2012: a small start in Boksburg with a practical plan
LaserWelder Training began in 2012 in Boksburg, Gauteng, with a clear idea of what the local market needed. Workshops wanted a better way to introduce handheld laser welding without guesswork, long downtime or training that sounded good but did not help at the workbench.
From the start, the work was shaped by day to day realities in South Africa. Learners needed training that could be applied in busy fabrication spaces, on sites with load-shedding, and in workshops where dust, heat and tight schedules are part of normal life.
2013 to 2014: first course structures and safety foundations
As more learners came through, the training was refined into a step by step format. Basic machine handling, joint preparation, torch control and finish quality were taught in a way that beginners could follow, while still giving experienced welders something useful to add to their process.
Safety was built into the course from the beginning, not added later. That meant talking clearly about laser class awareness, correct eye protection, fume extraction, reflective surfaces and safe work positioning. In practice, that helped learners understand why a well set up bay matters just as much as good technique.
- Introduction to handheld laser welding controls and workflow
- Safe start up and shut down routines
- Eye protection suited to the laser class in use
- Fume extraction and ventilation checks before welding begins
- Basic fault finding for common workshop issues
2015 to 2017: learners from more towns, more real workshop needs
By the middle years, enquiries were coming from Johannesburg, Pretoria and other parts of Gauteng, with growing interest from Durban, Cape Town and Polokwane as well. That wider reach made one thing very clear: the same machine can be used in different ways depending on the workshop, material mix and site conditions.
Training content was adjusted so learners could ask practical questions about mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium work, as well as how to prepare for humidity near the coast or changing conditions in inland workshops. The aim was never just to show a process, but to help people use it properly in their own space.
- Operator inductions for new staff
- Workflow advice for small and medium workshops
- Starter kit setup for learners taking equipment into daily use
- Practice plans for repeatable learning between sessions
- Supervisor coaching for teams introducing new procedures
2018 to 2020: support for workshops that needed structure
As handheld laser welding became more common in practical metalwork, the need for structure became stronger. Some clients wanted help setting up a clean first-use process, others needed refresher visits for staff who had not used the equipment for a while, and many needed a proper training document pack for internal records.
This period also reinforced the importance of planning around South African workshop realities. A good setup has to account for limited power windows, extractor placement, material handling and how staff move around the bay. If the basics are not in place, the machine is not the problem, the process is.
The training and support offering expanded to include:
- Site readiness checks before equipment is brought in
- Consumables planning for day to day workshop use
- Quality walkthroughs to check weld appearance and consistency
- Technical help for setup questions and operating issues
- Refresher visits to keep standards steady after training
2021 to 2023: stronger safety messaging and more starter kits
In these years, more businesses wanted both training and a practical way to get started. That led to stronger starter kit support for learners and workshops, with guidance on what belongs in a sensible first setup and what can wait until the process is stable. The focus stayed on useful essentials rather than overcomplicating the first purchase.
Safety conversations also became more detailed. Learners were shown how to protect eyes correctly, how to reduce exposure to fumes and how to keep the work area controlled when several people are sharing space. Anele Dlamini and the team made sure those discussions stayed grounded in everyday workshop habits, not theory alone.
Common topics covered during this period included:
- Correct use of laser eye protection
- Fume extraction placement and airflow basics
- Checking the work area for reflective hazards
- First-day operating discipline for new users
- How to brief supervisors and operators before production work starts
2024 to today: a steadier service for South African workshops
Today, LaserWelder Training continues from its Boksburg base with a clear practical focus. The team serves learners and workshops across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane, the East Rand and wider Gauteng, while keeping the same hands-on style that shaped the early years.
Mpho Johannes Maseko leads the business with a team that covers training, safety, starter kit support and workshop guidance. Naledi Khumalo coordinates training, Pieter van der Merwe leads instruction, Kagiso Molefe supports starter kit sales, Lerato Mokoena handles technical support, Brandon Naidoo assists in the workshop and Anele Dlamini keeps safety and compliance front of mind. The result is a service that is practical, direct and built for real workshop use, not classroom talk alone.
Courses still end with a certificate of completion from LaserWelder Training only, and the support work continues through enquiry form responses, site visits and follow-up help where needed. That has remained the same since 2012: teach the skill properly, keep the safety standards clear, and leave learners with something they can actually use.