Annual International Sheet Metal Competition to be held in Las Vegas

More than 275 sheet metal contestants and their families will go to Las Vegas March 5-9 to take part in the Annual International Sheet Metal Competition, which allows apprentices and journeymen from throughout the U.S. and Canada to demonstrate their skills.

The competition, hosted by the International Training Institute (ITI), will take place at Caesars Palace and the Sheet Metal Local 88's Joint Apprenticeship Training Center.

Apprentice contestants will compete in five sheet metal disciplines: HVAC; industrial/welding; service; architectural; and testing, adjusting, and balancing in heating and air conditioning. Each competition, no matter the discipline, may consist of a written test, sketching projects, shop project, and blueprint-reading test.

For the second year, the detailing competition allows journeymen and apprentices to show their experience and skill as they compete for a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy® Lo motorcycle provided by Henderson Harley-Davidson. The detailing category is the only one journeymen may enter.

The competition is held in conjunction with the 2012 Partners in Progress Conference, which is hosted by the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). Held every other year, the conference will feature a new program format and emphasize creative collaboration for labor and management through breakout sessions and educational opportunities.