IIW supports the development of welding, joining and allied processes since 1948.
Initially focused on metals, IIW now covers welding and joining of all materials.
Discover IIW History
During the 76th Annual Assembly, IIW Announces a new visual identity, with a new logo, tagline and a brand new set of communication tools.
The logo keeps its liaison with the past and clearly identifies its relation with the people in the entire world and its history with welding to promote the development of a safer and sustainable world.
At the 76th IIW General Assembly IIW approves a new vision, mission and strategic plan.
The Mission of IIW is The leading global welding community linking industry, research and education. The vision is Advance welding and joining through a worldwide network.
Vision and mission come with the acclamation of IIW core values, and a set of projects and objectives.
Having duly considered the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic, IIW decided to cancel the Annual Assembly and International Conference initially planned in SIngapore in 2020 and to run the first on-line IIW Annual Assembly. In 2021, restrictions to international travel required the cancellation of the event in Genoa and brought to the second online Annual Assembly.
IIW well succeeded in managing its technical and scientific activities through a virtual working environment which allowed all the groups to meet, discuss, recommend and develop deliverables as usual. In 2021, IIW was also able to hold the International Conference as usual and run virtual social events.
In 2022, the event was held in Tokyo in a Hybrid form, as Japan still was not fully open to any international traveller. Thanks to the great efforts of the organisers, the Japanese Welding Engineering Society (JWES), the event was run smoothly with great interaction between live and on-line participants.
DOCUMENTS
Upon decision taken at the extraordinary Assembly held on 7 July 2019 in Bratislava, the host country of the Secretariat and thus the organisation itself is moved from France to Italy.
Dr Luca COSTA is appointed as the new IIW CEO, and the address of the organisation is now Lungobisagno Istria 15, 16141 Genoa (Italy).
The services for the IIW General Secretariat will be delivered by Istituto Italiano della Saldatura, the Italian Institute of Welding (IIS Group), a founder member of the IIW.
During the 70th IIW Annual Assembly in Shanghai, P.R. China, a new book on the history of the organisation was shared with the community. More than 40 contributors participated in the preparation of this outstanding book covering the period from 1990 to 2015.
Launching of the Fellow of IIW (FIIW) award, which celebrate lifetime achievement through distinguished contributions to the field of welding science and technology, and for promoting and sustaining the professional stature of the field. The first awards were presented in 2015.
The IIW White Paper published with the financial support of several Member Societies and prepared by IIW experts from around the world was a means of stimulating interest in the development of a shared vision of a sustainable and desirable future.
Looking forward to see you all soon!
DOCUMENTS
SC-Microjoining’s title changed to “Research and Development in Micro- and Nano-Joining Technology”, which became C-VII “Microjoining and Nanojoining” in 2017.
IIW’s membership always reflected the world’s political changes: in the 90’s, when several countries broke up into distinct countries, e.g. Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, members were added to or re-joined IIW. In the early 2000’s new members, e.g. Nigeria, Morocco, South Korea, made IIW truly representative of the world at large. The Arab Spring led some countries, e.g. Tunisia and Libya, to suspend their membership.
In the permanent lighting of its men and women, IIW launched a new awards system recognizing its members’ attendances of over 40, 30, 20 and 10 years at Annual Assemblies.
The growing importance of new processes, termed special, e.g. electron beam, plasma and later laser welding, provoked the creation of Commission IV (C-IV) Special Welding Processes. C-IV changed name in 1985 to High Energy Density Welding and again in 2003 to Power Beam Processes.
Guy Parsloe, Secretary General, a strong advocate of the Institute’s involvement in documentation and terminology, was particularly interested in the dissemination of the IIW’s work . In 1962, the Institute’s journal Welding in the World was first published directly by the Institute. The journal was bilingual (French/English) with Parsloe as joint editor in chief and André Leroy, Scientific and Technical Secretary as publication coordinator.
Following WW II, many members of the welding community, including CPI members, actively sought to establish a truly international welding organisation. The stage was set for the official launch of the International Institute of Welding, which took place at a conference organised by the Belgian Institute of Welding, on 11 June 1948