News Bulletin

AWS Delivers Inaugural Company-Certified Thermoplastic Welding Inspector Training in Malaysia

AWS, Miami, Fla., completed its first Company-Certified Thermoplastic Welding Inspector Training and Examination workshop in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. The event, hosted at the AWS Accredited Testing Facility Kedah Industrial Skills and Management Development Centre (KISMEC), was organized in collaboration with AWS international agents United Technologies (Malaysia) and KHST (Taiwan).

The three-day workshop, held from May 26 to 28, was led by Dr. Chon-Liang Tsai, a retired professor of welding engineering at The Ohio State University and an AWS Fellow. Tsai is also chair of the new AWS Certified Plastic Welding Inspector (CPWI) program, which is currently under development.

The impetus for this workshop arose from the increasing demand for thermoplastic welding expertise, particularly driven by Malaysia’s rapidly growing semiconductor industry and other high-technology sectors, including aerospace and medical device manufacturing.

The workshop was designed to deliver a comprehensive understanding of thermoplastic welding inspection, covering fundamental material behaviors, weldability, and chemical characteristics essential to thermoplastic welding applications. Tsai provided a detailed overview of AWS B2.4, Specification for Welding Procedure and Performance Qualification for Thermoplastics, which outlines qualification requirements for thermoplastic welding; AWS G1.6, Specification for the Training, Qualification, and Company Certification of Thermoplastic Welding Inspector Specialists and Thermoplastic Welding Inspector Assistants; and G1.10, Guide for the Evaluation of Hot Gas, Hot Gas Extrusion, and Heated Tool Butt Thermoplastic Welds.

The program also included valuable comparisons to internationally recognized standards, including those from the German Welding Society (DVS), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International), to equip participants with a broad perspective on global best practices and inspection criteria.

One of the workshop’s highlights was the practical hands-on sessions. Participants engaged in real-world inspection scenarios, working with specimens of various types of thermoplastic welds to apply their theoretical knowledge. These exercises ensured participants could confidently perform visual and mechanical inspections in accordance with industry standards.

In addition to the technical aspects of thermoplastic welding inspection, the workshop emphasized the importance of developing a robust company-based written practice for qualification of thermoplastic welding inspection assistants and specialists. This aspect is vital for companies seeking to establish a consistent and reliable inspection process for their operations, ensuring compliance with AWS standards and elevating the overall quality of their thermoplastic welding programs.

This event is an essential step in laying the groundwork for the upcoming AWS CPWI certification program.

The successful delivery of this workshop marks a significant achievement for AWS and its partners in Malaysia and Taiwan. It demonstrates AWS’s strong commitment to supporting the growth of advanced manufacturing industries in the region by providing critical training opportunities. — Steven Snyder, AWS regional director, welding technology services

AWS Holds Welding and Coating Cross-Disciplinary Training Webinar

AWS, Miami, Fla., is offering a webinar series designed to bridge the gap between welding and coating inspection expertise, addressing industry demand for inspectors with cross-disciplinary skills. Traditional career paths see professionals specialize in either welding or coating inspection, but real-world projects often require integrated knowledge. Inspection processes in welding and protective coatings are critical to ensuring the integrity and longevity of structures across industries.

Instructor Jorge Reyna, who holds multiple inspection certifications and has global experience in welding and coating inspection, has helped professionals succeed across various industries, including construction, defense, and 
manufacturing.

The training will help attendees navigate the shift from welding to coating inspection, highlighting key differences, complementary practices, and strategies to improve collaboration. Participants will learn to identify critical issues in both fields, from weld defects to coating failures, and explore the latest trends in integrated inspection workflows. They will also be able to differentiate inspection roles, master transition points, identify common defects, apply standards, and develop effective collaboration strategies between welding and coating teams.

The webinar is approximately eight hours long, comprising two-hour sessions spread across four days. The sessions will take place November 11, 13, 18, and 20. For details and registration, visit aws.org and search “Welding and Coating Inspection Webinar.”

Wabtec Adds Evident’s Inspection Technologies Division

Wabtec Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa., a global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and services for the freight and transit rail industries, has acquired the Inspection Technologies division of Evident, formerly part of the Scientific Solutions division of Olympus Corp., for $1.78 billion. The acquired business brings established expertise in nondestructive examination, remote visual inspection, and analytical instruments used to evaluate mission-critical assets.

“Inspection Technologies’ product portfolio strongly complements our existing digital technologies while adding advanced automated inspection capabilities in a space where data acquisition, analytics, and automation are critical,” said Nalin Jain, president of Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence Group. “It will accelerate the development of scalable technologies by integrating advanced analytics, sensors, and AI technology to deliver enhanced predictive maintenance capabilities to our customers. Evident Inspection Technology employees have done a fantastic job in delivering these innovative technologies, and I am looking forward to welcoming them to the Wabtec family.”

AWS Hosts CWI Nine-Year Seminar

AWS held a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) nine-year recertification seminar May 4–9 at its World Headquarters in Miami, Fla. Instructor John Yochum led the seminar. Yochum is a CWI with more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry. He has more than 25 years of teaching experience as a welding and engineering instructor in South Florida public education and technical schools and state college programs.

Participants toured the Emm-Trace facility and learned about the company’s architectural and structural fabrication projects.

The attendees of the seminar were Cody D. Beasley, Garey Bish, Joel Boley, Daniel Darcey, Cesar Augusto Garcia Nunez, James Guderyon, Michael L. Hastings, Logan Millay, James Moore, Kyle Mullin, Zach Osgood, Vernon Phillips, Riley Swenson, Eli Wales, Jordan Wineland, James Scott, Richard Nigra Jr., Cesar Cornejo, Kenneth Cox, and Dexter Norman.

ASNT Partners with the Inspection Technology and Quality Assurance National Institute

The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Columbus, Ohio, is collaborating with the Inspection Technology and Quality Assurance National Institute (ITQAN), a Saudi Arabian institute that provides training programs to address market needs and support local workforce development.

This partnership promotes nondestructive examination (NDE) through ITQAN’s education and training programs and ASNT’s training and certification offerings. As part of this alliance, ASNT and ASNT Certification Services LLC will provide ITQAN with the ability to offer ASNT-approved training courses, certification preparatory courses, and ASNT certifications.

“Our goal is to collaborate with a local, well-established organization to deliver ASNT products and services to the region,” said Paul Lang, ASNT chief global strategy officer. “This will enhance local workforce development, assist in upskilling personnel, and elevate the quality and education of NDT personnel in Saudi Arabia.”

This collaboration will promote and deliver ASNT courses to ITQAN’s student body and the public. The courses will cover general and advanced NDE knowledge and specific training to support the ASNT 9712 and ASNT NDE certification programs.

KTA-Tator Inc. Expands NDE Services at New Pittsburgh Facility

KTA-Tator Inc. (KTA), a provider of testing and inspection services, has opened a new testing facility in Pittsburgh, Pa. This location expands the company’s ability to deliver nondestructive examination (NDE), mechanical testing, and destructive testing services.

The facility is equipped to support various specialized services, including mechanical testing, weld procedure and performance qualification, rail weld qualifications, Certified Welding Inspector consulting, and more.

“Our new facility represents a significant investment in the future of KTA’s nondestructive and destructive testing and quality assurance services,” said Jim Kretzler, NDE department manager of KTA. “By expanding our capabilities with this dedicated facility, we can better serve our clients with more services, faster turnaround times, and the highest level of expertise.”

TIGHITCO Overhaul Support Services Now Offers Mobile NDE Capabilities

TIGHITCO, Charleston, S.C., an industrial and aerospace manufacturer, has launched its worldwide mobile nondestructive examination services through its MRO division, Overhaul Support Services (OSS), in East Granby, Conn. This new capability enhances the company’s on-site inspections for critical aircraft components and field repairs.

“I’m excited to announce our expansion into mobile NDT,” said Brett Gillespie, general manager of OSS. “This is a significant achievement that positions our team to support customers with essential on-aircraft inspections. Our FAA certifications align with industry standards for nondestructive testing in the aviation industry. Capabilities include eddy current inspection, ultrasonic inspection, and fluorescent penetrant inspection. We look forward to growing our mobile NDT team and providing essential NDT services to our valued customers.”

Dürr NDT Panels Support Weld Inspection for Next-Generation Space Stations

As NASA prepares to retire the International Space Station (ISS), private companies are stepping in to fill the gap left by the ISS in low Earth orbit. One contender, California-based Vast Space, has announced Haven-2, a modular space station proposed for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program. The first module is expected to launch in 2028.

Ahead of that mission, Vast is already building Haven-1, a single-module commercial station scheduled to launch in 2026. To support critical weld inspections on components for both projects, the company has adopted Dürr NDT digital radiography systems.

Willick Engineering worked with John Stewart, founder of AATA and radiation safety officer, responsible level 3 at Vast, to implement Dürr NDT’s equipment. The inspection team is using the D-DR 1025B NDT and D-DR 1043B NDT bendable digital panels, along with the high-resolution 19-micron DR 7 NDT detector for detailed imaging. All systems are operated through Dürr’s D-Tect X software platform.

“The Dürr system and software are easy to use,” Stewart said. “Currently, we utilize multiple bendable panels and the 19-micron DR 7 high-resolution detector. The systems are easily interchangeable and user-friendly.”

These digital radiography tools are being used to inspect structural welds on the Haven modules’ exteriors, ensuring weld integrity in a mission-critical environment.