Instytut Spawalnictwa
By: Dr Adam Pietras (Instytut Spawalnictwa)[1], Barbara Dobaj-Tumidajewicz (Instytut Spawalnictwa) and Heidi Dyson (TWI)
Instytut Spawalnictwa - brief history[2]
Established in 1945, the Instytut Spawalnictwa is a scientific-research, educational, certification and information centre, which initiates and organises welding activities in Poland. Its staff of 185 includes more than 50 research workers. The cost
of Institute activities is covered by government funds and by receipts from industry orders.
Instytut Spawalnictwa's role has changed in recent years. Where for decades, the Institute functioned as a support organisation in research and development to industry, Instytut Spawalnictwa is now increasing the scope of its work and
activities. At present, the fundamental directions of Institute activities for industry and government purposes are:
- Scientific research and development
- Education and training of welding staff
- Certification of welding products, personnel and quality systems
- Standardisation and information
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Fig.1. Instytut Spawalnictwa in Gliwice, Poland © 2001, Instytut Spawalnictwa
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Fig.2. Mechanical testing of welded specimens at Instytut Spawalnictwa © 2001, Inst Spawalnictwa
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Welding has a large impact on the Polish economy. The welding industry involves employment of over 70,000 welders. The essential duties of Instytut Spawalnictwa in this millennium will be focused on activities where it can directly enhance the
competitiveness of Polish manufacturers of welded structures, through an improvement of product quality and reduction in production costs.
Instytut Spawalnictwa's contributions to the EuroStir® project
- To conduct destructive and non-destructive testing of friction stir welding (FSW) samples
- To obtain approval for FSW procedures by classification societies and technical inspection offices
- To provide consulting in the field of design, selection of technological parameters, economics, weld quality and emission of air pollutants
- To contribute to the development of quality systems for FSW production (according to ISO 9000 and EN 729)
Instytut Spawalnictwa has put together a team of scientists, engineers and marketing specialists to co-ordinate work on the introduction of friction stir welding in Poland. Activities such as research projects, setting up a special laboratory and
conferences have been conducted to facilitate introduction and implementation of friction stir welding in the organisation and local industry.[3]
Summary of services
Instytut Spawalnictwa's objective is to assist industry to improve quality and competitiveness. To help achieve this, the Institute has the following activities:
Research and development
Research and development programmes are funded by contributions from The Polish Committee for Scientific Research and by industrial companies interested in a definite technological subject. Research and technological work at the Institute includes
design and manufacture of various joining/welding systems, development of welding consumables and services on the area of ecology and work safety.
Training and qualification
The Institute is the leading organisation in training and qualification of welding staff in Poland. It collaborates in this field with international welding organisations and offers courses according to the rules approved by the European Community.
It is a Member of the International Institute of Welding and European Welding Federation.
Certification, supervision and consultation
Instytut Spawalnictwa's certification centre offers certificates in quality systems in welding plants, welding products and welding staff. They are also able to offer welding supervision and consultancy on the different welding technology. They
offer impartial, honest, reliable and complex testing using specialist instruments in their Testing Laboratory, which is accredited by the Polish Centre for Testing and Certification.
Standardisation and information
The Institute collaborates with the Polish Committee for Standardisation (PKN) and with international organisations (ISO, IEC) in the field of development and approval of standards concerning welding technology and products.
Instytut Spawalnictwa also offers the opportunity to access its technical library, collection of abstracts and articles on welding and allied techniques, searches, patent information and the Welding Information Data Bank.
On top of these services, the Institute organises conferences, symposia, meetings, exhibitions and shows in order to present and disseminate welding news and to improve the transfer of information between research organisations, industrialists
and users of welding technology.
Links and references
- Task Member of Task 5 on Weld Properties and Task 6 on Dissemination is Dr Adam Pietras (Instytut Spawalnictwa),
E-mail: apietras@alpha.is.gliwice.pl
- Company Brochure: 'The Institute of Welding, Instytut Spawalnictwa'. 1995.
- Dr Adam Pietras: 'EuroStir® Project, Realisation of the Project in The Institute of Welding - IS (Gliwice)', July 2001.
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Copyright © 2001, TWI Ltd