Welders Needed

As our economy stumbles, there are many industries and services that are "evergreen". One of the trades is welding. I do know that some have been layed off but for those in the know work keeps on coming in.

Here is an exert from recent Dec. 28, 2010 article,

Plant starts hiring

Progressive Rail Services will employ 650

By Keith Roysdon • Muncie Star Press • December 28, 2010 

MUNCIE, Ind. -- One of the most anticipated east-central Indiana employers in decades has begun advertising for new hires.

Progress Rail Services, the Alabama-based division of Caterpillar that will employ 650 people in a railroad locomotive plant on Muncie's southwest side, has posted openings for welders and other positions.

"They have 70 welder positions they're looking to fill right now," said Tracy Dishman of WorkOne, the state's employment division. The jobs are listed on WorkOne's www.indianacareerconnect.com website.

Since the Oct. 29 announcement that Progress Rail would hire 650 people by 2012 and open its locomotive production facility in the former Westinghouse/ABB facility, anticipation has been high.

"It sounds like we still have a lot of interest there," said Progress Rail spokesman Barbara Cox. "That's a good thing."

Dishman said the welders who are hired will go through a three-week course, taught by Ivy Tech Community College and paid for by WorkOne, to acquaint them with welding techniques necessary for Progress Rail products planned for use in Canada or overseas.

Cox said the relatively quick start-up of the hiring process is motivated by a brisk schedule for the new manufacturing facility.

"We will begin production the third quarter of next year," Cox told The Star Press.

The welding jobs pay $12 to $14 an hour, but Progress Rail is seeking a variety of positions right now, including a safety professional with OSHA manufacturing experience and a systems analyst.

Other jobs to be filled in the coming weeks include assemblers (both electrical and mechanical) and leadership positions for manufacturing engineers, welding engineers and quality engineers.

Dishman said Progress Rail officials also have forecast the need for painting technicians who have chemical engineering expertise.

The company will provide to WorkOne a timeline of what jobs will be needed and when, so WorkOne, Ivy Tech and other partners can ensure training is available.

"That's what our goal is, to prepare everybody as much as possible," Dishman said.

A welding career can be rewarding financially too for those in the know. If you don't know how to weld or are interested in learning the trade click here.

If you are already a welder and interested in learning how and where to earn $60 to $100K a year welding, click here.  The information is free.