The 2023 Victoria and Tasmania Welding Excellence Awards winners have been announced in Melbourne, showcasing the best and brightest welders, fabricators, and industry educators in the two states.
Held at Huntingdale Gold Club last night, 29 November, the Weld Australia event recognised the work achieved by businesses and individuals making waves in the welding industry through their commitment to quality, safety and innovation.
“This year’s winners feature businesses and individuals committed to the pursuit of innovative, sustainable solutions that minimise risk and maximise project outcomes, as well as initiatives designed to increase the breadth and depth of skilled labour within the welding sector,” said Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia.
Alstom, a leading rail manufacturer in Australia and New Zealand, took home the 2023 Company of the Year Award in the Fabrication category. The company has over 100 years of experience in providing sustainable infrastructure solutions, with 2,300 employees across more than 25 sites.
The 2023 Company of the Year Award in the Supplier category went to Coregas, the only Australian industrial gas company. Operating since 1974, Coregas manufactures gases locally and distributes them throughout Australia and New Zealand via a network of branches and third parties.
Shadbolt Group clinched the Project of the Year Award for its Thermal Oxidiser Project, which sought to treat waste vapours and liquid wastes by combustion before it is exhausted to the atmosphere to control air pollution.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety, Corrections Victoria won the inaugural President’s Award for an Outstanding Social Project in Welding for their VET Centre of Excellence.
TAFE Gippsland clinched the Training and Education – Organisation Award for Victoria for setting the benchmark for the delivery of accessible, quality vocational education and training.
The Training and Education – Organisation Award for Tasmania was awarded to the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council, which delivers a range of industry-led training, providing access to flexible welder training and certification solutions for Tasmanian industry.
Brad Menzies Chisholm Institute, who won the Training and Education – Individual Teacher Award.
Mallee Steel’s Blair Hogan was recognised as the Young Trades Person of the Year and Mark Seiter from Furphy Engineering took home the Tradesperson of the Year award.
The winners of the 2023 Welding Professional of the Year Award are Jason Davey from Marand Precision Engineering for the Welding Coordinator category in Victoria; Danny Patmore from Jayben Group for the Welding Coordinator category in Tasmania; Merrill De Gee from Structural Challenge for the Welding Supervisor category.
