students from Keeping up with changes also comes with the territory. More
across the globe have studied at the Hobart Institute of Welding recently, this occurred when the CWI Part B Book of Specifications
Technology (HIWT) (welding.org) in Troy, Ohio. From students eager was added, and when new codes get published, training tests need
to become proficient welders and learn about inspection techniques, to be updated.
to professionals seeking better career opportunities, they’re
committed to improving their craft. Educators Enjoy Seeing Their Students Succeed
The school’s capabilities have expanded since starting in 1930 as a Senior Tech Instructor Elmer Swank Jr. and Technical Training
department of the Hobart Brothers Co., yet its dedication to training Instructor Russ Shurtz teach together, making a dynamic duo who
has never wavered. Today, in addition to AWS Certified Welding are both CWIs, Certified Welding Educators (CWEs), and Certified
Inspector (CWI) preparation, many types of inspection courses Welding Supervisors, providing one-on-one interaction with their
and company testing services are offered. These services are now students — Fig. 2.
housed under one roof. Swank began his
Discover more about the way HIWT impacts the inspection field. journey at Hobart
Brothers in 1969 and
New Facility = More Testing Space has taught the CWI
Last October, HIWT’s Next Generation Welder Learning Facility course since 1989.
started hosting classes — Fig. 1. “When I first started,
people were in the
This one-story final ten years of their
building covers careers,” Swank said,
16,000 sq ft and regarding the prep Fig. 2 — Combined, HIWT Instructors Russ
has tall ceilings. class. “Today, many Shurtz (left) and Elmer Swank Jr. have 35
All the school’s students are pretty years of experience teaching the Preparation
inspection and AWS young, and a lot after for AWS – CWI Examination class.
CWI preparation five years are ready to
classes are held go [try to earn the CWI status], so it’s encouraging to see that.”
here. The large On average, there are 30 students in every prep course. About 20%
space contains
Fig. 1 — The Next Generation Welder Learning hail from Ohio, while the rest come from around the United States.
Facility features an open floor plan, a variety of laboratories for Most are sent by their employers because a CWI is needed to make
inspection labs, and classrooms. nondestructive/ sure welds adhere to a specific code, but some spend their own
destructive testing money in hopes of obtaining a new job. Brothers have taken a class
and certification, up-to-date equipment, and classrooms that have together; so have husband/wife, father/son, and mother/son teams.
high-tech audio-visual training aids.
“The interest in it has grown, which is great for the industry as it
Director of Corporate Services Chip Prinz noted this new becomes regarded as the credential for inspectors to have,” Swank
environment, with everything inspection related in one area, makes said.
the school unique. The classes taught also serve a particular
purpose: “They are what the industry needs,” Prinz emphasized. Shurtz has worked at the school for ten years and taught this class
for seven years.
The Importance of CWI Preparation
“Our responsibility is helping people pass the test,” Shurtz said.
At HIWT, the Preparation for AWS – CWI Examination class started “They need to know a lot of technical information.” He feels
in the late 1970s. Presently, it’s a two-weeklong endeavor, spanning fortunate in this role by knowing the material, being comfortable
80 h. talking about it, and conveying details in an understandable way.
Students study the duties of a welding inspector, math, codes (AWS What drives the teachers is seeing their students succeed. They not
D1.1, Structural Welding Code — Steel, or API 1104, Welding of only extend their expertise but also their time, even staying after
Pipelines and Related Facilities), various processes, and more. hours and educating in the hallways when needed, to help a topic
Homework is distributed as well. Daily quizzes assess what’s be processed. After taking the CWI test, many make contact to
learned and help students overcome their nerves for when the share their results. “It’s gratifying to hear, ‘I couldn’t pass without
official CWI exam is taken. you,’” Swank said.

2017 WINTER ISSUE - 6 - www.welding.org