As part of their corporate social investment, Air Products South Africa has sponsored South African Institute of Welding’s (SAIW) Young Welder of the Year. The company sees the competition as another opportunity to further its aim of investing in the youth of this country.

According to Josua Le Roux, general manager: central support: “Welding skills are critical in many industries and it is no secret that there is a dire shortage of engineering skills worldwide, specifically when it comes to expert welding. It is our great pleasure to have provided welding gases to facilitate this competition in the various areas of welding.”

This year’s competition was held from 26 to 30 January at the SAIW premises in Johannesburg. Air products has been involved with the completion since 2004 and this year supplied various specialist gases including argon for TIG welding and its special blends: Coogar 82 for MIG welding and Fluxblend for flux-core welding; as well as contributing towards accommodation and other costs related to the competition.

“We are passionate about training, skills development and the empowerment of young people in South Africa,” says Le Roux. “It is our hope that the use of Air Products’ range of specialist welding gases and the experience in taking part in this event will have an extremely positive impact on the future careers of these young welders.”