Professional requirements
Manufacturers of welded products must have suitable welding supervisors so that the welding technicians receive the necessary welding or work instructions and that all work can be carried out and monitored carefully.
Well-trained specialists can guarantee the product quality of welded constructions through the correct choice of material and welding process and process parameters, as well as the use of suitable welding and testing equipment and economical welding technology.
Achievements
The further training as International Welding Engineer (IWE) leads to a recognized additional qualification for engineers and industrial engineers who have already been trained in technical disciplines such as construction, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, automotive engineering and production and manufacturing technology.
During the training, extensive practical knowledge from the fields of welding technology, materials science, construction, design and production is imparted. In this way, the participant acquires key competences that enable him/her to plan and monitor and supervise the production of welded components in a national and international environment and to independently manage the corresponding production facilities and related projects.
Content of the course
From design to manufacturing, engineers with extensive knowledge of welding technology are necessary to carry out the extensive tasks involved in the construction of bridges, pressure vessels, steam boilers, steel buildings, vehicles on water, in the air, in space, on rails and roads as well as in mechanical and plant engineering – and pipeline construction.
The International Welding Engineer (IWE) course comprises a total of 448 hours and is divided into 3 modular parts and 4 main areas in terms of content:
Part 1 and 3 – Theoretical training
IWE Part 1 can be completed as a face-to-face or distance learning course. IWE Part 3 can be completed as a face-to-face course or in blended learning (distance learning course with face-to-face phases).
Main area 1 – Welding Processes and Equipment (95 hours)
Oxy-fuel technology, cutting, power sources, arc welding, shielded gas welding, submerged arc welding, resistance welding, special welding processes, thermal spraying, soldering, joining, automation
Main area 2 – Materials and their behavior during welding (115 hours)
Steel production, Alloys, Heat Treatment, Cracking, Corrosion, Wear, Non-Ferrous Metals, Metallography
Main area 3 – Construction and Design (62 hours)
Strength of materials, weld seam calculation, design, construction, behavior of welded joints under different loads and fracture mechanics
Main area 4 – Manufacturing and Application Engineering (116 hours)
Quality assurance, welder and procedure testing, occupational safety, residual stresses and distortion, workshop equipment, non-destructive material testing, cost-effectiveness, repair welding, case studies
Part 2 – Practical exercises (60 hours)
Gas welding, manual metal arc welding, Metal Active Gas (MAG) welding, Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, demonstration of other welding processes
Exams
Written and oral (10 hours)
Requirement
B.Sc. or M.Sc. degree and qualification in technical subject from a university, technical college, technical college or vocational academy. Participation in the course is also possible for university graduates without professional experience. However, it is advisable to have at least one year of operational experience.
Direct entry to the intermediate examination is possible if there is a valid certificate from a recognized university that the contents of part 1 of the welding engineer training were taught during the course.
Perspectives
The qualification as an International Welding Engineer (IWE) is therefore a useful extension of the engineering course and covers the often neglected topics of joining technology and especially welding technology. Due to the increasing demand for specialists in the field of joining technology, the IWE training is an important step towards promoting your own professional development.
Career opportunities
In many areas of welding design, construction, calculation and processing, the qualification as an International Welding Engineer (IWE) is an attractive additional qualification and thus enables you to work as a welding supervisor, which is mandatory in the legally regulated industrial areas and for certified welding companies by standards.
Areas regulated by law include, in particular, structures from steel and rail vehicle construction, offshore and aerospace technology, pressure vessels and pipeline construction, as well as plant construction for the chemical industry and power plant construction.
In order to be able to work as a welding company in this interesting and diverse environment, a named responsible welding coordinator is required, who responsibly and conscientiously ensures the required high quality standards through pronounced expertise.
Due to the interdisciplinary orientation of this further training, this additional qualification is also increasingly in demand in areas that are not regulated by law, such as mechanical and automotive engineering.
Certificates after the course completion
After passing the exam, the participant receives a German-language DVS-IIW welding engineer certificate and an English-language International Welding Engineer (IWE) diploma.
