Our history

Welder Training and Testing Institute (WTTI), founded in 1968 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was originally called Breeden School of Welding. The school's original owner Ernie Breeden, a Texas born pipeline welder and engineer, was a man of vision committed to training welders for the industry that served him all his life.

During his career, oilrigs were being built in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, pipelines were being laid across the country, construction was booming and manufactures of ships, aircrafts, automobiles and equipment were all striving to meet stringent quality and safety requirements. He recognized the need to train welders to fulfill these strong demands in the industry. Thus he founded the school.

In 1973, the school was renamed Welder Training and Testing Institute. At that time Mr. Breeden retired and ownership of the company shifted to a small welding and management group headed by Robert Wiswesser, who had been an instructor, assistant director and eventually director of the school under the Breeden ownership.

The name change was intended to signify an exciting shift in the business from an instructional institution to an organization with a dual mission. Now, WTTI would not only train welders, but also provide industrial services to corporations who need outside product inspection, testing, welder qualification, consulting and in-plant training seminars.

Today, WTTI's school campus is located at 729 East Highland Street in Allentown, PA. Our Industrial Services Division is located at 1144 North Graham Street, Allentown, PA. The training center, testing laboratory and management offices are conveniently located within a mile from Lehigh Valley's major expressway and the International Airport. This location was selected to better serve our customers.