Industry estimates shortage of 22 lakh welders in six years

With consumption of steel growing steadily, the welding industry is expected to face a shortage of 22 lakh qualified welders in the next six years.

Even at the current per capita steel consumption of 50 kg, there is a shortage of about 1.50 lakh welders. The world’s average per capita steel consumption is pegged at 350 kg.

Speaking to Business Line , Vijay S Agwan, Regional Director (West), the Indian Institute of Welding, said leading fabricators in India are investing ₹2,100 crore over the next three years in new generation wielding equipment and would require many qualified welders.

Major players in the ₹5,200-crore industry include L&T, Panasonic, Bohler Welding, D&H India, Esab and Ador Welding. While the users include the Railways, shipbuilders, power generators, automobile manufactures and infrastructure companies. The industry is gearing up to install automated welding equipment that will integrate seamlessly with the production lines, reducing power consumption and halve welding time.

This process would lead to saving of 20-30 per cent in welding cost and result in recovery of investment in 40 months, said Satish Bhat, Managing Director, Ador Welding.

Started in 1966, the Indian Institute of Welding, a non-profit organisation, has 4,500 corporate members. In India, it is the only recognised body by the International Institute of Welding.

The institute conducts exam across the country to confer Associate Member of Indian Institute of Welding certification. The certification of the institute is equivalent to an engineering degree. It is recognised as a university by the Ministry of Human Resource Department.

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