Founded in 1948, South Africa's centre of welding expertise, taking the lead in transfer of modern technologies and providing world-class training services.

The Southern African Institute of Welding's mission is to contribute to the competitive position of all South African industries using materials joining related technology....

• through the provision , encouragement and support of appropriate education and training strategies.
• through technology transfer, quality and productivity improvement, as well as technical consultancy services.
• through promotion of the image of the Institute, materials joining, including welding and the metals industry.
• through encouragement and support of small businesses.
• through promotion of the National Skills Culture.

The Southern African Institute of Welding aims to serve the welding industry and to promote its interests by furthering the standards, training and qualification of South African personnel and thereby make the South African industry as self-sufficient in welding technology as possible. To this end the Institute's focus is on training. It encourages corporate bodies to invest in training, makes training (of international standard), qualification and certification available to the industry, and ensures that standards are maintained in all three areas. The Institute encourages and provides incentives to learners to achieve their goals and it also keeps abreast of the latest research and development in welding and related technologies and disseminates information through the industry.

The Southern African Institute offers various Welding and NDT-related services to members and industry in general.

The SAIW Training Department offers a wide variety of courses ranging from practical welding, to technical courses on various welding-related subjects, as well as NDT training. The facilities include a spacious practical welding school with individual welding bays and modern and fully equipped classrooms and NDT laboratories. We also offer expert tuition from our fully qualified lecturers.

Qualification and Certification administers all the qualification (examinations) and certification applications for the various courses conducted as well as SAQCC qualification and certification and IIW qualification and certification. They also handle all the re-certification of previously gained qualification and keep records of all the candidates qualified and certified to the various schemes. These are also published in the National Register and Website.

The Technical Consultancy Department offers expert advice on Welding, Quality Assurance, Joining, Surfacing and Cutting, Design and Manufacturing, Materials and Weldability, Failure Analysis and Industrial Research and Development.

The Institute offers many benefits to both corporate and individual members.