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Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get to use HDPE Welding Equipment on my Poly Welding Course?

Yes! PolyWeld Tech ensures you get the most out of your training, by allowing students the opportunity to operate Welding Equipment during the training day. PolyWeld Tech has a dedicated area for operating HDPE Welding equipment, where each student will be able to perform Poly Welding, in front of the knowledgable trainer. This ensures they have grasped the course principles, and gives them the opportunity to ask further practical questions about the poly welding processes.

Butt Welding Course attendees will have the opportunity to operate a butt welding machine – joining pieces of pipe with an electric-hydraulic medium-large butt welder, which gives experience to those using small butt welders, or large butt fusion welders.

Electrofusion Welding Course attendees will have the chance to use an Electrofusion Welding machine, using Electrofusion couplers to join pieces of HDPE pipe together. When you take an Electrofusion Welding Course, an EF Pressure welder is used for the practical demonstration and testing purposes, as this is the more complicated EF Welder to operate – an EF Drainage welder is a lot simpler.

Extrusion Welding Course attendees perhaps need the most physical training on the welding machine, as the skill of holding and operating the machine takes more effort than butt welding or electrofusion welding. The extrusion welder needs to be operated at a certain angle and speed, or the materials will not bond properly. When you do an Extrusion Welding Course, you will get to practice with an Extrusion Welding Gun.

Want to develop your Poly Welding skills? Or do you need a refresher course to remind you of the principles of HDPE Welding? PolyWeld Tech can provide HDPE Welding Courses and Refresher Courses, either in our training facility, or at your site (depending on the number of students).

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How Long Does An Electrofusion Welding Course Take?

An Electrofusion Welding Course can be done in one day. Book a course today with PolyWeld Tech in Perth, Western Australia.

The EF Welding Course consists of a training session, a practical example using an electrofusion welder, a written test, and a practical test.

The Electrofusion welder course can also be done along with the butt welding course, which can be combined into one full day.

If you have a large group to be trained, the Electrofusion Training Course can be held at your property – contact our training team for more information!

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What is Poly Welding?
There are 3 types of Poly Welding:
Butt Fusion Welding

Butt Fusion is a common method for joining HDPE Pipe, especially larger lengths. To do this, a Butt Welding machine is used to hold, scrape, and heat the two pipe ends, before pressing them together hydraulically and holding them there until the join cools, welding the two ends together. A welding course is essential to develop the skills required to perform poly welding with confidence. There are many critical steps required when butt fusion welding, and it needs a trained eye to spot any inconsistencies or irregularities in the weld, which will expose a defect hidden under the surface.

Electrofusion Welding

Wikipedia states “Electrofusion is a method of joining HDPE and other plastic pipes using special fittings that have built-in electric heating elements which are used to weld the joint together.

The pipes to be joined are cleaned, inserted into the electrofusion fitting (with a temporary clamp if required) and a voltage (typically 40V) is applied for a fixed time depending on the fitting in use. The built in heater coils then melt the inside of the fitting and the outside of the pipe wall, which weld together producing a very strong homogeneous joint. The assembly is then left to cool for a specified time.

Electrofusion welding is beneficial because it does not require the operator to use dangerous or sophisticated equipment. After some preparation, the Electrofusion Welder will guide the operator through the steps to take. Welding Heat and Time is dependant on the type and size of the fitting. All Electrofusion Fittings are not created equal – Precise positioning of the energising coils of wire in each fitting ensures uniform melting for a strong joint and the minimisation of welding and cooling time.

The operator must be qualified according to the local and national laws. In Australia, an Electrofusion Course can be done within 8 hours. Electrofusion welding training focuses on the importance of accurately fusing EF fittings. Looking at both manual and automatic fittings you will learn the importance of preparation, timing, temperature, pressure, cool down etc.

To keep their qualification current, a trained operator can get their fitting tested, which involves cutting open the fitting and examining the integrity of the weld. [From Wikipedia]

Electrofusion Welding

Extrusion welding is done with a hand tool, known as an Extrusion Welding Gun. The Extrusion Gun operates similar to a mig welder, as the poly wire is automatically pulled into the gun, heated up, and extruded out of the welding nozzle. The heat and pressure partially melt the plastic surface, and bond the two pieces of plastic together, along with the welding bead. Extrusion Welding is a very skilled job, as it requires precise pressure and angle to ensure the weld is bonding the two parts together. A Training course is essential, to give you the skills needed to do the perfect weld – every time!

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Locations

110 Kelvin Road,
Maddington WA 6109
42A River Road,
Redbank QLD 4301
48 Abbott Road,
Hallam VIC 3803