Albany Welding Simulator Roadshow
From left: Rana Everett (Everett Consulting NT), Amy Walton (SWWIMM) and Kate Baker (SWWIMM).
Details
When — 22/08/2024
Where — Retravision Stadium, Albany
Category — Event
SWWIMM Travels to Albany
Last month, SWWIMM Directors Kate Baker and Amy Walton travelled down to Albany, to host the very first South West Women in Infrastructure, Mining & Minerals event outside of the South West.
The event was the brainchild of mechanical engineer Rana Everett from Everett Consulting NT Pty Ltd, a previous sponsor of our SWWIMM launch event. Rana approached SWWIMM with a proposal to create a networking evening in her beautiful corner of WA. After many phone calls and virtual meetings, we were very excited to finally have the opportunity to meet face to face at the event held on the 22nd August in Albany.
Rana’s involvement overseeing welding compliance on the ‘Moored MultiMode Multibody’ (M4) Wave Energy Demonstration Project included linking in with Emma Everett and the team at Workforce Australia, who kindly provided sponsorship for our SWWIMM networking event.
The 24m long M4 prototype is a surface-riding design, with two frames that float on buoys which are semi-submerged in the ocean. The prototype plans to generate electricity through the angular rotation of the hinge point in the middle of the structure as it rides the waves, folding open and closed in the middle like a book, with a 700-to-1 gearbox converting even the smallest waves into electricity signals.
Our Albany tour began with a visit to see this M4 prototype at the workshop, with Manuel Grosshans, Project Manager at SMC Marine and SeaO2, stepping us through the mechanics of the prototype and the plans for its transportation and deployment. We then journeyed down to the Marina where the buoys and assembly frames were being stored, pending assembly and deployment into Princess Royal Harbour. In mid-September, the M4 structure will be towed into Albany’s outer harbour, King George Sound, moored off Seal Island for a six-month trial.
From left: Amy Walton, Manuel Grosshans, Kate Baker, Rana Everett and Emma Everett.
Workforce Australia’s involvement in the M4 prototype links in with the Commonwealth Government’s investment of $91 million dollars over five years to help skill Australia’s clean energy workforce, part of the 2024-25 Budget. Included in this budget, is $3.1 million to promote careers in the clean energy sector, which includes raising awareness of training opportunities and incentives available to develop skilled workers for this sector. Workforce Australia Local Jobs is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
In conjunction with Workforce Australia's clean energy campaign, Weld Australia visited Albany and Denmark throughout the week to showcase the Soldamatics welding simulation machine. Bringing advanced industry to the region with quality welding personnel requires investment in upskilling employees in the region and through the showcase roadshow it was the vision to attract funding to purchase a welding simulator machine which would be able to be shared amongst industry in the region.
Soldamatic Augmented Reality Welding Simulator
The network evening was provided as an opportunity for women, girls and allies to network, form connections, and learn more about career opportunities available in the welding sector. The event attracted curious girls and young women with their equally curious parents also interested in learning more about future career options for their daughters. Local STEM, infrastructure, mining and minerals industry professionals were also in attendance, sharing their experiences in these industries with other attendees.
Assisted by Tania Martin and Ian Mackay from Weld Australia, attendees tested out their welding skills using the augmented reality simulator - a welding training tool providing practical feedback in a low risk environment.
Also travelling down to Albany to meet attendees was Lauren Presutto, Project Officer for UWA’s Girls+ in Engineering (GiE) Outreach, a program that inspires young women to engage in STEM careers. Having a regional campus based in Albany, the University of Western Australia (UWA) leads the way in renewable energy research with the M4 project, in conjunction with Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre.
Lauren Presutto (UWA GiE) and Manuel Grosshans (SMC Marine).
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our amazing event supporters:
We can’t wait to start our next collaboration with businesses in the near future, to bring our next SWWIMM hosted events!
More Information
To learn more about the M4 Project, visit the below links:
https://www.seao2.com.au/projects/wave-energy-converter-uwa
https://marineenergyresearch.com.au/m4-project/
For trials of the Soldamatic welding simulator, ask for Ian Mackay at Weld Australia:
https://weldaustralia.com.au/welding-technology/soldamatic-augmented-reality-welding-simulators/
SWWIMM Events
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How Can I Help Out?
Once we finalise our organisation structure and incorporated association constitution, we’re going to be releasing our membership structure. We will also be putting the call out for members to be involved in any capacity you are able - this is a pro bono initiative and a not-for-profit, which relies on volunteers and committee members with a passion to make a difference. If you are interested in helping out in any capacity, please reach out via the link below, and we will add you to our expression of interest list: https://www.swwimm.com/contact
