WELDING WORKSHOP FOR UKOPA
Tuesday 21st April at 10am
SGN’s offices that are located at 25 Farringdon Road, London EC4A 4AB.
Bridging Expertise, Integrity, and Practical Insight
The forthcoming UKOPA Welding Workshop promises to be a valuable forum for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and forward-thinking discussion across the pipeline sector. As the industry continues to evolve, balancing the demands of new construction with the realities of ageing infrastructure, events like this play a critical role in strengthening standards, improving safety, and fostering innovation.
Importantly, this workshop forms part of the ongoing delivery programme from UKOPA’s Pipeline Integrity Working Group, building on the findings and direction of the association’s welding research project. It reflects a continued commitment to ensuring that members are equipped with the latest insights, practical guidance, and technical understanding required to manage pipeline integrity effectively.
The session also aligns closely with HSE priorities, supporting the industry’s shared responsibility to maintain high standards of safety, reliability, and risk management across pipeline operations. By focusing on welding quality and inspection, the workshop helps ensure that UKOPA members remain well-informed and prepared to meet both current and emerging regulatory expectations.
A Speaker with Unmatched Depth of Experience
A key highlight of the workshop is its delivery by Tim Armitt, a highly respected authority in non-destructive testing (NDT) and pipeline integrity. With a career spanning more than five decades, Tim brings an exceptional breadth and depth of experience that few in the industry can match.
His background encompasses extensive work in ultrasonic inspection, including advanced techniques such as TOFD (Time of Flight Diffraction) and phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT), as well as broader NDT applications across a wide range of high-risk industries. These include petrochemical, nuclear, power generation, aerospace, and transportation sectors—each with its own unique challenges and stringent safety requirements.
This diverse experience positions Tim perfectly to lead discussions on welding practices within the pipeline sector, offering insights that are both technically rigorous and grounded in real-world application.
From New Construction to Ageing Assets
One of the defining strengths Tim brings to the workshop is his ability to bridge the full lifecycle of pipeline assets, from new construction through to ageing infrastructure.
His work spans critical areas such as:
- Pipeline AUT (Automated Ultrasonic Testing) data analysis
- High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA) assessment
- Failure investigation and root cause analysis
- Inspection strategy development for complex assets
Having been directly involved in both the development of inspection technologies and their application in operational environments, Tim offers a perspective that resonates strongly with asset owners and operators. His experience ensures that discussions will not remain theoretical but will instead focus on practical, actionable insights that can be applied in the field.
A Practical, Operator-Focused Perspective
Unlike purely academic or theoretical presentations, this workshop is grounded in real operational challenges. Tim’s extensive involvement in industry projects, research initiatives, and expert witness work in high-profile cases gives him a unique understanding of what happens when systems fail—and importantly, how those failures can be prevented.
Attendees can expect:
- Clear explanations of complex inspection techniques
- Real-world examples drawn from decades of field experience
- Insights into improving weld quality and inspection reliability
- Guidance on managing integrity risks in both new and ageing assets
This operator-focused approach ensures that participants leave not only with enhanced knowledge but also with practical tools and strategies they can implement within their own organisations.
Strengthening Standards Across the Sector
The UKOPA Welding Workshop is more than just a technical session—it is an opportunity to collectively raise standards across the industry. By bringing together expertise, experience, and shared challenges, the workshop supports a collaborative approach to improving pipeline integrity and safety.
As part of UKOPA’s wider integrity programme, and with clear alignment to HSE priorities, the workshop reinforces the importance of continuous learning, evidence-based practice, and shared responsibility across the sector.
With Tim Armitt leading the discussion, attendees can be confident that the content will be:
- Technically authoritative
- Broad in scope yet deeply practical
- Directly relevant to current industry challenges
Looking Ahead
As the pipeline sector continues to navigate increasing regulatory expectations, ageing infrastructure, and the need for sustainable operation, the importance of robust welding practices and reliable inspection methods cannot be overstated.
This workshop represents an important step in that journey—offering a platform for learning, discussion, and continuous improvement, while ensuring UKOPA members remain aligned with both industry best practice and regulatory priorities.
For anyone involved in pipeline construction, inspection, or integrity management, this is an event not to be missed.
The workshop will take place on Tuesday 21st April at 10am at SGN’s offices that are located at 25 Farringdon Road, London EC4A 4AB.
Book your place by contacting: secretary@UKOPA.co.uk