Government grant to revolutionise underwater welding in WA

6/4/00
Underwater welding technology is set to be revolutionised in Western Australia with the awarding of a $160,500 grant to Spearwood company XLT Industrial Training Pty Ltd.
Employment and Training Minister Mike Board said the award, made from the Government's Science and Technology Innovation Fund, would facilitate research in the field and help establish a world-class training facility.
"The $1-million Innovation Fund is designed to strengthen partnerships between the training sector and industry and encourage the development of a culture of innovation and commitment to science and technology within the training sector," he said.
"The aim of the Science and Technology Innovation Fund is to enable training providers to work in industry to develop new technology in the workplace and then spread it to industry.
"The fund will also help the vocational education and training sector take a leadership role in positioning the State at the forefront of science and technology."
A total of 10 projects State-wide, worth almost $1-million, have been awarded Innovation Fund grants.
Mr Board said the XLT project was a prime example of the sort of initiative the State Government was supporting through the fund.
With the help of international specialist David Keats, XLT will research technology to produce underwater welds comparable with dry weld standards.
On successful development of the new technology, XLT Industrial Training will develop training for underwater welders that will be recognised by international certifying bodies.
Traditional methods either involved 'wet welding', which often resulted in an inferior strength weld and placed the operator in extremely dangerous conditions, or the use of custom-built housing or hyperbaric chambers to achieve dry conditions for the weld and/or the welder.
Costs associated with using these techniques were often prohibitive to local industry and were compounded by the high rates charged by underwater welders who had to be brought in from overseas due to the lack of a local training facility.
"When the project is completed, Western Australia's vocational education and training sector will boast one of the most technologically advanced underwater welding training facilities in the world," Mr Board said.
"The development of new technology has the potential to change the face of underwater welding, and result in substantial cost saving to industry."
Media contacts:
Tamatha Smith 9222 9211
Department of Training and Employment: Shaun Moriarty 9235 6091.