STUDENT PROFILE – Byron Brandon Heunis

LEADING THE WAY IN THE VIRTUAL REALITY WELDING REVOLUTION

SAIW student Byron Brandon Heunis has embarked on an inspiring journey from Durban to Johannesburg, navigating various career paths before finding his passion in welding. Initially pursuing a career in health and safety, Byron soon realised his preference for hands-on work, leading him to explore plumbing and ultimately discover the exciting world of welding. Byron has now embraced traditional and cutting-edge VR welding training at the SAIW. Here he shares his story of perseverance, learning, and future aspirations…

Q. Please provide some background on where you come from, your school and tertiary education and where you first started working?

A. I was born in Durban, but my mother raised me in Johannesburg from a very young age. I attended Highveld Primary School and Highschool Marais Viljoen where I matriculated in 2021.

After high school, I didn’t know what career path I wanted to follow, so my dad suggested Health and Safety. I studied that for a while, and I got my certificate but then I didn’t enjoy sitting behind a desk as I prefer working with my hands.

I then went to work as a plumber at the company my brother was employed at, Waterlite in Edenvale. I wasn’t really hired per say just brought in as extra hands and to gain some experience and keep my hands busy.

Q. How has your career evolved up to you completing your latest course at the SAIW – have you had previous jobs/employment experience and if so, please outline what those were?

A. After my first plumber job, I was employed in another plumbing position at Red Rhino Projects in Edenvale. I was there for most of 2023 and gained a lot of experience. During that time, I was exposed to welding and immediately thought, “Let me pursue this.” I had also seen quite a lot of welding growing up since my uncle was a boilermaker and I used to help him a lot with his welding and fixing work. My dad showed me the SAIW’s website, and I started at the SAIW at the beginning of January this year (2024) and have been here for five months.

Q. What are some of the key work experiences or projects that you have worked on that have challenged you but also helped to shape your skills, experience, and career advancement?

A. I have come to learn that working with older people you absorb, and you learn a lot quicker than with younger people. Younger colleagues don’t want you to be better than them when it comes to workplace situations as I think the ego and jealousy gets in the way sometimes. They’re not fond of teaching you new things and building you from the ground up.

The older generation have been there for a while and have so much more to teach as they have gained vast experience over the years, and they are very willing to teach you all they have learned.

Q. Which specific SAIW courses have you completed including the latest VR one and please outline exactly what that course entailed?

A. I’m currently busy with the GTAW course, otherwise known as the TIG welding course. I started working with carbon steel material and have now moved on to stainless steel. With the Virtual Reality training, there are three different aspects that you need to complete namely fillet welding of various plates, structural welding like you’re on site welding and pipe welding of virtual reality scenarios like pipelines and pressure vessels.

Q. Which aspect of the course did you find the most difficult?

A. I found the pipe welding a lot easier than the plate which has a lot of different positions. You normally weld horizontally, then vertically and finally, overhead. You have to roll above your head while you fight against gravity. So, it’s very hard to weld in that position. That was the most challenging for me especially if you are not used to looking above your head the whole day. With the Tig welding you use one hand for your torch and one hand for your wire, so both hands are above your shoulders constantly the whole day.

Q. Describe ‘a day in the life’ of a student at the SAIW?

A. I get to the SAIW around 7:00 and usually sit in the parking lot and have breakfast in my car until about 7:30. I then go inside, sign in, and head to the cafeteria. People usually make themselves a coffee, and the instructor arrives. Around 8:00 to 8:15, the welding school opens for us. We start the day welding the processes that we’re working and then have a tea break, where we enjoy another cup of coffee or water. There’s also a tuck shop where we can buy snacks. We then weld until our lunch break at 1:00 and welding again until about 15:30 or 16:00. The process is similar for theory classes. Instead of welding, we were busy with the theoretical aspects of the course for about two weeks.

Q. What were some of the biggest challenges that you have faced during your training so far and how have you overcome these?

A. For the theory, I failed two modules and had to rewrite them. I feel like if I had known more about the practical aspects of welding, I might not have failed. Experience helps a lot with understanding defects, and if I had welded before, the theory would have been easier. I rewrote the modules, and I am currently waiting for my results.

Another thing I struggled with was the plate overhead position. I overcame this with help from other students and crucially with the guidance of one of the instructors, Ernest. He advised me to make a bigger gap to ensure enough penetration since you’re fighting against gravity. I followed his advice and mastered the technique. Another SAIW student Nathan Hassett also helped me a lot. Overall, I appreciate all the help from fellow students because being the new guy can be tough.

Q. What would you say are the biggest i. work and ii. life lessons you have learnt thus far in your life?

A. Be humble. If you’re not arrogant, your colleagues won’t give you advice or help. They’ll think you’re a knucklehead or a know it all! A life lesson I’d share is to respect everyone and be the hardest worker in the room. The more effort you put in, the more you’ll get out.

Q. How do you hope to take your career to even greater heights now that you have completed your virtual reality training?

A. When I qualify, I hope to get a job and gain some more experience. In the future, I would like to emigrate to work on pipelines or maybe oil rigs overseas. The pay is good and the opportunities are greater, allowing you to take your career to new heights. I would love to go to either Australia or America. I am not exactly sure which yet, but that is my plan for the future.

Q. What advice would you give to potential learners embarking on a welding career? What would you tell students like yourself who are just starting out in the field?

A. I’d say don’t be shy to ask questions and don’t be stubborn. You can learn something from anyone, even if they just started yesterday. Any advice helps. Be open to advice and feedback; stubbornness won’t get you anywhere.