Weld Australia names SA Welding Excellence Awards winners

Welding industry professional body Weld Australia announced the winners of its South Australia Welding Excellence Awards for 2024 on Thursday night.

The event at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide showcased “the exceptional talent of welders and fabricators across South Australia” Weld Australia CEO Geoff Crittenden said in a statement on Friday.

“The 2024 Welding Excellence Awards showcase the exceptional talent of welders and fabricators across South Australia. We are excited to honour both individuals and businesses who are driving advancements in welding through their commitment to quality, safety, and innovation.”

A list of winners is reproduced below.

Company of the Year Award – Fabrication. ASC

ASC has proudly served as Australia’s submarine builder and sustainer for more than 35 years, playing a critical role in supporting national security. They built Australia’s Collins Class submarines, sustain the Collins Class fleet, and will jointly build and sustain the upcoming nuclear-powered submarines in Australia. 

Project of the Year Award. Century Engineering

Century Engineering has been operating since 1947, providing bespoke engineering solutions and complex manufacturing services. Their award is for work on the BHP Olympic Dam Project, citing “innovation of new welding processes, inspection techniques, and training methodologies has not only delivered outstanding results for BHP, but also contributed to advancing welding capabilities in the engineering and fabrication industries.”

Health and Safety in Welding Award. BAE Systems Maritime Australia  

BAE has been selected to deliver Hunter class frigates to the Royal Australian Navy, employing over 2,000 people at one of the world’s most technologically advanced naval shipyards. The award is for BAE’s design and implementation of a paint dust extraction unit to remove at least 90 per cent of airborne contaminants generated during the grinding of primer paints from metal surfaces, significantly improving air quality within production areas.

Company of the Year Award – Supplier. Welding Equipment Sales & Service

WESS has been supporting the local welding industry with technical service and equipment repair for over 40 years and is the largest independent welding distribution business in South Australia. Besides their import and support for global brands, “they also work with major industry partners to provide cutting-edge solutions that drive improved safety, quality, productivity and efficiency.”

Training and Education – Organisation Award. MTC Training 

MTC Training at Cardijn Marcellin Campus provides vocational education, specialising in high-quality training programs designed to meet industry demands. Weld Australia said that “MTC has earned a reputation for producing job-ready graduates who can thrive in the fast-evolving engineering sector, with the campus being recognised for its outstanding contributions to workforce development.”

Welding Professional of the Year Award 

Aslan Gursoy from ASC (Welding Coordinator category.) 

Ali Rafieeye from SA Water (Welding Inspector category.) 

Terry Griffin from ASC (Welding Supervisor category.)

Young Trades Person of the Year. Cooper Penney from BAE Systems Australia 

Penney has consistently worked to a high standard throughout his entire apprenticeship, judges noted, and “is now working at the same level as experienced tradespeople. A self-starter and a team player, Cooper is quick to implement feedback and adopts a proactive approach to safety-related issues. He has also started mentoring newer apprentices, helping them integrate into the workforce.”

Trades Person of the Year. Brenton Marrett from BAE Systems Australia 

Throughout his extensive career as a boilermaker and welder, Marrett has demonstrated “outstanding skill and craftsmanship including notable contributions to three major projects at Osborne Shipyard” and earning “a strong reputation for his expertise, reliability, and an unwavering commitment to his work that consistently delivers high-quality results.”

Training and Education – Individual Teacher Award. Joint winners

Paul Bettison from TAFE SA and Chris Henderson from Outsource Institute were named joint winners of the award. Bettison “is an accomplished Lecturer at TAFE SA Regency Campus, with 26 years of experience in designing and facilitating learning and assessment.” Henderson is described as “an exceptionally qualified Engineering Trainer and Assessor at Outsource” with a 40-plus-year career, bringing “a wealth of knowledge, practical experience, and industry insights that help apprentices develop the skills needed to excel in their careers.”

Ken Trevena Award. Simon Doe from Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF)

Doe is a passionate engineer with over 30 years of technical and managerial experience in advanced manufacturing, welding, engineering and research across a diverse range of sectors. As ANFF’s National Manager, “Simon is responsible for the activities of the multi-million dollar clean room facility and associated research and development laboratories” said Weld Australia,  and also “provides technical leadership to the team, and fosters strategic relationships with stakeholders.”

CEO’s Award. Ashley Bell from BAE Systems Australia 

Bell, the Head of Manufacturing Engineering at BAE Systems Australia, received the award for services to the Australian welding industry. “His 25-year professional journey encompasses vast experience in the oil and gas, mining, subsea and defence sectors and he has been working on the Hunter Class Frigate project since 2018, “from inception through to fabrication of the first Hunter Class blocks.”

Picture: credit Weld Australia