Welding Institute
1923 Establishment of The Institution of Welding Engineers at a meeting between 20 men at the Holborn Restaurant in London. The Institution of Welding Engineers brought together acetylene welders with engineers engaged in electric arc welding and was later formally registered under the Companies Act in February 1923.
The Institution set forward aims to "advance and develop the science and practice of welding," which included activities such as the reading of papers and lectures, the establishing of welding schools, the drawing up of recommendations and regulations for the welding industry and, additionally, the promotion of related legislation.
Over the following ten years, the number of Members reached 600.
1935 the Institution merged with the British Advisory Welding Council, becoming The Institute of Welding. This merger enabled a "wider and more comprehensive programme of work" to be conducted whilst additionally addressing the "pressing demands of all branches of engineering for guidance in welding matters." It also further enabled companies to become Members, as well as individuals.
1937 the Institute’s Welding Research Council was formed in 1937, providing "status and recognition for the valuable work of the research committees and the standing of their personnel." The Institute was awarded three grants by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to support welding research, which was mainly supported by UK universities.
1946 With professional institutions debarred from being able to also act as research organisations, the Institute had to split with the British Welding Research Association formed as a separate body.
1946 British Welding Research Association acquired Abington Hall, near Cambridge, as well as also owning 29 Park Crescent in London, which later became the metallurgical laboratory; the butler’s pantry served as the polishing room and the coachman’s quarters hosted the machine shop.
1948 Grants of Arms to the Institute
1957 creation of a course on the welding of pressure vessels held at a property near the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, the success of this first course was exemplified by the 100 applications exceeding the course’s 40 places. This quickly led to more courses being organised and, by the early 1960s, the training school had hosted over 300 visiting lecturers.
1965 Formation of the School of Applied Non-Destructive Testing by the British Welding Research Association and the Non-Destructive Society of Great Britain. The new school pioneered formal training in further disciplines including ultrasonic weld testing and radiographic interpretation.
1968 The 2 bodies merged once more. The Institute of Welding was renamed as The Welding Institute. The current headquarters are at Abington Hall.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] The Welding Institute