'Clash of Trades: Welding League Edition Season 2' is released
Monday, August 19, 2024
The full episode for “Clash of Trades: Welding League Edition Season 2” has been released, featuring the host facility – Pennsylvania College of Technology’s 55,000-square-foot welding lab.
Project MFG’s National Welding League Championship was filmed at Penn College in June, bringing to campus 18 competitors from 14 U.S. high schools and trade schools (285 competitors from 101 schools competed in the national qualifying events).
In addition to following the young welders through the intense task of assembling and welding a model space shuttle with rocket boosters, the episode features Penn College's James N. Colton II, assistant professor and co-department head of welding. (The beauty of campus and the college's "Future Made by Hand" motto are also mentioned in the episode.)
The 15-minute feature concludes in the college's Thompson Professional Development Center, where the top three prizes ($10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second and $2,500 for third) are announced.
"Clash of Trades: Welding League Edition Season 2" premiered Friday on Project MFG’s YouTube channel. On Aug. 23, Project MFG will release the trailer for its "Maritime National Championship Season 1." That competition was also filmed at Penn College. (Penn College News’ report on the competitions can be viewed here.) The maritime edition is set to premiere Aug. 30.
Registration to join Project MFG's National Welding League 2024-25 competition season is open. There is no cost to schools or students; all necessary materials are provided by Project MFG. The first round of competition will occur Oct. 18 through Nov. 18.
Project MFG's competitions engage student welders in project-based challenges that require them to demonstrate proficiency in various welding processes. The projects evaluate their capabilities in key areas such as fit-up, joint preparation and the quality of the final weld.
Project MFG is an advocacy group focused on promoting, elevating and accelerating the trade workforce pipeline by informing future generations of the vast career opportunities within the skilled trades industry.