Tailored training leads to welding qualification

Polypipe recently enlisted the help of TWI to deliver an assessment and training package on hot gas and extrusion welding to raise the skill of its welders.

Polypipe Civils is the UK's market leader in the supply of plastic pipe and drainage assemblies to the civil engineering, construction and utility industries.

Polypipe has a firm commitment to employee training and to this end the company recently enlisted the help of TWI to deliver an assessment and training package on hot gas and extrusion welding to raise the skill of their welders.

The tailored training course took place over a period of 14 days at Polypipe's premises in Loughborough.

After an initial assessment programme, each welder's individual needs were identified and a suitable training programme was developed.

Throughout the training course test welds were made by each welder and mechanically tested in order to check progress.

At the end of the training course, Polypipe Civils decided to put the new found skills of the welders to the test and put them forward for the CSWIP (Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel) examination, which is carried out in accordance with the British and European standard BS EN13067:2003 "Plastics welding personnel - Qualification testing of welders - Thermoplastics welded assemblies".

Jason Shingleton, Marketing and Development Director at Polypipe Civils commented: "At Polypipe Civils quality is key to the success of our business".

"Working with TWI has been invaluable in ensuring our welders have the necessary skills to produce our products to the level of quality we demand".

Of the 15 welders that took the exam, 11 passed at the first attempt with four passing after further tuition.

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