Weld Australia has announced a strategic partnership with the American Welding Society (AWS) aimed at strengthening Australia’s manufacturing capability to support AUKUS, defence, shipbuilding and sovereign industrial growth.
According to Weld Australia, the organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Agency Agreement that establishes a framework for collaboration across workforce development, training, certification, engineering support, technical standards, qualification alignment and industry engagement.
Weld Australia Chief Executive Officer Geoff Crittenden said the agreement responds to the scale of the industrial capability required to support Australia’s long-term defence and manufacturing priorities.
“AUKUS is often described as a submarine program, but for Australian industry it is much bigger than that. It is a whole-of-nation capability uplift across welding, engineering, inspection, training, certification, advanced manufacturing and supply chain resilience,” Crittenden said.
He said Australia would benefit from working with international partners that offer technical expertise and established systems.
“Australia cannot build this capability in isolation. We need trusted international partners who bring technical depth, established systems and global experience. Partnering with AWS—one of the world’s most influential welding organisations—is an important step in building the relationships Australia needs to support AUKUS, defence manufacturing and sovereign capability.”
Under the agreement, Weld Australia will become AWS’s preferred Australian partner for agreed AUKUS, defence and shipbuilding opportunities. The organisations said the arrangement is intended to provide Australian industry with access to international welding expertise while supporting the development of local capability.
“This is about bringing global knowledge into Australia in a way that benefits Australian companies, Australian workers and Australian national capability,” Crittenden said. “The objective is not to import a solution. The objective is to work with AWS to strengthen our local industrial base, build local own workforce, and support the local companies that will deliver Australia’s defence and manufacturing future.”
Weld Australia said the agreement forms part of its broader international collaboration strategy, which includes partnerships with organisations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy across certification, training, research and technology.
Weld Australia Director of Strategic Partnerships Ben Mitchell said Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom face similar industrial challenges, including workforce shortages, ageing trades, defence manufacturing growth, technology adoption, supply chain resilience and skills modernisation.
“Sovereign capability does not mean working alone. It means building trusted capability with trusted partners. This agreement between AWS and Weld Australia helps create the framework for that,” Mitchell said.
He added that AWS and Weld Australia each bring complementary expertise that can support Australia’s defence and manufacturing supply chains.
AWS Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Carey Chen said the partnership reflects the value of international cooperation in strengthening industrial capability.
“AWS is committed to advancing welding knowledge, education, certification and technical excellence worldwide. This partnership with Weld Australia provides a practical pathway to support workforce development, standards alignment and industrial capability in Australia, particularly in relation to AUKUS, defence and shipbuilding.”
Chen said the organisations share common challenges across advanced manufacturing and defence supply chains.
“By working together, AWS and Weld Australia can help strengthen the skilled workforce, technical systems and industry capability needed to support these critical programs.”
Crittenden said the partnership is part of Weld Australia’s broader strategy to help Australian industry meet future manufacturing and defence requirements.
“The greatest competitive advantage of the future will not be the technology we possess, but the capability we develop together. This partnership with AWS is a practical step towards that future. It gives Australian industry stronger access to international expertise, while reinforcing Weld Australia’s role as the national welding authority supporting defence, shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing and sovereign capability.”
