Encouraging the future workforce

Welding Pavilion Winner - Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch presents the 1st place award to Brandon, a welding student from Waukesha County Technical College.
Photo courtesy of Hastings Air Energy Control Inc.

Metal fabricators throughout the U.S. are familiar with FABTECH®, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event held annually. Other, smaller, less familiar events take place periodically throughout the U.S.

The Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show (WiMTS) was held Oct. 3-5, 2017, at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wis. WiMTS began in 1989 and has been held biannually since. The event is the largest manufacturing show in Wisconsin, bringing in an average of 5,000 attendees and close to 200 exhibitors.

New to the show in 2017 was the Welding Pavilion. Presented by New Berlin, Wis.-based Hastings Air Energy Control Inc., the pavilion comprised six operating welding stations used to highlight emerging welding technologies, best safety practices related to fume removal technologies, and proper ventilation methods. It also showcased area vo-tech welding programs and included technical seminars and a welding competition for students. The tradeshow typically brings in about 500 students each year.

This is just one of the ways Hastings works to attract and engage the future welding workforce and ensure its well-being.

Recently thefabricator.com submitted questions to Hastings about the show, the pavilion, and the company’s involvement. President David Bohrer, Director of Marketing Laura Brophy, and General Manager Kevin Rohde supplied the answers.

thefabricator.com: How long has Hastings been involved and provided scholarships for the welding competitors? What prompted the company’s involvement?

Hastings: Hastings became involved in WiMTS as an exhibitor in 1991. The Welding Pavilion, introduced in 2017, was designed to highlight emerging technologies in welding and proper safety related to fume removal. Hastings puts an emphasis in communication and education around employee safety, particularly for factory personnel.

Students who attend WiMTS are able to network with potential employers and gain exposure to the latest tools and techniques on the tradeshow floor. The event gives them the chance to compete for prizes, as well as bragging rights for their winning entries. We want to help students improve their skills and help them achieve great success in the manufacturing and technology industries, and our scholarships are part of that.

thefabricator.com: Do other companies also provide scholarships to participants?

Hastings: Abicor Binzel, IVEC Systems, Speedy Metals, and Welders Supply provided supplies, including welding coupons and welder protective clothing (coats, helmets, gloves, etc.), for the event, but Hastings is the sole provider of scholarship funds. (We are not aware of other competitions or scholarships being offered during the tradeshow.)

A facility before installing a ventilation system from Hastings Air Energy Control Inc..
Photo courtesy of Hastings Air Energy Control Inc.

thefabricator.com: Is the competition limited to a certain number of students, and what does the entry process involve?

Hastings: The competition is open to all students 18 years of age and older. This year we also had a welding simulator available for high school students and attendees under the age of 18 so they could still get a hands-on experience.

Students were able to enter the competition prior to the show via website, or could register on-site at the event. Hastings met with local technical colleges to design the competition in alignment with their lesson plans. We also worked together to develop the schedule, including evening time slots for working students who couldn’t attend during daytime hours.

thefabricator.com: Are you aware of any area employers visiting the competition and possibly extending job offers to participants?

Hastings: The competition led to attending businesses meeting with contest participants to discuss job opportunities, and we are aware of certain winning students receiving offers of employment.

thefabricator.com: Is Hastings’ equipment used in the area schools’ welding labs?

Hastings: Many Wisconsin vocational schools use Hastings-supplied equipment in their welding labs and in other departments, such as their wood shops, machine shops, and automotive repair classrooms.

thefabricator.com: Do students visit Hastings’ Technology Experience Center and participate in seminars?

Hastings: Hastings has a long history of involvement in student education. We have leveraged our Technology Experience Center, a comprehensive indoor air quality control educational center, for tours, seminars, and lunch & learns. Hastings hosts student tours, and a number of students have participated in our annual seminars.

We are an active host for the “Be the Spark” program through COSBE, Council of Small Business Executives, and MMAC (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce). The “Be the Spark” program introduces 7th-grade Milwaukee Public School students to local businesses. The program grew out of the understanding that the key to success of local businesses – and the entire region – is a strong and sustainable workforce.

The same facility after installing a ventilation system from Hastings Air Energy Control Inc.
Photo courtesy of Hastings Air Energy Control Inc.

thefabricator.com: Does Hastings participate in National Manufacturing Day?

Hastings: Hastings hosted Technology Experience Center tours for Manufacturing Day in 2016. In 2017 we participated in Manufacturing Month, in which we were involved in a number of manufacturing tradeshows, such as WiMTS, Wisconsin Manufacturing First Expo, and other events throughout the Midwest.

thefabricator.com: Does Hastings participate in other ways to help grow and educate the welding workforce?

Hastings: Hastings has held seminars covering welding topics as far back as the late 1990s. We recently held an all-day seminar on Sept. 19, 2017, entitled “Hazards of Welding Fume”.

Some of the groups we have recently presented to include: SME; ASSE (American Society of Safety Engineers); risk managers at various insurance companies; FET (Federation of Environmental Technologists); PFMA (Plant & Facilities Maintenance Association); AWS (American Welding Society); and WAEE (Wisconsin Association of Energy Engineers). We also contribute to WAEE, which provides student scholarships.

thefabricator.com: In your opinion, are today’s employers more conscientious about providing a safer working environment, including proper ventilation, and are students more aware of safety guidelines and holding employers accountable?

Hastings: Younger welders are more aware of health risks associated with welding, and vo-tech colleges offer more advanced safety equipment. Students take this knowledge and experience into the workforce and expect the same level of precaution in their workplaces.

The welding community has become more proactive over the years, which has been driven by:

• Insurance companies/risk management
• Auditors and safety managers
• Employee morale, employee recruitment, and retention
• Environmental and sustainability corporate goals

There are countless stories in which welders have taken a position in a facility to promote clean air as opposed to a facility without engineering controls.

In our tenure, we’ve seen “sweatshop” type conditions transformed into clean environments. These changes are driven by health concerns, elevated risk, auditors, safety managers, environmental, and sustainable corporate goals, and a drive to reduce energy costs. For example, see the before and after photos of one facility.