“On behalf of Engineering Services Taree TAFE, I extend sincere thanks to CIGWELD for the donation of a welding kit for our graduation ceremony late last year. The successful evening was an acknowledgement of the commitment of our apprentices to their academic and work endeavours. This annual event is an important recognition of their efforts and your support is very much appreciated.”
Lesley Wade, Clerical Support, NorthCoast TAFE – TAREE, NSW, 2014
CIGWELD proudly sponsoring the 2014 WORLDSKILLS AUSTRALIA REGIONAL COMPETITION. Last year’s competition brought together a group of young apprentices as they competed for a place in TEAM TASMANIA. The winners of all categories will be working with WorldSkills to prepare them for the WorldSkills Australia National Competition which will be held in Perth. It is the contribution of organisation such as CIGWELD that helps to ensure the ongoing success of WorldSkills competitions in Tasmania.
The 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition will be held at Perth’s Convention and Exhibition Centre between the 18th and 20th of September. The three day event will showcase the skills of 500 of Australia’s best trainees, apprentices and students competing for the prestigious title of ‘Nation’s Best’ in over 50 skill and trade areas ranging from the traditional trades such as plumbing, bricklaying and hairdressing to the more contemporary professions of web design and fashion technology.
Medallists from the National Competition, if eligible, may then be given the opportunity to represent their country as a Team Australia Skillaroo on the world stage at the 43rd WorldSkills International Competition to be held in São Paulo, Brazil in 2015.
The National Competition will also feature 30 interactive Try’aSkill programs and demonstrations, where visitors can try their hand at various skill and trade areas including Hairdressing, Carpentry, Bricklaying and many more.
Visitors will also be provided with the opportunity to explore hundreds of career options at the Skills West Expo held in conjunction with the National Competition.
What is Worldskills?
WorldSkills Australia was established in 1981 as a National Organisation responsible for the development and nuturing our our young Australian talent. The aim is build on the confidence our our young Australians so that they can excel in their trade or skill. There are competitions held on a regional, national and international level. All three levels of competition run biennially.
What is CIGWELD’s involvement with the program?
CIGWELD was an initial founder of Worldskills some years ago and will continue to support this important program which assists with the development and education of our younger up and coming welding professionals, enhancing both their skills and experience. CIGWELD does more than donate funds and equipment to Worldskills as a Major Sponsor we also ensure our staff are involved nationally and when required devote time to judging competitions.
The exposure we get from being involved with such an important competition is immeasurable, as it is really about establishing a relationship and loyalty with our young, talented future professionals. The main aim is to have presence at the events, and we believe that through our sponsorship we are able to establish significant brand awareness, and as a result be instrumental in the growth and development at a grass roots level.
See the 2013 Welding Category Winner: Lachlan Mayled
See the 2013 Construction Steel Work Winner: Kurt Maier
CIGWELD is very proud to be helping out with the “The Tree Project” currently near the end of completion in Victorias’ rural North East. Located in Strathewen, a 10 metre high, solid iron Gumtree stands tall in commemoration of the loved ones who were lost in the tragic Black Saturday fires.
Over a tough 5 years, this magnificent structure came to life with the assistance of only volunteers. Persistence prevailed when on February 14 2016, the 3 tonne tree was erected for all to admire.
CIGWELD became involved in this project through our welding products, which were used to weld each and every one of over 3000 leaves onto the giant structure. Tireless days and nights went into this inspiring structure, and here at CIGWELD we are very glad our trusted welders got the job done.
CIGWELD has partnered up with RMIT Electric Racing to produce industry-ready graduates through sponsorship of CIGWELD welding products. RMIT Electric Racing is a team of 60 university students who design, build, assemble, test and race an open-wheeled electric race car. Being FSAE E-division champions in Australia in 2010, 2011 and 2013; a partnership with CIGWELD allows the team to achieve its goal of competing at international FSAE competitions in 2015-2016.
By choosing CIGWELD, the team is able to meets all its welding and cutting needs in-house. Through welding products, the team aims to manufacture its Spaceframe body, pedals, suspension amongst other components. Through such a noble partnership, CIGWELD supports the team’s efforts to develop high-calibre sustainable electric vehicles – supporting grassroots of motorsports and hands-on learning.
CIGWELD is an iconic Australian brand embedded in Australian history (CIG, MUREX, EMF, JB ARNOLD, COMOX, Australian Oxygen and Industrial Gases) and has been part of the welding industry for 100 Years (Est. 1922).
The journey of CIGWELD began in Australia on June 1st 1922 in Melbourne as JB Arnold; a manufacturing company specialising in gas welding and spray-painting equipment where the well-known COMET Branded Gas Welding and Cutting Torches was created. In 1935, JB Arnold then became a part of the Commonwealth Industrial Gases (CIG).
In 1923 E.M.F. Electric (Electro Magnetic Force) was founded to manufacture welding transformer machines. In 1937 EMF became the electric welding division of what would become CIG. CIG finally had a complete portfolio of both gas and electrical welding equipment. EMF also then started to manufacture Covered Welding electrodes for Stick Welding, known official as Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW).
Sixty-three years later in 1985, CIGWELD was formed as the equipment division of CIG which was the largest Australian manufactured of Welding Machines, Gas Equipment, Filler Metals and Safety products. At the time CIGWELD employed 700 employees in Australia with another 120 located in the Philippines.
From 1989, there were various transfers of the business (the Management Team (Comweld Group Pty Ltd) who brought CIGWELD from CIG, sold the business to Thermadyne Corporation USA, which later changed its name to Victor Technologies) and more recently in 2014 was bought by our current parent company ESAB-Colfax, now called ESAB Corporation, based in the USA.
From the advent of Oxy-Acetylene Welding (OAW), Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW), commonly known as STICK Welding to the invention of TIG welding and MIG welding, CIGWELD has actively brought these welding technologies to Australia, NZ and the Pacific Islands throughout its 100 year history.
With 100 years of industry leading experience, CIGWELD is looking to the future, to continue its leadership in the supply of the highest-level quality products and services to the next generation welders and fabricators, who will weld in the centuries to come.
CIGWELD Customers; share our past, are our present and will determine our future!
Welding is a fascinating process dating back to 1904 when the coated electrode was developed. In this document we will cover the types of arc welding, processes with the aim to provide some helpful tips. In simple terms, arc welding is a process used to join metals. The welding process involves a welding power source to generate an electric arc to melt the parent material being welded as well as any consumable being used. This then bonds separate individual metals together.
This has been written for experienced – competent operators. If you are not fully familiar with the principles of operation and safe practices for arc welding and cutting equipment, we urge you to read Cigweld/ESAB’s booklet, “Precautions and Safe Practices for Arc Welding, Cutting, and Gouging” with reference 0-5407 available from www.cigweld.com.au or email enquiries@cigweld.com.au
Do NOT permit untrained personnel to install, operate or maintain equipment. Do NOT attempt to install or operate equipment until you have fully read and understand these instructions. If you do not fully understand these instructions, contact your supplier for further information. Be sure to read the Safety Precautions before starting any installation.
There are four main types of arc welding processes. These are termed Stick Welding (SMAW), MIG Welding GMAW, TIG Welding GTAW and Flux Cored Arc Welding FCAW. In this post, we will be taking a closer look at these four processes.
Stick Welding is the simplest form of welding. The technical term here is Shield Metal Arc Welding, abbreviated to SMAW. Historically, it has also been known as Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW). The “stick” is the slang name derived from one of the materials used in the process, Stick welding uses a power source that outputs a constant current electric arc. This current flows through a flux coated welding electrode. The coating ensures that the weld zone is not exposed to air while the rod is melting. This method is relatively cheap and compatible with most metals. SMAW is widely used in a number of applications i.e construction sites, workshops, shipyards, pipelines, farm repairs, D.I.Y etc.
GAS Metal Arc Welding, generally referred to as MIG, is an arc welding process whereby an electric arc forms between a consumable mig wire and the work piece which heats these materials causing them to melt and form a molten metal puddle which joins together. The heat zone is blanketed with a shielding gas which shields the welding puddle from atmospheric contamination. MIG is a simple, fast and widely used process and would be recommended to start with if you are new to welding.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, generally referred to as TIG, is an arc welding process that uses a tungsten electrode to deliver the electric current to the weld pool. This process also requires a shielding gas, generally Argon, in order to protect the weld metal from atmospheric contamination. The TIG process requires a lot more experience and can also be rather challenging for the inexperienced. GTAW is commonly used to weld thin sections of stainless steel and non-ferrous materials (e.g. aluminum, magnesium and copper alloys).
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