In Grodno from November 10 to 13, the first open contest of professional mastery among welders is taking place. The JSC "Stroytrest No. 3 Order of the October Revolution" will represent at it in the nomination "Best Young Welder - 2026" (under 31 years old) the IV rank electric gas welder Nikolai Abramenya of SU-55 and the V rank electric gas welder Pavl Shpilenya of SU-149.

Nikolai Abramenya is 30 years old. He was born in Sluchchina, graduate of the Slutsk Agricultural Vocational Lyceum. He has 10 years of experience in his profession. Today, Nikolai's work is in demand at different stages of construction of a sports and physical culture complex in Zaslavle. Before that, he worked at the full-cycle dairy and agricultural complexes "Dushye" and "Peshnoye" in Kopylsky district, objects of reconstruction of the third mine enterprise of JSC "Belarusium" and others. Also, Nikolai is an active participant in sports life and Stroytrest No. 3: swimming, billiards, bowling, shooting from a pneumatic rifle, fishing.

Pavl Shpilenya is 24 years old. He is from StaroDorohsky district and is a graduate of the Soligorsk State College. His professional experience is 6 years. His first practical independent experience Pavl named the reconstruction of one of the dormitories on Zaslonova Street in Soligorsk under an rented house for families of miners and chemical workers. He warmly and gratefully speaks about his first mentor, the VI rank electric gas welder Alexander Ivanovich Kotike of SU-149. On his resume there are objects in Borisove, dairy and agricultural complexes of Soligorsk and others.

Honorary right to open the first professional mastery contest among welders was granted to Chairman of the Republican Union of Builders Anatoly Nikchassov: "The significance of this contest is hard to overestimate. The welding profession demanded in the construction complex is not called for nothing — it is considered elite. The welding profession is strict standards and discipline when performing the most complex technological tasks, and at the same time it is a true art. The quality of your weld, colleagues, depends on the strength of bridges, reliability of pipelines, safety of factories and residential buildings. You join metal so that it serves for centuries. Your work requires not only a firm hand and a sharp eye, but also deep technical knowledge, for modern welding technologies are a high-tech and delicate process. Today on the contest platform the best of the best have gathered: each of you has already proven your mastery at workplaces. It is very important that participants of this competition are our youth — our hope and future. But this contest is not only a competition for a title, but also a platform for experience exchange, an opportunity to make your mark and an example for those specialists who are just choosing their path in the industrial sector. The contest tasks will require you to have extreme concentration, the jury will evaluate not only speed but also strict adherence to technologies. Remember that in your work there are no small things. And this is the foundation of welding art. I wish all participants confidence in their strength, calmness. And may the arc burn stably in your hands."

• We gathered builders for the first time, and those who want to become them — in the welcoming speech of OJSC "Zayupsprommontaz" director Sergey Barabin, chairman of the contest committee. — Our goal is to raise the level of professional preparation of welders and identify the best specialists of the welding profession. I am confident that in our contest you will gain valuable experience that will serve your further growth.

Organizers prepared a rich program for the participants on the day of the competition's opening. A seminar on the topic "New technologies of ultrasonic testing using NPCC 'ECHO+' systems" was held with the participation of the Russian company LLC "NPCC 'ECHO+'", where listeners were told about innovative developments in non-destructive testing. Modern technological equipment and materials from ESAB, provided by LLC "MDF-KL", were also demonstrated. Together with the organizers, the contestants laid flowers at the Mass Grave of Soviet soldiers and partisans in the park named after J.E. Zhiliber, took part in a sightseeing tour, and became acquainted with the main attractions of the beautiful and ancient city of Grodno.

On the subsequent competitive days, Pavel Shpilenya and Nikolai Abramnya will demonstrate their skill in manual arc welding of pipes and plates, as well as in mechanized welding. Let's wish our participants a steady hand and a sharp eye!