Well-trained personnel is decisive for a successful company. International business relations are increasingly demanding internationally recognised qualification and certification measures. The requirements are stringent particularly in sensitive fields, e.g. aviation and rail vehicles. No matter whether in aircraft engines, power station engineering or the printing and paper industries, numerous requirements on coatings are solved with the aid of thermal spraying. However, in order to be able to master what the language in standards calls a "special process" (i.e. a process whose final result can be checked by means of non-destructive testing to a limited extent only), there is a need for calibrated and monitored installations and parameters as well as for correspondingly experienced, trained and certified personnel. Frequently, ETSSs, ETSs as well as the qualification tests according to ISO 14918 are already integral constituents of contracts relating to thermal spraying (requirement of the German Railways according to DIN 27201-10). The article provides detailed information about training and qualification as well as about the certification of plants and personnel in the field of thermal spraying. Not only the significance of a quality management system but also the particular advantages of the GTS certification are highlighted in this respect.

Experience has shown that qualified supervisors and skilled workers are essential for manufacturing premium-quality thermal spray products. This paper describes the training defined by EWF guidelines and reviews prevailing curricula. Changes and reforms associated with DIN EN ISO 14922 and ISO Norm 14918 are also presented along with emerging trends in thermal spray training and certification.

This paper provides an overview of ISO standards, EWF education and training guidelines, and GTS certification, explaining how they work together to improve the proficiency and productivity of individuals and organizations involved in thermal spraying.

Thermal spraying is a constantly expanding technology within the surface technology sector, established long time in a wide range of hi-tech applications. Whether in jet engines, in power plants or the printing industry, endless coating requirements can be fulfilled with thermal spraying. However in order to master the “special process” – a term used in international standards and rules – calibrated and monitored systems and parameters are needed. Also, experienced, trained and certified personnel plays an important role to rule such a special process, whose results can only be tested by non-destructive methods to a certain restricted extent. Training and examination of spray personnel is aligned with the respective European training and qualification guidelines of the EWF (European Federation of Welding, Joining and Cutting). Passing the examination, especially for the thermal sprayers confirms their technical proficiency and skills. Additionally, it clearly influences the worker´s labour input and his quality awareness in the workplace. Compliance with standards like ISO 9001 or GTS-QM-Guidelines, means for companies to have their staff trained, qualified and further educated. Experiences have shown that - contrary to expectations - the complete EWF training is in high demand. Sectors such as aerospace, railway and power plant engineering are also increasingly demanding the qualifications for ETS – European Thermal Sprayer and ETSS – European Thermal Spraying Specialist.

Thermal spraying is a continuously growing technology in the field of surfacing, already established long time in many high-tech-applications. In air craft turbines, in power generating technology or even in printing and paper industry, numerous requirements of the coatings are solved with the help of thermal spraying. To rule such a special process, how it is called in the language of standardization, because the results of such processes can only be proofed by nondestructive methods in a very restricted way, you need to use calibrated and controlled equipment and parameters as well as adequately experienced, trained and qualified personnel. The GTS – Association of Thermal Sprayers e.V. was founded with the aim to meet these problems successfully. On one hand the association should promote the profile of the thermal spraying technology. On the other hand the GTS wanted to define a quality standard for TS companies concerning to its quality management system, the spraying procedures and the personnel. These requirements were completed by international acknowledged EWF-training guidelines for supervising personnel and workers up to now. EN and ISO standards in the field of quality management, applications and testing were also created.

Since 1993 education and training guidelines and as well as qualification standards of thermal spray personnel have been created step by step by the European Committees of EWF (European Federation of Welding, Joining and Cutting) and CEN (European Committee or Standardisation). ISO personnel qualification and quality management standards result together with the EWF education and training guidelines in a sound QM-system, which meets the increased demands of trade and industry of high quality sprayed coating. Meanwhile about 13 ETS courses were held at the German Welding Institute. Also ETS courses have been held in Finland. The EWF education and training course of the ETSS European Thermal Spraying Specialist will be offered by the German Welding Institute in Munich - SLV München - for the eleventh time in October 2008. DIN EN ISO 9000 series are commonly valid, that is why the product related quality management EN ISO 14922 ”Quality Requirements of Thermally Sprayed Structures, part 1 - 4” was created. This standard series puts principles for the fitness of the purchaser and of his spray production. The QM-system that was established by the GTS e.V.– the Association of Thermal Sprayers – was pioneer and does an excellent job concerning its requirements. The QM-standards are also involve the important ISO standards of the Thermal Spraying Co-ordinator and the Approval Testing of Thermal Sprayers.

In the field of thermal spraying a lot of things have been and still are happening concerning education and training of personnel. The education and training of thermal sprayers according EWF-Guideline is required frequently in combination of the international standard DIN EN ISO 14918 “Approval Testing of Thermal Sprayers” - especially in the German-language countries. Meanwhile about 13 ETS courses were held at the German Welding Institute. Also interested in the education and training of thermal sprayers are countries like Poland and China. In France thermal spray personnel was educated and trained in a company internal course. Sweden and Norway run ETS courses in cooperation. The EWF education and training course of the ETSS European Thermal Spraying Specialist will be offered by the German Welding Institute in Munich - SLV München - for the nineth time in October 2005. Since about 1993 European Committees of EWF (European Federation of Welding, Joining and Cutting) and CEN (European Committee or Standardization) worked out education and training guidelines and qualification standards of thermal spray supervising personnel and sprayers and established them step by step. The meanwhile created and internationally accepted EWF-education and training guidelines of supervising personnel and thermal spray workers involve also the new ISO standards of the Thermal Spraying Co-ordinator and the Approval Testing of Thermal Sprayers. The ISO personnel qualification and quality management standards result together with the EWF education and training guidelines in a sound QM-system, which meets the increased demands of trade and industry of high quality sprayed coating. Experiences in applying these guidelines and standards are introduced.