A Cranbourne welder has been named the best in the state.
Chisholm TAFE student and Dandenong South worker Blake McDonald took home the Best Welder in Victoria title at the third annual welding triathlon at its Frankston campus on Saturday 14 April.
The 12 competitors ranged from apprentices to professional welders and instructors.
They demonstrated their skills in three timed events designed to showcase their knowledge of three different welding processes, materials and positions.
Judges assessed their speed, accuracy, skill and adherence to welding procedures.
Competitors used industry-standard welding tools plus a Lincoln virtual reality welding machine.
Mr McDonald, who works at Bar Crusher Boats in Dandenong South, won first place.
“I found it challenging this year having to use the Lincoln VR machine. That was a surprise!” he said.
“I’ve competed the last two years and came last in 2017.
“I was determined to do better this year – I’ve done a full 180.”
Event organiser and Chisholm teacher Rodney Bentvelzen said the event promoted welding as an attractive career choice, allowed participants to network with inspectors, fellow welders, and industry leaders and showed the general public Chisholm’s training facilities.
“Welding and manufacturing in Australia demands high-quality tradespeople to stay competitive and has traditionally been very manual,” he said.
“As welding machine technologies adapt via programming and inverter power sources welding has become a highly technical skill.”
Chisholm is one of only two Registered Training Organisations in Australia accredited to run International Institute of Welding (IIW) welding specialist and inspector courses.
