By André Odermatt

34 years ago, Dan Perlman graduated from Hobart Technical School [now Hobart Institute of Welding Technology]. 

Dan says, “The excellent technical education I received from Hobart exposed me to a wide variety of work experiences, from a copper mine in Arizona to construction work in New York.  My welding skills opened many doors for me in the early days of my career.  Ultimately, I ended up working for a manufacturing company in Reading, Pennsylvania that produced truck bodies and accessories, Reading Truck Body.  Here I found a company that truly cared about their employees, a company that offered many opportunities for career advancement.  Twenty-eight years later, I am now the president of that company.  My old welding helmet is still leaning up in the corner of my office, a reminder of my roots and the trade skill that launched my career.”

28 years ago, Mike Callentine of Michigan gradated from HIWT.   Mike’s welding trail began with an oxyacetylene welding class in high school and led him to the Hobart Institute’s Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program.  After completing training, he landed a job at a nuclear power facility in Michigan and later with a power company in New Hampshire welding pressure piping.

“Hobart definitely changed my life for the better,” says Mike.  “After a few years in the nuclear plant, I joined the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in Texas and worked in that area of the country.  Welders can travel anywhere in the country and find work.”

Since 1993, Mike has been employed by General Motors at their Milford Proving Grounds – Vehicle Safety and Crash Worthiness Lab with auto body development and safety. 

“Throughout my career, holding a certificate from Hobart opened doors for me,” Mike commented.  “Even at GM, where an associate degree or equivalent training is essential, it paved the way for me.”

24 years ago, Cort Reiser graduated from Hobart Institute and went on to attend The Ohio State University.  Now Assistant Vice President - Manufacturing of Liebherr Mining Equipment Company in Newport News, Virginia, Cort says, “Hobart Institute opened all the doorways for me.  It was the foundation of my career.  At Hobart, you not only learn how to weld, but also you learn about welding,” Cort commented.  “It is important to know about the metals and the equipment.”

15 years ago Doug Longenecker trained at HIWT and is currently the president of DPLongenecker L.L.C.   He chose to complete his welding engineering degree at The Ohio State University following his training at HIWT. 

“DPLongenecker LLC has been in business for the past 6 years providing welding consulting help to a number of different disciplines,” says Doug.  “We do work for companies ranging from government applications to automotive. We provide help in robotic arc welding as well in hands on skills.  HIWT provided me with the foundation to create and maintain my company.”     

5 years ago Henry Sloan III left HIWT with structural and pipe welding diploma and today, “Henry is one of the best welders we have," says Kent Van Deusen, Director of Training at Local 577 of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.  "Companies know his work and request his services." 

“I would like to recognize Hobart Institute for the excellent training I received,” says Henry, “and UA Local 577 for the opportunities they have given to me.” 

These are just a few examples how training and education at HIWT has helped graduates with a desire to succeed become very successful in their lives. These former students realize that success is a journey, not a destination; it is the fruit of perseverance. Welders have more career choices than many other professions.

A high school diploma forms the roots or the basic fundamentals to learn how to become a professional welder at HIWT. Welder training and education at HIWT is a unique experience that can be found nowhere else in the world.

Almost everything we see and touch is a result of welding technology. Welding or welding related technologies can be found in almost every industry segment and in places like underwater, on land, in laboratories and even in outer space. This is why welding, unlike many other professions, offers almost unlimited career opportunities around the world. HIWT provides training and approvals to recognized standards for a skilled and competent workforce.

Why is welding so different from other job skills or trades? Welding involves more variables than any other manufacturing process. Ever since arc welding began to become popular in the 1920s, engineers and scientists have tried to understand and control these many variables. Automatic and robotic welding with sensing, vision, feedback and electronic control circuitry enable operators today to reduce this process variability. Welding automation will be a growing market in this country and worldwide for several more years. However, automatic and robotic arc welding usually requires that the part to be welded be brought to the machine and welding is limited to certain positions. This is often time not practical or not possible. There is automation in pipeline welding, shipbuilding, railcar and automotive manufacturing, bridge and other construction but there are many applications in these industry segments that cannot be automated at this time and may well never be!  It requires skilled welders that have learned how to “read the arc” and make instantaneous adjustments of several variables within a fraction of a second. These welders are like athletes or artists, have great hand-eye coordination, physical stamina and usually perform under time pressure.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s job outlook for welders, soldering and brazing workers expects employment to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations over the 2004 -2014 period.  Despite this, job prospects are excellent as employers report difficulty finding enough qualified people and many openings arise as large number of workers retires over the next decade. At Hobart Institute, the demand for welders is evident with recruiters coming from different parts of the country to interview and test students and job postings have gone up over 40 % from last year to this year.

Every HIWT graduate who wants to work and is willing to locate where work is available can get a job!  

“We are impressed by what we see at Hobart Institute.  The size of the school and the quality of training will provide excellent candidates for the type of openings available at Tradesmen International.” – Ryan Ellis, Tradesmen International

“We are experiencing major growth with our business.  As a result, we need well-educated quality welders, the type of welders that I know Hobart produces.” – Dan Perlman, Reading Truck Body, LLC

“Finding good skilled welders is always a challenge,” says Cort Reiser.  “We are trying to stay ahead of the curve by bringing in welders who we can train in the workplace values of Liebherr.”

Cort stressed that Liebherr is seeking employees who will “Be there. Be on time. Be in their work area. Be productive.”  The strong work ethic is very important to this company, as it is to many employers throughout the country.

Doug Longenecker is working with Merrill Fabricators, another company that is actively looking for welders and invites former Hobart Institute graduates to come see what they have to offer in their custom fabrication shop located in Saginaw, Michigan.  

According to Doug, “Merrill is interested in Hobart grads because, as a former graduate, I realize the strength of the HIWT training program and Merrill needs those highly-skilled welders in our organization.  We do all types of arc welding in our shop including flux cored, gas tungsten, gas metal, shielded metal, and submerged arc welding.  We offer competitive wages and a full benefit package.”

Becoming a welder is not the end, but the beginning of a career path that has virtually no limitations in a multitude of industries around the world. Welding is one of the most exciting professions in manufacturing!  

With a Hobart Institute diploma, the right attitude and a desire to succeed, the world is open to HIWT graduates.