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Home 5 News & Views 5 Weld Australia’s 2024 Awards Honour the Best and Brightest in Welding from NSW and ACT

Weld Australia’s 2024 Awards Honour the Best and Brightest in Welding from NSW and ACT

Oct 25, 2024

Skill, quality, and professionalism took centre stage last night as the winners of the 2024 New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Welding Excellence Awards announced in Sydney last night.

Hosted by Weld Australia, the Excellence Awards are the most prestigious event on the welding industry calendar. These awards honour and highlight the exceptional work of local welders, fabricators, and educators contributing to the industry’s growth.

This year, the awards were held at Rydges World Square in Sydney and saw the best and brightest from the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory welding industry come together to acknowledge the incredible calibre of work achieved over the past 12 months.

Geoff Crittenden (CEO of Weld Australia) said, “The 2024 Welding Excellence Awards showcase the exceptional talent of welders and fabricators across New South Wales and the ACT. We are excited to honour both individuals and businesses who are driving advancements in welding through their commitment to quality, safety, and innovation.”

“The winners this year embody the pursuit of cutting-edge, sustainable solutions that enhance project outcomes while reducing risks, alongside initiatives that broaden and deepen the skilled workforce within the welding sector,” Crittenden said.

NWEC won the 2024 Company of the Year Award – Fabrication. NWEC is a specialist in steel fabrication, painting, installation, construction management, and welding resource supply, with over 40 years of experience serving Australia’s petrochemical, mining, aviation, rail, road, gas and heavy industry sectors. Known for its exceptional quality and consistency, NWEC stands out by combining top-tier fabrication and welding services with comprehensive quality, safety, environment, and project management systems.

The Runner Up of the Company of the Year Award – Fabrication was Macfab Engineering, and a Highly Commended Award went to JB Specialist Engineering.

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IndigeFab won the 2024 Company of the Year Award – Indigenous. IndigeFab is a progressive and proud 100% indigenous-owned and operated business, established in 2023, under parent company Absolutions Group. It draws on over 25 years of experience across all sectors of the construction industry with a focus on delivering exceptional metal fabrication services Australia-wide. Notably, IndigeFab has become the preferred partner to supply and fabricate sunshades structures for NSW schools across the state manufacturing 30 to 40 structures every year.

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MC Quality Control won the 2024 Project of the Year Award for Glencore’s Colombian operations. MC Quality has worked with Glencore in Australia for nearly a decade, focusing on improving welding QA/QC processes and enhancing the structural reliability of their mining equipment. Glencore’s Colombian operations asked MC Quality to help address similar issues, expanding the use of Australian expertise in an international context. In this project, MC Quality audited a workshop with 500 employees and conducted welding inspections on new and in-service mining equipment – navigating language barriers and demanding environmental conditions to ensure quality and reliability in line with international standards.

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APEX Welding Safety (AWS) won the 2024 Health and Safety in Welding Award. A passionate advocate for welders’ health and safety in Australia and New Zealand, AWS has published numerous welding safety whitepapers and industry reports, and welding fume control frameworks. As a company that specialises in welding fume safety equipment, its goal is to raise awareness and education around the important issues that welders face. AWS also played a major role in campaigning for the 2024 legislative change to the workplace exposure standard for welding fume.
Kemppi won the 2024 Company of the Year Award – Supplier. Kemppi is a leading multinational manufacturer and supplier of welding solutions, including the design, development and production of welding equipment, accessories, and safety gear as well as digital solutions and consulting and training services. Since its inception 1949, the Kemppi has pioneered and shaped the welding industry by solving welding challenges – such as being the first to move from analog to digital welding technology, and introducing the world’s first universal welding management software and digital welding procedure specifications.

The Runner Up of the Company of the Year Award – Supplier Award was Coregas.

Welding Quality Management Systems (WQMS) won the 2024 Training and Education – Organisation Award. WQMS are structural cracking and weld repair management experts, providing a holistic suite of solutions, services, training, software and supplies for crack and weld repair management of fixed and mobile structures. They worked with IBSA to create and develop the Cert IV level unit MEM05069 Perform Advanced Weld Repair and Maintenance to meet broad industry needs for an accredited VET unit for maintenance welding. WQMS has also helped develop a training package for Muswellbrook TAFE, including a detailed learner guide, e-modules, practical assessment, and coaching for upskilling.

The Runner Up of the Training and Education – Organisation Award was Zeal Features. A Highly Commended Award went to TAFE NSW, and the Winner for VET Schools was Shepherds Park Education and Training Unit.

 

Sungmook (Mac) Park from TSS Engineering was named the 2024 Welding Professional of the Year – Welding Coordinator. Sungmook Park is a skilled IWS-qualified Welding Coordinator at TSS Engineering. With over 20 years of experience in the welding and fabrication industry, Sungmook has significantly contributed to various high profile projects. His key achievement is leading his team to successfully implement a comprehensive quality system that not only met but exceeded client expectations. Sungmook’s dedication to continuous improvement and professional development him apart as a leader in the field.

The Runner Up of the Welding Professional of the Year – Welding Coordinator category was Joel Mennie from MC Quality Control.

 

Terry Morton from MC Quality Control won the 2024 Welding Professional of the Year – Welding Inspector Award. Terry is a Welding Inspector and Supervisor at MC Quality, bringing over two decades of experience in the welding and fabrication industry. His extensive background as a Special Class Welder has allowed him to work on large-scale projects, such as major industrial shutdowns and international collaborations. In his current role, Terry has led quality control efforts for projects both in Australia and overseas, including work with Caterpillar in Batam and at the Cerrejón mine in Colombia. His deep knowledge, strong work ethic, and commitment to quality make him a deserving winner for this award.
Emil Dionisio from E&C Welding Inspection and Services was named the 2024 Welding Professional of the Year – Welding Supervisor. With a trade background in boilermaking and pressure welding, Emil is a highly skilled Welding Supervisor. He has been involved with notable projects around Australia in structural piping, oil and gas, and power stations, including CBP WestConnex and Sydney Gateway. Emil is committed to mentoring new welders and apprentices, and promoting a positive working culture for both welders and mid-management level. He also volunteers on the NSW Committee for Weld Australia.

The Runner Up of the Welding Professional of the Year – Welding Supervisor category was Mark Lamb-Crane from MC Quality Control.

Holly Collins from Assure QC won the 2024 Young Trades Person of the Year category. Holly is a fully qualified tradesperson working in gas and power generation across NSW. A ticketed pressure TIG welder, she started out in the food industry where she fabricated and welded many stainless-steel components and piping, before moving into the hydrogen industry and then power generation. In her short time, Holly has already demonstrated commitment and dedication to the craft, overcoming challenges and working hard to get the job done – making her an inspiration to young women in the welding profession.

The Runner Up for Young Trades Person of the Year category was Joshua Kassissieh from BW Fabrication.

There were also two Highly Commended Awards:

  • Thomas Affleck from AD McCallum and Son
  • Ethan Galea from West-Trans Equipment

 

Chris Todd from Ventia was named the 2024 Trades Person of the Year. Chris started with Ventia as an apprentice in the project services workshop and has worked his way up to become the Leading Hand. He has played a key role in the delivery of multiple projects across both structural and piping, including the fabrication of a nearly 1000m 300NB bunker oil pipeline and 200-300NB high-pressure steam pipework to supply a turbo alternator. Chris also takes pride in passing on his knowledge to the next generation, training apprentices how to accurately align and check their fabrication prior to welding.

The Runner Up for Trades Person of the Year category was Thomas Askew from Empire Industrial Engineering.

 

Francesco Prestia from TAFE NSW won the 2024 Training and Education – Individual Teacher Award. Francesco is Head Teacher of Metal Fabrication and Welding at TAFE NSW, overseeing six campuses in the Riverina. He coordinates and delivers the Certificate 3 in Engineering to over 100 apprentices, and Certificate 4 in Engineering to 30 students across the state using virtual classrooms and face to face delivery. Francesco is also passionate about offering pathways for school students into trade areas, with a focus on metals and manufacturing: this year alone, he has organised and taught eight programs introducing school students to trade careers.

The Runner Up in this category was Craig Taylor from TAFE NSW.

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