WPQR Welding Leicestershire
On-Site Weld Procedure Qualification Across Leicestershire
A client asks for your qualified procedures before an order is confirmed. An auditor wants proof that your welding method has been tested. A tender sets out code requirements your current paperwork does not cover. For many businesses in Leicestershire, these moments are when a Weld Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) stops being a "nice to have" and becomes something they need quickly and need done properly.
Rambaldini Welding Services provides independent weld procedure qualification for Leicestershire businesses. Our surveyors come to your premises to witness testing and collect data, then handle the full documentation trail from preliminary specification through to an approved Weld Procedure Specification (WPS). You get audit-ready records without taking your team or your equipment off site.
- Independent witnessing at your premises in Leicestershire
- pWPS, WPQR/PQR and WPS documentation managed from start to finish
- Testing to British, European, American and International standards
- UKAS accredited documentation to meet the requirements of PESR, PSSR and the PED (2014/68/EU)
- Only the tests you genuinely need, with no unnecessary qualifications
- ISO 9001 certified management system and award-winning service
To discuss your procedures, call 01327 879500 or contact our team.
What a WPQR Actually Proves
A WPQR is documented evidence that a specific welding method produces welds with the required mechanical and metallurgical properties. It confirms that your chosen combination of process, parent material, filler, joint design, position and parameters gives a sound result, and it records the range of work that the procedure is approved to cover.
It is worth being clear about what it does not prove. A WPQR qualifies the method, not the person. Welder qualification is a separate matter that confirms an individual can weld to a standard. Both are often needed on the same contract, and confusing the two is one of the most common reasons businesses find gaps during an audit.
The three key documents fit together like this:
- pWPS (Preliminary Weld Procedure Specification): your proposed method, written before testing
- WPQR/PQR (Weld Procedure Qualification Record/Procedure Qualification Record): the formal record of the test, the results and the approved range
- WPS (Weld Procedure Specification): the approved instruction your welders follow in production
Put simply, the pWPS proposes, the WPQR proves and the WPS instructs. We manage all three, so your documentation is consistent and ready to use.
Who We Support Across Leicestershire
Fabrication Companies
Fabricators often take on work where the customer, the main contractor or the inspection body expects qualified procedures to be in place before production starts. We help you qualify the procedures that cover your regular work, so you can respond to enquiries with confidence rather than scrambling for paperwork once an order lands.
Manufacturers
For manufacturers running a Quality Management System, qualified procedures form part of the evidence that your production welding is controlled and repeatable. If you are introducing a new material, process or joint configuration, we can qualify it so it sits properly within your existing documentation.
Structural Steel Firms
Structural steelwork made to BS EN 1090 often calls for qualified welding procedures, particularly at higher execution classes. We help steel fabricators build a set of procedures that matches the joints, thicknesses and positions they actually weld, supporting their factory production control and their position when tendering.
If you are unsure whether your work needs a qualified procedure, or which standard applies, we will confirm this before any testing is arranged.
How the Process Works
We keep weld procedure qualification clear and predictable, so you know what is happening at each stage.
1. Scope and Standard Confirmed
We start by understanding the work you do and the requirements you need to meet. This lets us confirm the right standard and plan procedures that cover the widest useful range for your production, without paying for tests you do not need.
2. pWPS Prepared
We help draft the preliminary Weld Procedure Specification, setting out the intended parameters for the test.
3. Test Piece Welded and Independently Witnessed
Our surveyor attends your premises in Leicestershire and witnesses the test piece being welded on your own equipment. They record the actual parameters used, which form a key part of the qualification record. In many cases, the welder who produces a successful procedure test can also gain a welder qualification from the same test, depending on the standard.
4. Examination and Testing
The test piece is examined and tested at a UKAS accredited laboratory against the acceptance criteria of the relevant standard. This typically begins with visual inspection, followed by the non-destructive and destructive tests the standard requires, such as radiography or ultrasonic testing, bend tests, macro examination, tensile, impact and hardness testing.
5. WPQR/PQR and WPS Issued
Once the results meet the required standard, we produce the WPQR/PQR and the approved WPS. Each record clearly sets out the qualified range, so there is no ambiguity for your team, your clients or your auditors.
What to Have Ready Before Testing
A little preparation makes the witnessing visit quicker and helps avoid a retest. Before we attend, it helps to have:
- Details of the work the procedure needs to cover, including materials, thicknesses, joint types and positions
- Any client specifications or contract requirements that name a particular standard
- Material certificates for the parent metal you plan to use for the test piece
- Consumable details, including filler wire or electrodes and shielding gas
- Calibrated welding equipment that will be used in production
- A welder who is familiar with the process and the joint being tested
If you do not have all of this in place, we will talk you through what is missing during the scoping stage.
Why Procedures Fall Short
From our experience witnessing procedures across a wide range of industries, the same issues come up again and again:
- The qualified range does not match the work. A procedure is tested on the wrong thickness, position or joint type and does not cover production
- Parameters are not recorded accurately. Without a reliable record of what was used, the WPQR loses its value
- Welder and procedure qualification are confused. Businesses assume one covers the other and find the gap at audit
- Documentation is inconsistent. The pWPS, WPQR and WPS do not align, which raises questions even when the welding itself is sound
- Too many procedures are qualified. Without careful planning, businesses spend money on overlapping tests
Our role is to plan around these risks from the start, so your procedures work in practice and hold up when they are checked.
Standards We Qualify Weld Procedures To
Our work aligns with British, European, American and International welding standards. Depending on your sector, materials and process, this commonly includes:
- BS EN ISO 15614 (all parts) for the specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials
- BS EN ISO 15613 for qualification based on a pre-production welding test
- BS EN ISO 15609 for the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)
- ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section IX for welding, brazing and fusing qualifications
- BS ISO 17779 for the specification and qualification of brazing procedures for metallic materials
We also work to industry-specific standards such as API and NORSOK where projects require them. Our documentation is UKAS accredited and meets the requirements of PESR, PSSR and third-party verified certification for the PED (2014/68/EU).
Our surveyors are experienced across manual, semi-automated, automated and robotic processes, including MIG/MAG, TIG/TAG, MMA, FCAW, MCAW, brazing, spot welding and laser.
On-Site Support at Your Leicestershire Premises
For most businesses, the most practical option is for us to come to you. Testing at your own premises means your welders use the equipment, consumables and set-up they work with every day. It also keeps disruption to a minimum, as there is no need to send staff or materials away and production can carry on around the visit.
Our surveyors collect the relevant data while on site and turn it into usable documentation efficiently, so you are not left waiting on paperwork to move forward with a contract.
If it suits you better, you are also welcome to attend our fully equipped workshop in Daventry, Northamptonshire. This can be a good option if you have limited space, are qualifying a process you do not yet run in-house, or prefer to keep testing away from your production floor.
Why Leicestershire Businesses Choose Rambaldini Welding Services
Rambaldini Welding Services was founded in 2016 by Jake Rambaldini, a highly qualified and experienced welder. In 2018, the business merged with Pearsall Training and Consultancy, bringing the experience of respected industry figure Jon Pearsall into the company. Today it is a family-run business led by Jake alongside his wife and fellow director, Kerry Rambaldini.
That hands-on background shapes how we work. Decisions about your procedures are guided by people who understand welding in practice, not just the paperwork behind it.
- Practical expertise: our team brings real welding knowledge to every qualification
- Independent witnessing: third-party verification that carries weight with clients, insurers and regulators
- A right-sized approach: we carry out only the tests needed for compliance and job performance
- Complete documentation: from pWPS to approved WPS, consistent and audit-ready
- Recognised quality: an ISO 9001 certified management system through SCCS and UKAS
- Award-winning service: named Best Welder Training and Qualification Provider at the SME News UK Enterprise Awards in 2024, 2025 and 2026, a Central England Prestige Awards 2024/25 winner and recipient of an E2 Media Award of Excellence in 2026
- Trusted standing: proud members of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce
Beyond qualification, we can support your wider welding operation with welder qualifications, welder training and consultancy services, including defect investigation. You can learn more about our story on our About Us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can WPQR testing be carried out at our premises in Leicestershire?
Yes. We regularly carry out independent witnessing at client premises, which means your welders test on their own equipment with minimal disruption to production. You can also attend our workshop in Daventry, Northamptonshire, if that suits you better.
What is the difference between a WPQR and a WPS?
A WPQR is the formal record proving that a welding procedure has been tested and qualified against a standard. A WPS is the approved instruction your welders follow in production, supported by the WPQR behind it.
Do we need a WPQR as well as welder qualifications?
Often, yes. A WPQR proves the welding method is sound, while a welder qualification proves an individual can weld to a standard. Many contracts and audits require both. We can advise on what your work needs and, in some cases, a welder can be qualified from the same procedure test.
How many procedures will our business need?
It depends on the range of materials, thicknesses, joint types, positions and processes you use. During scoping, we plan your procedures to cover as much of your production as possible, so you avoid paying for overlapping or unnecessary tests.
Do you produce the documentation, or just witness the test?
Both. We witness the test independently and produce the full documentation set, including the pWPS, WPQR/PQR and approved WPS, ready for clients, insurers and auditors.
Get Your Weld Procedures Qualified
Whether you are preparing for a tender, responding to an audit or introducing a new process, qualified procedures give you the evidence you need to win and deliver work with confidence. Our team will confirm the right standard, witness your testing on site in Leicestershire and manage your documentation from first draft to approved WPS.
Call 01327 879500 or contact us to arrange your weld procedure qualification.
About Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the East Midlands of England, renowned for its strong industrial heritage and diverse manufacturing base. Historically celebrated for its hosiery, footwear, and textile industries, the county has evolved into a modern hub for advanced engineering, aerospace, automotive, and food processing sectors. Benefiting from excellent transport links via the M1 motorway and its central location within the UK, Leicestershire remains a highly strategic base for businesses operating in heavy industry and construction. The region's ongoing commitment to industrial innovation makes it a vital area for highly skilled trades, including precision engineering and specialised welding services.