The 2023 NCPWB Technical Conference was held last week at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Nearly 100 people attended the conference, including United Association representatives, member contractors, local associations, and NCPWB technical representatives.
Topics from the Conference:
Spool Welding Robot (SWR) and the Use of AI in Welding
Spool welding robots and using artificial intelligence could help the industry combat the shortage of welders. The American Welding Society estimates the shortage of welders will reach nearly 314,000 by 2024 . AI-powered weld control software like NovEye provides fully automated welding, real-time vision processing, and x-ray quality welding.
Plastic Piping Installation and Certification
With innovation in plastic materials, higher pressure and temperature ratings allow the installation of plastics in systems that have historically been designed and installed using metallic material. Piping codes such as ASME are in the process of addressing non-metallics piping. As code acceptance continues to evolve, it’s necessary to be aware of the products and equipment available for plastic piping installation.
Process Pipe Welding Solutions to Increase Diameter Inches per Day
Welding solutions designed for the process piping and pressure vessel industries allow the end-user to increase productivity, decrease repair rate and make training and operation easier than traditional methods. Topics included advanced technology inverter welding machines, open gap root passes, pulse welding, AC Square Wave SAW, mechanization, and automation.
Pipe Alignment
The antiquated process of pipe alignment costs contractors time and money. The tools for pipe alignment, developed by Walhonde Tools Inc., can increase productivity and safety.
The Walhonde Tools Inc. pipe alignment tools provide:
- Precisely set axial alignment
- Precisely set the gap
- Rounds the ovality of the pipe
- Drastically decreases fit-up time, decreasing labor costs and increasing productivity by substantial margins
- Increase process repeatability and quality control, with virtually zero x-ray rejections due to misalignment
- Easy to learn and use, which enhances and establishes best practice processes.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 2024 NCPWB Conference scheduled for April 21-23 at The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.