In this episode of State of the Arc, we're covering four of the most talked-about developments shaping the welding and skilled trades world right now:

• Battery-powered flash-butt welding is here — and it's already changing the rail industry.

• A proposed $44 billion LNG pipeline in Alaska could unlock thousands of welding jobs across 800 miles of rugged terrain.

• Pipeline companies are opting to buy existing infrastructure instead of building new — what that means for field welders, inspectors, and contractors.

• Humanoid robots are stepping into real-world manufacturing and logistics — and the trades are next. Should welders be concerned or excited?

Plus, this week's Welding History Fact throws it back to 1948, when General Electric introduced GMAW and changed the game forever.

Listen now and stay up to speed with what's moving in the trades.