MIG Welding (GMAW) Professional Training: 5-Day Intensive Certification Course

Course Overview

This comprehensive 5-day MIG welding course delivers intensive hands-on training in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) techniques designed for industrial applications across Saudi Arabia (KSA), Oman, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and African manufacturing markets. This practical MIG welding certification program covers semi-automatic welding systems, wire feed technology, shielding gas selection, all-position techniques, and high-productivity methods essential for automotive manufacturing, structural steel fabrication, sheet metal work, heavy equipment repair, and industrial production throughout the GCC region and Africa.

Target Audience

• Production welders in Saudi manufacturing facilities and GCC automotive plants

• Fabrication technicians requiring high-speed welding skills for Oman and UAE industries

• Maintenance personnel in African mining, agriculture, and construction equipment sectors

• Sheet metal workers transitioning to certified MIG welding positions across Middle East

• Structural steel fabricators working on GCC construction and infrastructure projects

• Vocational students and career changers seeking high-demand welding skills in emerging markets

Day 1: MIG Welding Fundamentals and Equipment Technology

Morning Session: Introduction to GMAW Process

• MIG/MAG welding principles: continuous wire electrode, consumable filler metal

• Process advantages: high productivity, minimal post-weld cleaning, reduced skill requirements

• Applications across industries: automotive assembly lines, HVAC fabrication, pressure vessel manufacturing

• GMAW vs SMAW comparison: speed, quality, cost analysis for GCC industrial applications

• Metal transfer modes overview: short-circuit, globular, spray, pulse spray transfer

• Industry demand: Saudi Vision 2030 manufacturing expansion, African automotive growth

• Employment opportunities: salary ranges in KSA (SAR 5,000-15,000), UAE, Oman

Afternoon Session: MIG Welding Equipment Components

• Power source types: constant voltage (CV) vs constant current (CC) machines

• Inverter technology: modern lightweight machines for portable applications

• Wire feed systems: push-pull mechanisms, wire feed speed control (IPM/WFS)

• Welding guns/torches: air-cooled vs water-cooled for different amperage ranges

• Contact tips: copper alloys, sizing, maintenance, replacement frequency

• Gas delivery systems: regulators, flowmeters, hoses, proper gas flow rates (15-25 CFH)

• Wire spools and liners: steel, aluminum, flux-cored wire compatibility

• Grounding clamps and cables: proper work connection for stable arc

• Safety equipment: auto-darkening helmets, welding gloves, protective clothing

• Equipment setup practice: machine assembly, wire loading, gas connection verification

• Preventive maintenance: troubleshooting common equipment issues in African workshop environments

Learning Outcomes: Comprehensive understanding of MIG welding technology and equipment operation essential for entry-level positions in GCC manufacturing and African fabrication industries.

Day 2: Shielding Gases, Wire Selection and Flat Position Welding

Morning Session: Consumables and Process Parameters

• Welding wire classifications: AWS A5.18 (ER70S-3, ER70S-6) for carbon steel

• Wire diameter selection: 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.6mm for different applications

• Shielding gas types: pure CO2, Argon-CO2 mixtures (75/25, 90/10), tri-mix gases

• Gas selection for materials: steel (CO2/Ar-CO2), stainless steel (Ar-2%O2), aluminum (pure Argon)

• Gas cost analysis: economical CO2 for African workshops vs premium Argon blends

• Voltage and wire feed speed relationship: understanding machine settings

• Travel speed impact: heat input control, penetration depth, bead appearance

• Stick-out (electrode extension): optimal distances for different transfer modes

• Contact-to-work distance (CTWD): maintaining consistency for quality welds

Afternoon Session: Flat Position (1G/1F) MIG Welding

• Short-circuit transfer technique: low heat input for thin materials (1mm-6mm)

• Push vs pull torch angle: forehand (push) technique advantages for MIG welding

• Work angle and travel angle: 90° work angle, 5-15° travel angle optimization

• Stringer beads practice: running continuous beads on mild steel plates

• Butt joint welding (1G): single-pass and multi-pass groove welds

• Fillet welds (1F): T-joints, lap joints, building proper leg sizes

• Weaving techniques: slight oscillation for wider bead coverage on thick materials

• Defect prevention: porosity (gas coverage issues), burn-through (excessive heat)

• Visual inspection: uniformity, penetration indicators, spatter control

• Extensive hands-on practice: 100+ beads on structural steel for muscle memory development

• Applications: sheet metal fabrication for GCC HVAC industry, automotive panels

Learning Outcomes: Mastery of flat position MIG welding suitable for 60% of production welding jobs in Saudi manufacturing plants and African industrial facilities.

Day 3: Horizontal and Vertical Position Advanced Techniques

Morning Session: Horizontal Position (2G/2F) Welding

• Horizontal groove welds (2G): gravity management, preventing sag and overlap

• Uphill vs downhill technique: choosing appropriate method for material thickness

• Voltage adjustment: slightly reduced settings preventing excessive fluidity

• Multi-pass horizontal welding: shelf technique for thick plate pressure vessel seams

• Horizontal fillet welds (2F): critical for structural steel I-beams and column connections

• Joint accessibility considerations: torch positioning in confined spaces

• Travel speed control: faster travel preventing metal sagging on vertical surfaces

• Practical applications: building construction in Riyadh, Dubai, Muscat skyscrapers

• Hands-on exercises: horizontal butt joints on 8mm-12mm carbon steel plates

• Quality standards: meeting AWS D1.1 requirements for structural welding certification

Afternoon Session: Vertical Position (3G/3F) Welding

• Vertical-up technique: standard method for structural and code welding applications

• Short-circuit transfer advantages: better control in vertical position welding

• Weaving patterns: triangular, zigzag, C-weave for vertical groove welds

• Electrode manipulation: pausing at edges, quick center movement

• Voltage and wire feed optimization: reduced settings for vertical-up progression

• Vertical-down method: high-speed technique for thin gauge materials (sheet metal)

• Overlap prevention: proper torch angle and consistent travel speed

• Vertical fillet welds: building uniform leg size throughout weld length

• Critical applications: vertical pipe connections, tank fabrication, high-rise steel erection

• Extensive practice sessions: 3G qualification test preparation on structural steel

• Performance testing: visual examination per ASME Section IX acceptance criteria

• Employment relevance: Saudi Aramco contractor requirements, ADNOC fabrication standards

Learning Outcomes: All-position capability expanding job opportunities to include structural fabrication, pressure vessel manufacturing, and high-rise construction across GCC and African markets.

Day 4: Overhead Welding, Spray Transfer and Pulse MIG

Morning Session: Overhead Position (4G/4F) Welding

• Overhead welding challenges: molten pool control, spatter management, physical demands

• Short-circuit transfer necessity: smaller droplets preventing metal falling

• Reduced wire feed speed: 10-15% lower than flat position for better control

• Tight arc length: minimizing molten pool size and gravity effects

• Torch positioning: proper angle preventing excessive spatter on welder

• Stringer bead technique: narrow beads reducing slag entrapment risk

• Applications: tank bottom repairs, overhead piping systems, underside maintenance

• Safety protocols: protective barriers, proper PPE, fire prevention measures

• Hands-on practice: 4G groove weld qualification on carbon steel test coupons

• Inspection criteria: acceptable reinforcement, minimal undercut, porosity limits

Afternoon Session: Spray Transfer and Pulse MIG Technology

• Spray transfer fundamentals: axial droplet transfer at higher voltages (>24V)

• Argon-rich gases requirement: 90/10 or 95/5 Argon-CO2 mixtures for spray mode

• Transition current: minimum amperage achieving stable spray transfer (180-220A)

• Deep penetration characteristics: ideal for thick plate welding (12mm+)

• High deposition rates: productivity gains for mass production in GCC manufacturing

• Flat and horizontal position limitations: excessive fluidity in vertical/overhead

• Pulsed MIG advantages: spray transfer benefits with short-circuit heat input control

• Pulse parameters: peak current, background current, pulse frequency optimization

• All-position pulsed MIG capability: breakthrough for aluminum welding in aerospace

• Aluminum MIG welding introduction: spool gun systems, AC cleaning action

• Stainless steel MIG techniques: ER308L, ER316L wire for corrosion-resistant applications

• Practical demonstrations: spray transfer on thick carbon steel, pulse MIG on aluminum

Learning Outcomes: Advanced MIG techniques suitable for specialized applications in GCC petrochemical facilities, African mining equipment, and high-productivity manufacturing environments.

Day 5: Flux-Cored Wire, Qualification Testing and Career Development

Morning Session: Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW-G)

• Self-shielded vs gas-shielded flux-cored wire: process comparison and selection

• FCAW advantages: high deposition rates, outdoor welding capability, deep penetration

• Electrode classifications: E71T-1, E71T-8, E71T-9 for different applications

• Drag technique: gun angle and arc length control for optimal results

• Multi-pass welding: slag removal between passes, proper inter-pass cleaning

• Applications: structural steel construction, heavy equipment fabrication, shipbuilding

• Pipeline welding: flux-cored wire for GCC oil and gas infrastructure projects

• Outdoor welding advantages: wind resistance for African field construction

• Cost-effectiveness: comparing FCAW vs SMAW productivity in large-scale projects

• Hands-on practice: flux-cored welding on thick structural steel plates

Afternoon Session: AWS Qualification Testing and Career Pathways

• AWS D1.1 structural welding code: qualification test requirements for certification

• ASME Section IX: pressure vessel and piping welding qualifications

• Test plate preparation: groove weld setup, tack welding, full penetration execution

• Bend test procedures: side bend, face bend, root bend specimen preparation

• Visual inspection standards: measuring reinforcement, undercut, acceptance criteria

• Qualification ranges: thickness qualified, position qualified, transfer of qualification

• Mock certification test: simulated 3G test plate welding and evaluation

• Welder certification documentation: maintaining qualification records for employment

• Career opportunities analysis: automotive manufacturing (Toyota Saudi Arabia), aerospace (UAE)

• Salary expectations: entry-level (SAR 5,000-7,000), experienced (SAR 10,000-15,000+)

• Entrepreneurship paths: starting mobile welding services for African agriculture sector

• Advanced training opportunities: robotic MIG welding programming, aluminum specialization

• Job placement assistance: connections with SABIC, Ma’aden, African construction firms

• Final practical assessment and industry-recognized certification award

Learning Outcomes: Complete MIG welding competency with AWS qualification preparation and clear understanding of career advancement opportunities in booming GCC and African industrial economies.

Course Benefits for GCC and African Markets

✓ 80% hands-on welding practice on industrial equipment matching GCC factory standards
✓ High-productivity techniques reducing welding time by 50% compared to stick welding
✓ All-position certification preparation for versatile employment across multiple industries
✓ Aluminum and stainless steel introduction for specialized aerospace and food processing sectors
✓ Bilingual technical instruction (English/Arabic) for Middle East accessibility
✓ Small student-to-instructor ratio (6:1) ensuring personalized skill development
✓ Industry partnerships: direct hiring pathways with Saudi manufacturing companies
✓ Lifetime alumni support: refresher training and advanced course discounts

Investment in Future-Proof Manufacturing Skills

MIG welding dominates modern manufacturing across Saudi Arabia’s automotive expansion, UAE’s aerospace industry, Oman’s steel fabrication sector, and Africa’s rapidly growing industrial base. With Vision 2030 localization initiatives demanding skilled Saudi welders and African industrialization creating thousands of manufacturing jobs, certified MIG welders enjoy excellent employment stability, competitive salaries, and international career mobility. Industries actively recruiting include automotive assembly, HVAC manufacturing, pressure vessel fabrication, structural steel construction, and heavy equipment repair.

Register now to master the most in-demand welding technology and secure your position in the high-growth GCC manufacturing sector and Africa’s industrial revolution!

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