The 79th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference Successfully Held in Salzburg, Austria

The 79th International Institute of Welding (IIW) Annual Assembly and International Conference 2026 was successfully held in Salzburg, Austria, from 12 to 17 July 2026. This year’s event marked a historic milestone as it was the first Annual Assembly organised directly by IIW, with the support of the Austrian Member Society and local organising partners, introducing a new operating model for future IIW Annual Assemblies.

Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, provided an impressive setting for the international gathering. Renowned for its magnificent Baroque architecture, rich cultural heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, the city welcomed approximately 1,000 delegates from 51 countries, representing academia, research organisations, industry, standards bodies and professional welding societies worldwide. The Singapore Welding Society (SWS) was represented by Dr Sun Zheng, Past President of SWS and Chairman of International Affairs.

IIW General Assembly

The IIW General Assembly (AGM) was held on the morning of 12 July, where delegates reviewed the organisation’s progress and discussed strategic priorities for the coming years. Major agenda items included:

• President’s Report
• Financial Report
• Election and renewal of Board members
• Reports from the Technical Management Board (TMB)
• Reports from the International Authorisation Board (IAB)
• Membership development
• Review of IIW activities during the past year
• Future strategic initiatives and organisational development

The AGM also approved the establishment of Commission XX – Intelligent Manufacturing, making it the 20th IIW Technical Commission. The new commission reflects the increasing importance of artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, robotics, automation, and smart production systems in the future of welding and joining technology.

Following the AGM, the Stakeholder Forum was held in the afternoon. Introduced last year as a regular feature of the Annual Assembly, the forum encouraged open dialogue between IIW leadership and national member societies. Besides updates on membership growth, the IIW Weld Fund and other ongoing initiatives, delegates participated in a round-table discussion entitled “The Role of IIW in the Evolving Scenario.” The discussion explored how IIW can continue to create value for its members, strengthen international collaboration, attract younger professionals, and respond to rapid technological changes within the manufacturing sector.

Opening Ceremony and IIW Awards

The Opening Ceremony on the evening of 12 July celebrated the achievements of outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to welding science, engineering and the IIW community.

The prestigious 2026 IIW Awards for Career Achievements and Contributions included:

• Fellow of the IIW Award
• Evgeny Paton Award
• Arthur Smith Award
• Yoshiaki Arata Award
• Thomas Medal
• Chris Smallbone Award

Awards recognising Outstanding Technical Achievement included:

• Henry Granjon Awards (Categories A, B and D)
• Halil Kaya Gedik Award
• Welding in the World Best Paper Award
• Ugo Guerrera Prize
• Young Professional International Conference Online 2026 Award

These awards recognised excellence in research, industrial innovation, education, international collaboration, and dedicated service to IIW. The recognition of outstanding young professionals also demonstrated IIW’s continued commitment to developing future leaders for the global welding community.

Technical Commission Meetings

Throughout the week, more than 30 Technical Commission, Working Unit and Select Committee meetings were conducted, covering virtually every aspect of welding and joining technology.

Over 500 technical papers and presentations were delivered across the various commissions, addressing topics including:

• Welding processes and equipment
• Welding metallurgy
• Structural integrity and fatigue
• Welding quality assurance and inspection
• Resistance welding
• Brazing, soldering and adhesive bonding
• Pressure vessels and pipelines
• Welding education and qualification
• Health and safety
• Additive manufacturing
• Standardisation
• Digital manufacturing and intelligent welding

The meetings provided an important platform for experts from around the world to exchange technical knowledge, review international standards, initiate collaborative research, and discuss emerging technologies that will shape the future of manufacturing.

Symposium on AI-Powered Advancements

One of the highlights of this year’s Annual Assembly was the Symposium on Scalable and Applicable AI-Powered Advancements, held on 16 July.

The symposium featured 40 technical presentations covering the application of artificial intelligence in welding automation, intelligent sensing, machine learning, robotic welding, digital twins, computer vision, process optimisation, and quality prediction.

The large number of high-quality papers demonstrated that AI has rapidly become one of the most active research areas within IIW. The symposium attracted strong international interest and highlighted the increasing integration of AI technologies into modern welding production and inspection systems. It also complemented the establishment of the new Commission on Intelligent Manufacturing, signalling IIW’s strategic focus on digital transformation and Industry 4.0.

International Conference

The IIW International Conference, held on 17 July, was organised under the theme: “Metal Additive Manufacturing – Materials, Processes and Component Performance.” The conference brought together researchers and industrial experts to present the latest developments in metal additive manufacturing, with particular emphasis on:

• Advanced metallic materials
• Additive manufacturing processes
• Process monitoring and control
• Mechanical performance and structural integrity
• Welding technologies supporting additive manufacturing
• Qualification and certification
• Industrial applications

The conference highlighted the growing convergence between welding technologies and additive manufacturing, demonstrating how wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), laser-based processes and hybrid manufacturing technologies are creating new opportunities for aerospace, energy, automotive and advanced manufacturing industries.

Networking and Cultural Programme

In addition to the technical programme, delegates enjoyed a variety of networking and social activities that promoted international friendship and professional exchange. These included the Austrian Evening, the IIW Gala Dinner, city tours and other cultural activities showcasing Salzburg’s unique history, music and traditions. These events provided valuable opportunities for delegates to strengthen existing collaborations, establish new partnerships and exchange ideas in an informal setting.

Looking Ahead

The 79th IIW Annual Assembly was successfully delivered under IIW’s new organisational model, demonstrating that IIW is well positioned to independently organise future Annual Assemblies while maintaining the high technical standards and international participation expected by its members.

The event also reflected the major technological trends shaping the global welding industry, particularly artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, digitalisation and metal additive manufacturing. Together with the establishment of the new Commission on Intelligent Manufacturing, these developments indicate IIW’s commitment to leading the transformation of welding technologies in the era of smart manufacturing.

The global welding community now looks forward to the 80th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference, which will continue to strengthen international cooperation and advance welding science and technology for the benefit of industry worldwide.

Annual General Assembly

Gala Dinner