Class of 2017: Welding Engineering Hall of Fame

Kurt A. Hofman

Kurt Hofman is among the second generation of leadership at RoMan Manufacturing. Joining the company in 1986, Kurt has successfully held several executive positions including engineering, sales and CEO of several divisions. Today, Kurt is directly responsible for overseeing the strategic development and execution of all sales programs as Vice President for RoMan’s IRCO Automation.

IRCO’s reputation as a leading manufacturer of weld positioning and integrated welding systems for the transportation, oil and gas, fabricated metal products, and energy industries is attributed to Kurt’s keen understanding of these industries’ needs. Prior to launching his career at RoMan, Kurt earned his Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology at Ferris in 1983 and his Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology from Arizona State University in 1986.

A member of the American Welding Society (AWS, 1986), Kurt has served in many roles including the Resistance Welding Manufacturing Alliance’s (RWMA) Board of Directors and as chair for several committees. As chair of the AWS - Western Michigan Section, he holds the AWS Certified Welding Inspector certification. Highly respected for his leadership and expertise in resistant welding, he is a sought-after conference speaker and has served over 10 years as an instructor for RWMA’s Welding School and the AWS – Detroit Section Welding Seminars.

Kurt has been an active and loyal alumnus to Ferris’ Welding Engineering Technology program, serving for over 25 years on the advisory board, hiring nearly 100 interns and graduates, and was one of the original industry professionals to identify the need for, and subsequently champion, equipment donations with industry partners. Reflective of his deep commitment to Ferris, on behalf of RoMan, Kurt is also on The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors, chair of the Foundation’s development committee, and in 2016 established the RoMan Manufacturing/IRCO Automation Scholarship Endowment for students in the Welding Engineering Technology program.

Eric Young

Eric Young has spent over 30 years in the welding industry where he has excelled at bringing meaningful solutions to his customers with his focus in weld process refinement, defect root cause analysis, inspection/evaluation, process documentation, procedure/operator qualification, and process training. Earning an Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology at Ferris in 1983, Eric continued his studies at Arizona State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology in 1986.

Young's extensive career in the welding industry began in 1986 at Miller Electric, an ITW Welding Company, starting as a Welding Engineer, to a Product Manager, to an Account Manager. After 17 years at Miller, Eric returned to his home state of Michigan in 2003 and started his career at RoMan Manufacturing’s subsidiary RoMan Engineering Services as a consulting engineer and manager of the Arc Weld Engineering Group. Today, Eric is the Senior Welding Application Engineer for RoMan’s IRCO Automation where he assists his customers with welding applications related to mechanized welding solutions.

Eric is a member of the American Welding Society (AWS, 1986) and is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector. His commitment to the welding industry is evident through his service as a member of advisory boards for Ferris State University’s Welding Engineering Technology program and Grand Rapids Community College’s Welding Technology program. An active alum and advisory board member at Ferris for over 25 years, Eric was one of the original industry professionals to recognize the need for, and champion, equipment donations and has been involved with the hiring of nearly 100 interns and graduates for Ferris’ Welding Engineering Technology program.

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