Strict environmental management regulations and the increased use of plastics welding have resulted in increased demand for the training of more plastics welders.

This is according to industry association Plastics South Africa (SA) training executive Kirtida Bhana, who says industrial companies and mines’ environmental management policies require the employment of qualified welders to improve safety during operations.

Also, many mining and construction com- panies are specifying that products traditionally made from steel or metal, be manufactured from plastic; this requires more plastics welders in the industry.

Bhana says modern plastics have better properties, as they are lightweight, have high impact strength, are rust and acid resistant and can be welded.

She says, while plastic pipes, owing to their good properties, are increasingly replacing metal and ceramic pipes, one major area of weakness is plastic pipes failing to function properly owing to poor or inferior welding.

“An entire pipeline depends on the quality of a weld and the difference between a skilled, properly qualified welder and an unskilled welder lies in the level of integrity and professionalism of the contractor. “The repercussions of poor welding could even be life-threatening in mines or at con- struction sites and the liability of the contractor could be damaging to his career,” Bhana states.

However, she states that one of the biggest challenges facing welders in the plastics industry is illiteracy, as most welders are unable to read or write and, as a result, it becomes difficult to equip them with welding skills.

Further, fast-working butt welders are needed in the industry to reduce the time of the welding cycle, while dam-lining qualified welders are also needed, not only in South Africa but also in Africa.

Plastics SA is hoping to address the need for more skilled plastics welders through its training courses offered at its training centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

The training courses are accredited by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta); the Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather Seta and the South African Qualifications Authority. The courses are presented either in-house at a company’s premises, or as scheduled public courses.

Plastics SA trains aspiring welders in thermoplastic welding, which allows plastic materials to be joined to create new designs and applications.

“Thermoplastic welding is not limited to straight joints and allows some complicated design variations. “There are advantages and limitations associated with the different types of welding methods and it is important that welders gain an understanding of these methods to produce the best possible design for long-term success,” Bhana says.

Plastics SA also trains its students in butt-welding, which is a welding technique used to connect parts which are nearly parallel and do not overlap.

Training programmes in hot air welding, hot air extrusion, electrofusion and socket fusion welding, as well as solvent cement welding are offered by Plastics SA.