Do you want to be an...

Engineering Tradesperson - Fabrication

Fabrication engineering tradespersons cut, shape, join and finish metal to make, maintain or repair metal products and structures.

They may produce moulds or patterns for metal castings, apply coatings and work with a variety of materials.

Recent changes in the industry are leading to a number of trade jobs being merged into broad occupational areas. The new training structure allows apprentices to develop a mix of skills from the traditional trades or occupations.

Fabrication engineering tradespeople work in workshops or production areas that can be noisy, hot and dusty.

They usually spend most of their day standing and often need to bend, crouch or climb. Some may be required to work in confined spaces or at heights, and shift work may be involved.

They may work in a team or alone. Workshops are generally spacious, ventilated and well lit.

Fabrication engineering tradespeople must be aware of safety regulations and must wear protective equipment to minimise heat and noise levels, and to guard against corrosive chemicals.

TASKS

Fabrication engineering tradespeople may perform the following tasks:

examine detailed drawings or specifications to find out job, material and equipment requirements
cut, roll, shape, bend, mould, spin, heat or hammer metal products to fabricate parts or sub-assemblies
heat treat metal parts and components
set up and/or operate hand and machine tools, welding equipment or Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines
assemble parts and structures by lining up and joining them by welding, bolting or riveting
finish products by cleaning, polishing, filing or bathing them in acid solutions, or by applying protective or decorative coatings

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

enjoy working with machines
interested in computer-programmable machinery
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
strength to handle materials, tools and machines
good hand-eye coordination
able to work in a team or independently
patient
able to carry out accurate work
safety-conscious

Interest Area

SPECIALISATIONS

Blacksmith - shapes bars, rods and blocks of metal using hand or power tools to produce or repair metal articles. Blacksmiths also make and repair agricultural equipment, mining and quarrying machinery, or ornamental steelwork such as gates and fences. They can specialise in forge-smithing, hammer-smithing or tool-smithing.

Boilermaker (Heavy Fabrication) - cuts, shapes, assembles and joins heavy gauge metal parts to produce or repair containers that have to withstand pressure, such as ships, boilers and storage tanks.

Boilermakers trained in structural fabrication may be involved in fitting, assembling and joining aluminium and steel in the construction or repair of towers, bridges, structural supports, girders and ships.

Engineering Patternmaker - constructs full-size engineering models (called patterns) out of timber. Patternmakers also produce visual models, experimental models and models for the manufacture of prototype developmental products.

Foundry Worker - assists tradespeople and semi-skilled workers to cast metal into shapes used as parts for machinery, motor vehicles, railway engines, stove parts and wheels.

Moulder/Coremaker - makes sand moulds from which many kinds of metal objects are cast. They may make moulds for goods ranging from truck wheels, crankshafts and bulldozer blades, to door handles and water taps, or for the structural frames of equipment used in mining, quarrying and forestry. The moulding process is commonly automated or semi-automated.

Sheetmetal Worker (Light Fabrication) - manufactures a variety of products and components using thin sheetmetal materials. A sheetmetal worker uses hand tools, power tools and other machines to mark out, cut, shape and join a variety of sheetmetal materials. They work with galvanised steel, mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and brass.

Sheetmetal workers shape and form the cut material into products by operating sheetmetal shaping and forming machines such as brake presses, and folding, bending and rolling machines.

Welder - First Class - constructs or repairs metal products by joining parts either manually (using a variety of welding methods, including electric arc, MIG and TIG welding or oxyacetylene welding) or by machine. These parts are used to complete structures and equipment (such as ships, bridges, pipelines, vehicles and domestic appliances).

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a fabrication engineering tradesperson you usually have to complete an apprenticeship in Engineering-Fabrication Trade.

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

Additional Information

Some fabrication engineering tradesperson roles require working at heights or in confined spaces. When working at heights, industry standards require tradespeople to complete a Work Safely at Heights short course provided by a Registered Training Organisation. Contact SafeWork NSW or WorkSafe ACT for more details.

Tradespeople who are required to work in confined spaces must have a Confined Space Entry Permit. Contact SafeWork NSW or WorkSafe ACT for more information.

Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have recognised, additional skills under the Metal and Engineering Training Package that will expand your career opportunities within this industry.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Fabrication engineering tradespeople work for engineering and construction firms, motor vehicle and other manufacturers, the minerals industry, shipyards, and electricity and gas supply authorities. Some are employed by federal, state or territory government departments, or local government authorities. They may work in metropolitan areas, large regional industrial centres, and on remote mining and processing projects.

Job opportunities depend on the level of local and overseas demand for Australian-manufactured goods and for minerals and energy products, the rate of technological change, and the number of new projects in heavy engineering, mining or steel construction.

With experience and further study, competent tradespeople can upgrade their qualifications to technician, associate, technologist or engineer level.