Interview with Julian Fürer – participant from Switserland WorldSkills 2026

18-year-old Julian Fürer is on a relentless pursuit of perfection. Representing Switzerland at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, he shares his intense journey from local apprentice to global competitor. In this exclusive interview, Julian reveals the immense technical and mental demands of the world stage, the dedication required to master multiple welding disciplines, and why adaptable, precision-focused gear from Weldas is his ultimate competitive advantage.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your journey as a welder began? What inspired you to become a welder, and when did you realize this could be your career path?

My name is Julian Fürer, I am 18 years old, and three years ago I started my apprenticeship as a plant and apparatus builder. I chose this profession because it is very varied, and I particularly liked welding from the very beginning. The combination of craftsmanship, technical understanding, and precision makes this profession very interesting to me. Over time, it became increasingly clear that I wanted to develop further in this field and improve my skills.

Representing Switzerland at WorldSkills is a remarkable achievement. What were the most important milestones and challenges on your way to the WorldSkills competition in Shanghai?

An important milestone on my journey was SwissSkills 2025, where I achieved third place and thereby qualified for WorldSkills. This marked the beginning of an intensive preparation period with various training sessions in Switzerland and abroad, including Basel, Frankfurt, and the USA. The biggest challenge was to continuously develop technically and prepare myself for the high level of an international competition. This required a lot of discipline, time, and perseverance. At the same time, the various training sessions allowed me to gain valuable experience and exchange ideas with other candidates. Qualifying for WorldSkills was a great success for me and a special motivation to prepare for Shanghai in the best possible way.

How did you prepare for WorldSkills 2026? What did your training program look like, and what skills did you focus on most leading up to the competition?

I started my targeted training in March. Throughout the year, I was able to train full-time for a total of nine weeks at the Swiss Association for Welding Technology (SVS) in Basel. I completed the rest of my preparation in my free time at my training company, Bischof Anlagenbau AG. Most of the time, I trained for about one to two hours after work, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. This required good planning and a lot of self-motivation, as I had to balance my training with my apprenticeship. A special highlight was training at Lincoln Electric in the USA. I also trained together with the Austrian and German candidates. This allowed me to gain further experience and prepare for the demands of an international competition. My goal was to improve my welding techniques through regular training and to work as consistently as possible at a high level.

What was the most unforgettable moment of your WorldSkills experience in Shanghai? Was there a specific challenge, success, or encounter that will stay in your memory for a long time?

I was particularly impressed by the overall atmosphere, the size of the event, and the significance of WorldSkills. It was something special to be part of such a large international competition. The highs and lows during the competition will also stay with me. You experience many different situations and go through a wide range of emotions. It is exactly this mix of tension, challenges, and special moments that made the experience so impressive for me. WorldSkills in Shanghai was a valuable experience that I will remember for a long time.

Weldas was proud to support you with personal protective equipment (PPE) and welding gloves. Which Weldas products did you use during training or the competition, and what did you particularly appreciate about them?

During training and the competition, I used the bib and brace overalls and the welding jacket from the Arc-Night series by Weldas. For electrode and MAG welding, I wore the Arc-Night gloves because they offered me a good combination of protection and a feel for the work. For flux-cored wire welding, I supplemented my equipment with a heat protection shield. For TIG welding, I used split pigskin leather gloves, which gave me the necessary sensitivity for this work. It was particularly important to me that the equipment was tailored to the different welding processes. Depending on the process, there are different requirements for protection and fingertip sensitivity. The right personal protective equipment is therefore an important component to be able to work carefully and with focus.

In top-class competitions, comfort and protection are crucial. How did the Weldas PPE help you stay focused and achieve peak performance during preparation and the competition?

What advice would you give to young welders who dream of participating in WorldSkills or pursuing a career in welding? What traits, habits, or attitudes are most important for success?

My most important advice is to always stay motivated and have joy and interest in what you do. Especially in welding, regular practice is crucial to improve step by step and further develop your own skills. You should be willing to invest time and effort, even if not everything succeeds right away. It is important to stick with it, learn from challenges, and want to continuously improve. My experience has shown me how much you can achieve with consistent training and the right attitude. That is why I would recommend every young welder to believe in themselves, stay curious, and consistently pursue their goals. With practice, training, and passion, you can achieve a lot.