Do you weld aluminium?
Yes. Aluminium is TIG welded at our workshop, which suits the thinner sections and visible joints most aluminium work involves. Grades 5005, 5052, 5083 and 6060 extrusion are the ones we see most often.
Welding Services
TIG and MIG Welding in Sydney
McIver Engineering welds mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium at our Smithfield workshop, from single repair joints to fully welded frames, enclosures and processing equipment.
Welding processes we run
GMAW (MIG) for carbon steel frames and structural fabrication
GTAW (TIG) for aluminium, stainless and thin gauge work
Back purged TIG root runs where joint cleanliness matters
Welding to documented internal standard operating procedures
Welders and mechanical fabricators who hold recognised trade qualifications, which is a personal qualification rather than a company certification
Dye penetrant testing available on request
Materials we weld
In carbon steel we weld sheet, plate, RHS, SHS, angle and channel, using ER70S-6 wire for general structural and fabrication work. Preparation is straightforward but not skipped, mill scale and cutting oxide are removed at the joint before an arc is struck.
In stainless we weld 304 and 316 with matching 308L and 316L filler, chosen to the parent grade so corrosion resistance is not compromised at the joint. In aluminium we TIG weld 5005, 5052 and 5083 sheet and 6060 extrusion with 5356 or 4043 filler depending on whether strength or crack resistance governs.
Thickness sits in the normal working range for each process rather than at an extreme. Dissimilar joints, heavy section work and any joint carrying a defined load are reviewed against your drawing before we quote, and if a job needs a qualified welding procedure or a specific standard called up on the drawing, tell us at enquiry stage so it is priced correctly rather than discovered late.
Industries we serve
Food Processing
Mining
Industrial Equipment
Defence
Transport
Water Treatment
Stainless and food grade work
Food processing, pharmaceutical and wash down environments need more than a sound weld, they need a joint that will not hold product. We keep stainless separate from carbon steel work to avoid iron contamination, use dedicated stainless consumables and abrasives, and back purge with argon so the inside of a tube or tank joint does not sugar.
Where the specification calls for it, welds are dressed flush, linished to a consistent grain and passivated to restore the chromium oxide layer. Crevices, skip welds and internal corners that cannot be cleaned are designed out at the drawing review stage rather than argued about at handover.
Typical work includes 316 benches and tables, hoppers, chutes, product guards, tank and pipe modifications and stainless framing for plant rooms.
Weld finishing and inspection
Every weld is visually inspected against the drawing for profile, undercut, porosity and spatter before a part leaves the workshop. Welded assemblies are checked back to dimension after welding, because distortion is the thing that most often puts an otherwise sound fabrication out of tolerance.
Finishing is specified by function. Structural welds are left as welded with spatter removed, visible welds are ground and linished, and sealed joints are continuously welded and leak checked where practical. Distortion is controlled with fixturing, balanced weld sequences and staged welding rather than corrected by force afterwards.
Dye penetrant testing is available on request where surface breaking defects have to be ruled out, and a written record of the inspection can be supplied with the parts. Ultrasonic and radiographic examination are not services we offer, so raise a volumetric testing requirement with your enquiry and we will talk through the options rather than promise something we do not run.
All welding is done at our Smithfield workshop. Where a fabrication genuinely has to be welded in place, we work with site welding partners and arrange it as part of the job.
Frequently asked questions
What welding standard do you work to?
We weld to documented internal standard operating procedures. McIver Engineering does not hold a company level ISO or AS9100 certification and we do not claim one, so if your drawing calls up a specific standard or a qualified welding procedure, raise it at enquiry stage and we will confirm what we can do for that job.
Are your welders certified?
Yes. Our welders hold trade qualifications, completed as a TAFE trade certificate, and our mechanical fabricators are certified tradespeople. That is a personal trade qualification rather than a company certification, and we are clear about the difference.
Can you weld 316 stainless for food processing equipment?
Yes. We TIG weld 304 and 316 stainless with back purging where the inside of the joint has to stay clean, then dress and passivate the weld so there is no crevice or heat tint left to harbour product.
Can you test welds?
Dye penetrant testing is available on request for surface breaking defects, alongside visual inspection against your drawing on every job. Ultrasonic and radiographic examination are not services we offer, so if your specification calls for volumetric testing, tell us at enquiry stage and we will discuss the options with you.
Do you weld on site?
Welding is carried out at our Smithfield workshop rather than on your site. Where a job genuinely has to be welded in place, we work with partners who do site welding and can arrange that as part of the job so you are still dealing with one supplier.
Do you weld parts we supply, or only your own fabrication?
Both. We weld and repair customer supplied parts and assemblies as well as fabrications we cut and fold ourselves. Send the parts to Smithfield with a marked up drawing of the joints you need.
Ready to brief McIver Engineering?
Send us your drawings or call our Sydney workshop direct.