Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More About Our Work
Your Questions, Answered.
Massive machines … extreme temperatures … sparks in the air … What we do is awesome, and we love answering questions about the important work we do for our industry and manufacturing partners.
Here are answers to the common questions we receive – if you have others, reach out!
Does the Williams team travel?
A lot of us traveled in the past, but since joining Williams we’ve been fortunate to stay local. Upstate South Carolina, the North Carolina Piedmont, and the border that separates the two is rich with heavy industry and light manufacturing entities that value our work and rely on the proven partnerships we’ve established to thrive. Contributing to the communities where we live and work is enormously rewarding, and we’re grateful for the wealth of opportunity.
What training is required for welders, millwrights and pipefitters?
Our craftsmen are required to withstand tough conditions and stressful environments, and are entrusted with the responsible handling of dangerous tools, equipment and substances. Adequate training and continuing education is critical to their safety and our collective success.
Welders achieve certification by completing a formal program or Shop and/or Field weld testing, and are required to engage in hands-on job training. Regular certification renewal is necessary to avoid retesting.
Millwrights must have four years of relevant field work and show mastery of their craft following more than 1,500 hours of on-the-job training. Millwrights frequently participate in Field and Shop training sessions with other experienced professionals to maintain currency.
Pipefitters are required to serve as an apprentice for three to five years, and supplement trade knowledge by logging a minimum of 1,500 hours of on-the-job training.
Can all metals be welded together?
Many different metals can be welded to create a strong bond, but there are exceptions. As an example, aluminum and steel cannot be welded together because of different melting points. And when they are successfully fused together, the bond is brittle and ineffective. We carefully select materials to ensure results are optimal.
Is soldering a form of welding?
Yes, and no. Traditional welding is done by heating up two pieces of metal that, once molten, are fused together. Soldering, in contrast, involves heating a lower melting-point material between two pieces of metal to create a joint.
Nine ways to spot a welder.
Welding is a serious and dangerous profession, and its extreme methods of execution give way to humor. You’ll know a welder when you see one if they:
- Are sunburnt in winter
- Flick their head down when the sun’s in their eyes
- Feel for a knob on the back of their ball cap
- Have “ventilation” in their shirts, sneakers and socks
- Starch their clothes
- Use a welding rod for chopsticks
- Apply their ketchup in a z-weave
- Own a lot of skull caps
- Grab their gloves and shield if they hear, “It’s Miller time!”