On the second day of the International Industry Fair at Celje Fair, we focused on welding technology and Slovenian welders. This year, welders from the former Yugoslavia will join them for the first time. There was both international and national welding competition. This year, the REO competition was added to the MAG and TIG processes. Two female welders were also registered this year. Expert lectures on current welding topics were held on that day.

At the press conference, where the following took part:

• MATEJA GEREČNIK, Executive Secretary of SKEI Slovenia
• DUŠAN LEGAT, Secretary of the SKEI Štajerska regional organization
• MIRKO HIRCI, Secretary of the SKEI Celje regional organization
• Dr. TOMAŽ VUHERER, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Maribor, University of Maribor

As Mateja Gerečnik emphasized, the welding profession has been completely devalued, as its basic salary is around 800 euros, but fortunately, most companies pay their welders better, as it is a highly deficient profession, and many companies import their workforce from the Philippines, India, and various Indonesian countries. Our welders go to work in Austria and Germany. On May 1st, we will finally get the Regulation on Occupational Diseases, which welders have been waiting for for 30 years.

Dr. Vuherer pointed out that at this moment, only in the Maribor area, we would need about 500 welders, and there is currently no trained workforce in the field of welding. The solution is therefore quite systematic, especially in the educational sphere, where the lack of workforce must also be followed in the school system.

This time, 49 welders from four countries were registered for the competition. The most outstanding was the female welder Andreja Mihelin, who won in three categories. The following competitors took the top places:

Category: High Schools

MAG

1. Matija Krajnc Šolski center Ptuj, OE Strojna šola
2. Andrej Barber SPTŠ Murska Sobota
3. Matic Ograjenšek Šolski center Šolski center Velenje

REO

1. Andrej Bunderla Šolski center Ptuj

Category: Female Welders

TIG

1. Andreja Mihelin Modic Metal, Klemen Modic s.p.
2. Katarina Šauperl SIRIUS d.o.o. Maribor

Category: National Championship

MAG

1. Edvin Kalabić LSC TEH d.o.o.
2. Naser Lihović Palfinger d.o.o.
3. Radomir Lukić KOVIT projekti d.o.o.

TIG

1. Andreja Mihelin Modic Metal, Klemen Modic s.p.
2.  Klemen Slopšek Varilstvo Popović Dragoslav Popović s.p.
3.  Nevzudin Planinčić Adk d.o.o.

REO

1. Bernard Kranjc Institut za varilstvo d.o.o.
2. Samir Amidžić Adk d.o.o.
3. Andrej Bunderla Šolski center Ptuj, OE Strojna šola

Category: International Championship

MAG

1. Edvin Kalabić LSC TEH d.o.o.
2.  Tomislav Hrvojević Monting d.o.o.
3. Alija Meščić Bosansko Hercegovačko društvo za zavarivanje

TIG

1. Andreja Mihelin Modic Metal, Klemen Modic s.p.
2. Tomislav Kristić Monting d.o.o.
3. Azir Jahić Bosansko Hercegovačko društvo za zavarivanje

REO

1. Bernard Kranjc Institut za varilstvo d.o.o.
2. Šaban Demirović Bosansko Hercegovačko društvo za zavarivanje
3. Nikola Milutinović Bosansko Hercegovačko društvo za zavarivanje