Weld Australia announced it will collaborate with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to develop a skilled welding workforce ready to deliver major defence industry programs including Land 400 Phase 2. With Rheinmetall having established its Australian headquarters and Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in southeast Queensland, local welders need training and qualifications that align with global best-practice to ensure they can deliver world leading Defence capability and reap the benefits of major defence programs such as Land 400 Phase 2.
Weld Australia Chief Executive Officer Geoff Crittenden says that Australia is facing a significant shortage of qualified and certified welders. Under a Memorandum of Understanding, Weld Australia and Rheinmetall will work together to establish accredited and non-accredited welding training outcomes and efficiencies – as well as technical development opportunities – that flow from Commonwealth Defence programs such as the delivery and sustainment of more than 3500 high mobility logistics trucks to the Australian Army (Land 1213B/5B) and the manufacture of the BOXER 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) in Australia under Land 400 Phase 2 (also known as the BOXER Program). Focus areas include the importance of certification of Australian companies that work on the BOXER Program, including requirements for developing welding capability to the internationally recognised AS/NZS ISO 3834 and DIN 2303.
“Without action, we will be unable to meet future demand for not only defence industry projects, but rolling stock, infrastructure and resources projects,” Crittenden said. “Our collaboration with Rheinmetall, formalised with this Memorandum of Understanding, will help overcome this shortage of skilled welders, and support the Australian Defence industry. It is vital that Australian welders are properly trained and ready to deliver the A$5 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 project. This landmark project is an economic game-changer that is expected to create over 450 jobs at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence.”
Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said the company welcomed Weld Australia’s active role in delivering the best training capability to Defence industry at a time when the Commonwealth is focused on building significant new capability across Land, Air and Maritime domains. “Welding will be a critical part of the military vehicle manufacturing and sustainment activities we provide to our customer, the Australian Defence Force,” Stewart said. “We look forward to working with Weld Australia to ensure local welding teams at manufacturing sites across Australia that supply into Defence industry programs such as Land 400 Phase 2 have world-class training and qualifications.”
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