A 16-strong Russian welding team, including three welders from Moscow’s gas utility, Mosgaz, won first place in the 24-30 June 2017 Shanghai Arc Cup Competition.

The competition attracted 248 welders from 12 countries, including India, Slovakia, China, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, South Africa, Mongolia and others.

This year’s competition featured the following six categories: Oxygen-Acetylene Gas Welding, Argon-Arc Welding using a Tungsten Electrode, Electric-Arc Manual Welding, Mechanised Semi-Automatic Continuous Wire Welding, Welding a Ready-Made Structure and Robotic Welding.

Team members were able to train on the eve of the competitions, and the tournament itself began 24 June. Competitors in every category had to complete their tasks within preset time periods.

Sixth-category Mosgaz welder Alexander Tikhonov placed first in the Oxygen-Acetylene Gas Welding.

“I wanted to win, but I wasn’t sure,” he said.

His colleagues, Konstantin Konstantinov and Sergei Turtunov, also sixth-category welders, came second in their respective categories.

“I only did this because I like my job and the company. I also managed to get second in the Welding a Ready-Made Structure category during an All-Russian welders’ competition. And I wanted to win the Chinese event, no matter what. It was pretty intense; I was pretty nervous because I had some problems with my equipment during the event. The wire got stuck, which can cause an inconsistent technique. But my team shouted for me, and I was eventually able to get past it and do a good job,” Mr Turtunov noted.

Welders from other Russian regions also won prizes in China, with the entire Russian team placing first in the overall qualifier.

“The competition aims to unite countries and welders, to help them share their professionalism and exchange experience. The Russian team dwarfed the others, and I can say they were the jewel of the event,” said chief referee Qiao Hung Xia.

The Russian delegation included winners of the February 2017 Best Welder national professional display competition with over 150 professionals from 78 Russian regions. The winners joined the national team and took part in the Shanghai Arc Cup Competition.