IIW Annual Report 2025

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WELDING

ANNUAL REPORT 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Prof. Thomas Böllinghaus IIW President, 2023-2026

Dear Friends and Colleagues in the Science and the Art of Welding and Allied Processes,

Beginning my annual message, it is with the greatest honor and genuine pleasure to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you: For your unwavering dedication, your remarkable enthusiasm, and your ever-growing engagement in our IIW community. With special delight we can witness this among our new members, a very warm welcome to you whose presence further enriches and strengthens our network. With deep appreciation and humility, let methank all of you, may you be volunteer or be professional, who contribute so generously to our field, whether in science, technology, administration, education, or certification. Your commitment and passion are truly inspiring. It is an absolute privilege to serve our worldwide community as your President, with profound gratitude for your continued trust and support. As we bring this year to a close, let me proudly and energized reflect on the many outstanding achievements we realized throughout 2025, a truly pivotal year in which we did far more than just live our strategy: we brought it vividly to our community. By decisively advancing the majority of initiatives aligned with our five key objectives 1. Improve IIW visibility through communication and marketing. 2. Expand the industrial relevance of IIW through research, best practices sharing, development and standardization activities. 3. Enrich the value of IIW to all stakeholders out of volunteers, member societies and industry. 4. Improve and expand our ETQ&C system to meet the needs of industry and IIW members. 5. Improve the organizational and management structure to ensure it meets IIW stakeholders expanding needs. Beginning with Key Objective 1, we decided in the winter meetings to further amplify our visibility across new and economically emerging regions worldwide, with a special emphasis on the African continent. The entire IIW community thus takes great pride in welcoming a further new member from Africa: the Toolkit Foundation of Kenya, which was approved as a new Responsible Member Society during the General Assembly in June 2025. In addition, our young African Member Societies, WeldNAM from Namibia, joining IIW in 2024 already achieved the pre-authorization by the IAB as an ANB in September 2025. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the newly composed Working Group Strategy and International Relations (WG-SIR) of the BoD, the visibility of IIW is now rapidly increasing on the African continent, currently experiencing a rapid industrialization. In parallel, and thanks to the tireless efforts of our Secretariat, we significantly strengthened IIW’s global presence through increased engagement with external organizations. Our flagship annual event also powerfully showcased our growing global visibility. The Annual Assembly held >at home< in Genoa, Italy, in June 2025 brought together more than 2,000 participants from 49 countries, including delegates from our newest member societies. This remarkable gathering was a true testament to the strength and reach of our worldwide community, evidenced also by a deeper involvement and exchange with our member societies during a newly created forum directly following the General Assembly. Dedicated initiatives were also undertaken to enhance the IIW image and outreach on our LinkedIn and Instagram platforms, resulting in a more dynamic and impactful digital presence Turning to Key Objective 2, the outstanding success and, in particular, the exceptional scientific and technical depth, of the year-out contributions in the various TMB Working Units once again demonstrated that our organization stands firmly at the forefront of international research, development, and practical application in welding and allied processes. The steadily growing participation from industry powerfully again reflects the strong interest in, and attraction to, the work carried out within IIW. Access to cutting-edge research results produced within our community has been further strengthened through our flagship journal Welding in the World , which published more than 200 high-quality papers. The journal’s expanding influence is clearly reflected in its rising metrics, with the Impact Factor increasing to 2.5 and the CiteScore reaching 4.6 in 2024 (the latest available data). Building on the remarkable success of the current year, this positive trajectory is expected to continue, with an anticipated Impact Factor of 2.8 for the outgoing year 2025. Riding this wave of progress, the TMB has enthusiastically embraced my vision to champion emerging and breakthrough technologies in welding and allied processes in a list that will be shaped into a strategic technical and scientific roadmap with full endorsement of the Board of Directors. Similarly exciting, the innovative best practices developed by our TMB commissions are now regularly shared with the IAB, allowing them to be seamlessly woven into our education and training programs, bringing real impact to our worldwide community. Let me take this progress to extend my deepest gratitude to you, our phenomenal network of volunteers, your energy, dedication, and exceptional achievements will continue to propel IIW to new heights. We transformed our vision into action and our mission into meaningful impact.

Advancing along our strategic Key Objective 3, IIW is making remarkable strides in expanding its impact on underrepresented regions, especially towards the Global South. As decided by the Board of Directors in the Winter Meetings, this currently focuses on the African continent, as the most rapidly industrializing region with the by far youngest population globally. This remarkable progress has been fueled by the tremendous efforts of the newly composed Working Group on Strategy and International Relations, which created a dedicated forum for African Member Societies during the Annual Assembly 2025. Initiated by the IIW Secretariat, this initiative is now being expanded through the Welding Community Development Committee to other regions around the world. It is important to emphasize that such initiatives do more than expand our community. Instead, they strengthen IIW as a whole, underlining the immense importance of welding and allied processes as key technologies for industrialization and digitalization. As your President, let me reiterate my invitation to all of us: our IIW community should not simply observe these incredible opportunities in the Global South from the sidelines, but actively engage in shaping them. Let us connect with these countries, interlocking research and development with education and training as well as with industrial application and support. We should see that most of our future Young Professionals will come from the Global South and thus, we need to provide proper education and training interlocked with research and development focusing on industrial application and support. This is the unrivaled strength of our IIW community. With immense pride, we now see large member societies from industrialized countries share this vision, actively supporting the establishment of ANBs and ATBs in emerging regions. Taking this commitment even further, a new version of the IIW Constitution was approved during the Annual Assembly, introducing the concept of Observer Member Societies, thus creating a smooth, welcoming, and inspiring pathway for potential new members to join our global network. Under Key Objective 4, 2025 marked an extraordinary year of progress in expanding access to the IIW system for Education, Training, Qualification, and Certification of both, personnel and companies. It has been incredibly exciting to witness myself the intensive and proactive efforts to further align the access conditions, making our programs globally more compatible impactful, and future-ready than ever before. Even more thrilling, we achieved major milestones in enhancing the global recognition of our offerings, most notably with the approval of the IIW proprietary scheme for the Certification of Welding Inspectors by the International Accreditation Forum. This represents a landmark achievement that underscores IIW’s leadership to harmonize the different systems worldwide. Looking ahead, IIW continues to anticipate the future by embedding new scientific and technical topics of strategic importance as standing items on the IAB agendas, ensuring that our organization remains at the cutting edge of innovation, education, and excellence in welding and allied technologies. As a cornerstone of our work, the Board of Directors, with the steadfast support of the IIW Secretariat, has been driving Key Objective 5 with great dedication, continuously enhancing IIW’s organizational and management structure to ensure that we effectively meet the needs of our global stakeholders in welding and allied processes. In 2025, this commitment reached a milestone with the approval of the revised IIW Constitution by the Extraordinary General Assembly. These strategic updates were designed to boost the efficiency of our organization and make IIW even more agile and responsive in an ever-evolving operational landscape, positioning us for continued success and global impact. As vivid example, the three permanent working groups in the Board of Directors are now headed each by the three Vice Presidents, with great competence and leadership experience in IIW. Let me take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to IIW CEO Luca Costa and the entire IIW Secretariat team for their extraordinary dedication in managing our global welding community. Their diligence, cooperation, professionalism, and friendliness have been truly remarkable, providing invaluable support to our entire network. My heartfelt thanks also go to the entire Board of Directors. It is your unwavering commitment, tremendous efforts, and immense support, which continue to strengthen our organization every day. Last but certainly not least, let me express my profound appreciation to each and every one of you for your growing voluntary contributions across our many commissions and working groups. Our incredible network provides the whole IIW with the strongest engine ever seen in a global organization, gaining ever more power and momentum. It fills me with great confidence that together we will continue to accelerate towards fresh professional perspectives and reaching new horizons. The year 2026 promises to be truly exciting, and we will witness further groundbreaking inventions, applications, and innovations that will emerge from our vibrant community across the diverse scientific and technical fields we explore. Let me wish you and your nearest all a peaceful, prosperous, and successful 2026, looking forward so much to continue in serving, collaborating, and celebrating achievements alongside you as your President, with my deepest respect and gratitude.

Prof. Thomas Böllinghaus IIW President 2023-2026

8

OUR PEOPLE IIW Board of Directors 2025/2026 Managing the Organisation IIW Secretariats

14 TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT BOARD Integrated Highlights from IIW Technical Commissions Advancing Welding Science and Technology 16 IIW WORKING UNITS 18 SHARING WITH PEERS Working Group Young Professionals Working Group Standardisation 20 LEARNING - INTERNATIONAL AUTHORISATION BOARD Message of IAB Chair and CEO Roles and Responsibilities: Who is Doing What

10 IIW ACCOUNTS 2025

Treasurer’s Report 2024/2025 Income Statement 2025

12 WELDING EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND

DEVELOPMENT FUND OF IIW IIW Young Professional and Student Grant IIW Welding Workforce Grant IIW Special Initiative Grant Funding

22 INTERNATIONAL ADDITIVE

28 PROGRESS WITH THE

MANUFACTURING QUALIFICATION SYSTEM (IAMQS) Global Expansion and New Authorizations System Development and Standardisation Alignment

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WELDING (IIW) NATIONAL WELDING CAPABILITY (NWC) PROJECT

30 78 TH IIW ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AND

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

23 2026/28 IIW

AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS

34 RECOGNITION 2025 IIW AWARDS 44 COLLABORATING

24 INFLUENCING

WELDING IN THE WORLD ANNUAL REPORT 2025

IIW MEMBER SOCIETIES

26 IIW 2025 DIGITAL COLLECTION WELDED ART PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION: PROGRESSING BIODIVERSITY

OUR PEOPLE IIW BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025/2026

Prof. Thomas Böllinghaus President (Germany)

Prof. Paul Kah Vice-President (Sweden)

Prof. Srinivasan Ramachandran Iyer Vice-President (India)

Mr Douglas Luciani Past President (Canada)

Dr Luca Costa CEO (Italy)

Dr Stephan Egerland President elect (Austria)

Dr Fernado Manas IAB Chair (Spain)

Prof. Xiaoyan Li TMB Chair (China)

Dr Roland Boecking (Germany)

Prof. Madeleine du Toit (Australia)

Dr Stefano Pinca (Italy)

Dr Walter Sperko (USA)

Dr Zheng Sun (Singapore)

Prof. Tomoyuki Ueyama Treasurer (Japan)

Dr Paul Woollin (UK)

Dr Deepak V. Acharya (India)

8

OUR PEOPLE MANAGING THE ORGANISATION IIW Secretariats

IIW has benefited from a prestigious history of secretariat services provided by Member Societies, from the early parallel roles of The Welding Institute UK as Administrative Secretariat and Institut de Soudure France as Technical Secretariat to 1995 when Institut de Soudure took on the combined role of General Secretariat. Since 2020 the General Secretariat role has been performed by Istituto Italiano della Saldatura in Genoa, Italy. Also in 2020, the service agreement for the management of the IIW International Authorisation Board (IAB) was renewed with the European Welding Fede-ration (EWF) with the agreement updated to include services aligned with the needs of IIW and IAB members for the following five years. The IIW is grateful to the current and past secretariats for their outstanding work performed over more than 75 years of growth of the organisation, coupling continuity with the past with renewed energy in all enterprises. Personnel at the current secretariats aim to deliver world class service to the IIW community and support the organisation and its members as they face current and future challenges.

IIW SECRETARIAT

IAB MANAGEMENT TEAM

Dr Luca Costa Chief Executive Officer

Dr Rosario Russo Administrative, Coomunication and Events Management

Eng. Rute Ferraz IAB Chief Executive

Dr Eurico Assunção IAB Deputy Chief Executive

Dr Elisabetta Sciaccaluga Technical Manager

Dr Francesco De Fino IT Management

Eng. Pedro Catarino IAB Technical Officer

Eng. Italo Fernandes IAB System Manager

Mr Andrew Davis Standards Officier

Mrs Erdmuthe Raufelder Managing Editor WitW

Eng. Tobias Rosado Deputy IAB System Manager

9

IIW ACCOUNTS 2025 TREASURE’S REPORT 2024/2025

Dr Stephan Egerland Treasurer (Austria)

Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters of the International Institute of Welding, Just a few months ago we were meeting at beautiful Genoa, friendly hosted by our Italian Member Society IIS, collectively to join the 78th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference on Welding and Joining. In total 788 IIW delegates and experts have participated in this amazing assembly, not only passionate to add value to their Technical Commissions and Working Groups but, well understanding their attendance will also strongly support the organisation financially. As the ceding treasurer of the association, and as last action in this function, I feel delighted providing you with a concise update on the financial situation of our organisation. The IIW is in financial good shape. Based on solid management, along with the right decisions foresightful taken by the IIW Board of Directors, the fiscal year 2024 was finished with showing a net profit of € 5.530,00. A pleasant fact especially for a treasurer: the total income of the association was even higher than budgeted in 2023. Although still heavily missing our Russian Member, and, consequently, its membership fee, especially the increasing success of our IIW flagship journal “Welding in the World” in addition to the competent efforts devoted by the IIW Secretariat in successfully gaining funds in substantial height from the European Union, could balance the losses and added to this excellent final result. As you may have noticed from the treasurer’s report given during the latest IIW General Assembly; the IIW Board of Directors has set a policy to allocate 10 % of the amount derived from the membership fees to the fund for “Irrecoverable Debts”, safely allowing us to consider the missing membership fee from Israel in height of € 9.464,00 as irrecoverable but nonetheless compensating this loss using the fund. I can gladly report that the fund for Irrecoverable Debts could even increase its reserves by € 12.536,00 compared with 2023. Hence, showing a total positive result of € 55.672,00. IIW Weld Fund, now referred to as the IIW Welding, Education, Leadership and Development Fund (WELD Fund), was used for the payment of the membership fee of the Ukraine, well-known based on a decision taken by the Board of Directors. However, we could nonetheless finish the year 2024 with a positive result of € 27.637,00 after allocating € 6.500,00 from the operating result in addition to those € 12.056,00 received by donations. Hence, the fund’s reserves almost doubled versus 2023. All this, along with responsibly taking general care of the association’s finances, allowed us to record balanced expenditures. By no means to forget. I wholeheartedly shall wish to thank all IIW Member Societies who allocated their membership fee payment on time, respectfully encouraging all of those kindly to continue with this approach much appreciated. To those members, however, possibly still lacking their payment, please either make sure early enough to ask for delayed payment, being a feasible option, or simply be so kind as to pay on time. This report may show. It is undoubtedly fundamentally important to our global community receiving the membership fees as requested on time. Finally, and privileged saying this as the President-Elect of the IIW, I am more than glad to be succeeded as the association’s treasurer by my long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Tomoyuki Ueyama, from Japan. Handing this position over to him safely puts my mind at rest by having gained an individual most competent in accomplishing all the intricate and frequently not so trivial items related to the association’s finances – which I have greatly enjoyed by the way over the past two years. I can only thank Tomoyuki for taking over whilst I am sure that Dr. Ueyama will excel in filling in this important position.

Thank you again and yours very truly, Dr. Stephan Egerland

10

IIW ACCOUNTS 2025 INCOME STATEMENT 2025

ITEM

REALISED

INCOME Membership fees

460.062 116.716 87.473

Fees from IIW events (A.A.+ Congress)

Welding in the World

Royalties on IIW Recommended Practices and PS

0

Royalties on IAMQS

740

ISO Standards Other incomes

1.062

33.593

Interest from bank accounts

7.170

TOTAL

706.815,53

EXPENDITURE Secretariat

546.000 36.895

Travelling expenses for IIW Events

Costs for IIW meetings and events (includes prizes, etc) Office supplies (included computer maintenance until 2021)

3.666 1.920

Postage (included telephone costs until 2020)

181

Promotion, communication

40.584

Software (hosting & maintenance)

8.755

Audit fees and legal fees

10.857

Bank charges

1.013

Straight-line method of depreciation

12.915

Insurance

2.595 1.347 1.988 3.120

Registry Tax (formerly business tax)

Other charges

Extraordinary costs: transfer IIW to Italy

TOTAL

671.835

OPERATING RESULT

34.979

BAD DEBTS INVENTORY Bad debts recovered Allocation to fund for doubtful account (membership fees) Provision for doubtful account (VAT recovery) Irrecoverable debt Use of fund for doubtful accounts (membership fees)

-22.000

-9.464 9.464

TOTAL BAD DEBTS

-22.000

IIW WELD FUND Allocation from IIW

-6.500 12.056 -5.731 5.731 -6.500

Donations

Expenditures

Use of IIW Weld Fund TOTAL IIW WELD FUND

NET RESULT BEFORE TAX

6.479

Income tax

-949

RESULT AFTER TAX

5.530

11

WELDING EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT FUND OF IIW

Srinivasan Iyer Chair, WELD Fund of IIW Vice-President, IIW

Robert Shaw Past Chair, WELD Fund of IIW Past Vice-President, IIW

The Welding Education, Leadership and Development (WELD) Fund of IIW was started in 2021 under the leadership of IIW President David Landon, to support initiatives related to welding and allied activities within the objectives of the IIW. The WELD Fund of IIW is financially supported: • directly by the IIW, based on the amount of revenues at the closing of the accounts for each year, as approved by the IIW General Assembly • by IIW Member Societies, through donations to the Fund, and • by businesses, organisations, and individuals wishing to support the Fund or the specific Grant programs of the Fund. Three specific Grant programs have been established: • IIW Young Professional and Student Grant • IIW Welding Workforce Grant • IIW Special Initiative Grant IIW YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT GRANT The purpose of the IIW Young Professional and Student Grant is to assist Young Professionals and Students in participating in an IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference, an Intermediate Meeting of an IIW Technical Commission, or an Intermediate Meeting of the IIW International Authorization Board. In 2025, 14 applications were received, four recipients were selected, and Andres Mauricio Moreno Uribe, of Columbia, was able to participate in the Annual Assembly. IIW WELDING WORKFORCE GRANT The purpose of the IIW Welding Workforce Grant is to expand and improve welding education and training programs, increasing the number of skilled and knowledgeable welders to meet the increased needs and demands of industry and infrastructure. The shortage of skilled welding personnel is well-documented and worldwide. The Grant is to provide equipment, educational materials, and/or funding support for new and existing Welding Personnel Training Facilities. Grant funds can be requested and used for welding or metalworking equipment, upgrades to existing equipment, virtual/augmented reality welding training equipment, filler metals and other welding consumables, personal protective equipment, welding facility improvements, textbooks and other teaching materials related to welding, and classroom or laboratory materials and/or supplies. In-kind donations of such materials are generally welcomed. In 2025, a Grant of 4,000 Euro was awarded to DB Tech Africa to purchase welding machines and consumables for their Welding Program at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Kakuma, Kenya, with XXXX welding students and growing.

12

IIW SPECIAL INITIATIVE GRANT The purpose of an IIW Special Initiative Grant is to provide the financial support needed for organisations, activities, and other needs outside the ordinary operating budget of the IIW. Examples of Special Initiative Grants include but are not limited to: Financial support for one or more IIW Member Societies, special IIW publications, special IIW events or activities, and financial support for non-budgeted administrative needs of IIW. A Special Initiative Grant may be proposed by IIW Member Societies, other welding and joining related organisations whether non-profit or for-profit, administrative working groups within the IIW, and by individuals. All Special Initiative Grant proposals must be approved by the IIW Board of Directors prior to initiation and acceptance of donations or contributions to support the Special Initiative.

FUNDING The IIW Weld Fund was initially funded in 2022 with 23,000 € of IIW funds. For 2025, the WELD Fund received private donations totaling 1520 € from Carl Peters, Thomas Bollinhaus, Stefano Pinca, Srini Iyer, and the anonymous donors stuffing the Crystal Box at the Annual

Assembly. After funding the Scholarship and Work Force Grants, the year-end balance for 2025 was 21,414.87 €. Additional funds will be received in 2026 from the surplus in the IIW Budget, based on 2025

year-end results. For 2026, both the IIW Young Professional and Student Grant and the IIW Welding Workforce Grant will be utilized. All Grant applications are thoroughly reviewed by the WELD Fund of IIW Committee, with recommendations forwarded to the IIW Board of Directors for their consideration and approval.

13

TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT BOARD INTEGRATED HIGHLIGHTS FROM IIW TECHNICAL COMMISSIONS

ADVANCING WELDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Processes - Advancing Welding and Joining Technologies The activities of the Processes Group clearly reflect how rapidly welding and joining technologies are evolving and how central they have become to modern manufacturing . The Commissions working in this area span a very broad range of processes , from arc welding and solid-state joining to power beam technologies , micro- and nanojoining , and the underlying physics of welding . In recent years, participation in the Commissions and the volume of scientific contributions have continued to grow, underlining the strong and sustained international interest in process-focused research and development . In addition to scientific research and process development, the work of the Processes Group has resulted in the production of authoritative technical documents supporting safe and effective industrial implementation. A notable example is the publication “Considerations about Handheld Laser Beam Welding ” , which provides guidance on process characteristics, application limits and safety-related aspects of this rapidly expanding technology. Such documents demonstrate the Group’s commitment not only to advancing knowledge, but also to translating emerging technologies into practical and responsible industrial use. Additive manufacturing is one of the main drivers of current activity within the Processes group. Welding-based additive manufacturing routes , such as direct energy deposition by arc (DED-Arc) and laser-based approaches , are being studied in detail, with particular attention to process stability , monitoring and control . At the same time, artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are increasingly finding their way into process development , supporting data-based optimisation , defect identification and more reliable quality assessment . Power beam processes represent another area of strong momentum . Laser beam welding , handheld laser beam welding and laser-hybrid processes continue to attract significant attention , supported by advances in process monitoring and evaluation. . In parallel, microjoining and nanojoining activities respond to the growing demand for reliable joining solutions at small scales , driven by applications in electronics , flexible devices and advanced functional systems . Here, atomistic modelling and AI-based methods play an important role in improving the understanding of joining mechanisms and developing new joining concepts . Adhesive technologies, polymer joining , and dissimilar material joining further broaden the scope of the Processes Group , addressing the increasing need for lightweight , multi-material and sustainable engineering solutions . Across all these topics, a key strength of the Group lies in the close interaction between Commissions , fostered through joint intermediate meetings , shared working groups and collaborative conferences .

Prof. Dr Ing Jolanta Janczak-Rusch TMB Member – Group 1 (C-I, II, III, IV, VII, XII. XVI, XVII, XIX) Vice Chair of TMB Chair of IIW Commission VII Micro joining and nanojoining

Structural Integrity - Ensuring Reliability and Performance The Structural Integrity group focuses on the fundamental challenge of translating advances in welding and joining technologies into structures that are safe , reliable and fit for service . As materials , processes and manufacturing routes continue to increase in complexity, structural integrity assessment plays an essential role in supporting industrial application and ensuring long-term performance . One of the main areas of activity within the group concerns the structural integrity of additively manufactured components . Work in this area addresses the influence of welding and AM process variables on microstructure , fracture behaviour and fatigue performance . Sub-commissions and dedicated working groups have been established to develop practical methodologies for fracture avoidance , fitness-for-service assessment and the qualification of AM components for demanding applications .

14

The ongoing energy transition has introduced new and challenging service environments , with hydrogen technologies emerging as a major topic across several Commissions. Current research activities include fracture toughness testing at cryogenic temperatures for liquid hydrogen storage , studies of hydrogen-induced fracture mechanisms in steels , and the assessment and inspection of welded joints in hydrogen pipelines . Round-robin testing programmes , focused intermediate meetings and the preparation of draft standards all demonstrate the strong commitment of the Structural Integrity group to supporting the safe deployment of hydrogen infrastructure . Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are increasingly acting as key enabling tools within this group. They support activities such as microstructure simulation , prediction of weld properties , and fracture and fatigue assessment , and are being explored more widely for the design and evaluation of welded structures . In parallel, knowledge exchange is strengthened through joint seminars , symposia and collaborative meetings .

Prof. Mitsuru Ohata TMB Member - Group 2 (CV, IX, X, XI, XIII, XV) Chair of IIW Commission X Structural Performances of Welded Joints - Fracture Avoidance

StructuraIndustry Support - Enabling Sustainable and Transferable Innovation The Industry Support group plays an essential role in ensuring that scientific and technological advances developed within IIW are effectively transferred into industrial practice . Through coordinated activities in standardisation , health and safety , education and training , and quality management , the group provides the frameworks and tools needed to make innovation both sustainable and widely applicable . Standardisation remains a central element of this work. Important progress has been achieved with the preparation of a new part of the ISO 25901 series dedicated to laser welding , which is ready to move forward within the relevant ISO technical committees . At the same time, the revision of ISO/TR 25901-1 on general terms and definitions has been initiated, recognising the need to keep basic terminology aligned with rapidly evolving welding and allied processes . Further activities related to plastics joining and thermal cutting extend the scope of industrial support provided by the group. Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) aspects are becoming increasingly important as new technologies are introduced into industrial environments . The Industry Support group offers an interdisciplinary platform for monitoring regulatory developments , exchanging experience and developing best practices related to exposure to physical and chemical agents . A notable result of this work is the collaborative publication of guidance on handheld laser beam welding , addressing safety aspects of a technology with growing industrial relevance . Other important focus areas include welding fumes , fume extraction and mitigation strategies , and the increasing use of collaborative robot welding systems . Education, training and human capital development form another key pillar of Industry Support activities. Work in this area explores innovative training approaches such as digital learning , augmented and virtual reality , intelligent manufacturing concepts and the use of large language models . Particular emphasis is placed on attracting the next generation , including Young Professionals , and on supporting educators in responding to evolving technological and pedagogical challenges . Complementary activities in quality management focus on updating standards , defining competency requirements for quality personnel and integrating digitalisation and AI into quality management systems , providing practical and globally relevant support to industry and end-users .

Mr David Werba TMB Member - Group 3 (VI,VIII, XIV, XVIII) Chair of IIW Commission VIII Health, Safety and Environment

As a closing and shared remarkable shared by the three representatives, the efficient involvement of Young Professionals in the Technical Commissions stands out as one of the key highlights, making a substantial contribution to the quality, continuity and effectiveness of IIW’s technical work.

15

IIW WORKING UNITS

Mr Ing. Doug Kautz C-I / Additive Manufacturing, Surfacing, and Thermal Cutting

Dr Zhuyao Zhang C-II / Arc Welding and Filler Metals

Prof. Dr Ing. Hee Seock Chang C-III / Resistance Welding, Solid State Welding and Allied Joining Process

Dr Patrick W. Hochanadel C-IV / Power Beam Processes

Charles Macleod C-V / NDT and Quality Assurance of Welded Products

Mr Jérôme Dietsch C-VI / Terminology

Prof. Dr Ing Jolanta Janczak-Rusch C-VII / Microjoining and Nanojoining

Mr David Werba C-VIII / Health, Safety and Environment

Dr Hee Jin Kim C-IX / Behaviour of Metals Subjected to Welding

Prof. Mitsuru Ohata C-X / Structural Performances of Welded Joints - Fracture Avoidance

16

Prof. SuJun WU C-XI / Pressure Vessels, Boilers and Pipelines

Prof. Satoshi Yamane C-XII / Arc Welding Processes and Production Systems

Dr.-Ing. Majid Farajian (Chair of WG-TCOM) C-XIII / Fatigue of Welded Components and Structures

Dr Rick Polanin C-XIV / Education and Training

Prof. Kyong-Ho Chang C- XV / Design, Analysis, and Fabrication of Welded Structures

Prof. Dr Sergio Amancio C-XVI / Polymer Joining and Adhesive Technology

Dr Huaping Xiong C- XVII / Brazing, Soldering and Diffusion Bonding

Giovanni Garbarino C-XVIII / Quality Management in Welding and Allied Processes

Isabelle Choquet C-XIX / Physics of Welding

17

SHARING WITH PEERS WORKING GROUP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ghazal Moeini, IWE Chair, IIW Working Group Young Professionals Steering Commettee

Dear IIW Members and Colleagues, It has been an inspiring and productive year for the Working Group “Young Professionals” (WG-YP). Our community continues to grow as a vibrant, international network

where young researchers and engineers connect, collaborate, and contribute to the advancement of joining and welding technologies. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire International Institute of Welding (IIW), the IIW Secretariat, and especially to the Board of Directors for their trust and continuous support in providing this platform for the Young Professionals Steering

Committee (YP SC) to thrive and engage. Together, we successfully organized YPIC 2025, which has become a true success story. This year, we are especially proud to highlight one of our award winners, Rakhi Bawa, who has since joined the Steering Committee as an active member, further strengthening and shaping our growing YP family.

As I prepare to hand over the Chair role to Tamas Toth (Germany) at the IIW Annual Assembly in Salzburg, I do so with gratitude and confidence in the continued growth and impact of our group.

I remain committed to supporting IIW’s mission to empower the next generation of welding professionals and to expand opportunities for collaboration across all regions.

I encourage all member societies to actively support and inspire young professionals and students by engaging them in upcoming initiatives such as YPIC 2026 Online and the Young Professionals Meeting at the IIW Annual Assembly. Looking ahead, our focus will remain on

connecting young professionals with technical commissions, supporting regional initiatives, and fostering innovation through global exchange. Together, we will continue to “Join to the Future” and build an even stronger international community.

With sincere appreciation and optimism, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ghazal Moeini, IWE Chair, IIW Working Group Young Professionals

18

SHARING WITH PEERS WORKING GROUP STANDARDISATION

Mr Jérôme Dietsch Chair, WG STAND (France)

First, a need, an idea. Second, a concept, a design and the need for research and development. Then studies, experimentation, evaluation and validation. Finally, implementation, optimisation and industrialization. The IIW, constituting a unique gathering of world-class recognized experts and professionals has the unique capacity input and assistance throughout all these steps to innovation. But an ultimate goal that might be misconsidered is standardization, the key tool allowing adoption of unified approaches and solutions beneficial to all stakeholders of a specific subject, including fabricators, end-users and regulators. Even at this step, the IIW is still there to help and assist the global welding and joining community on its path to enhance human activities and efforts to create safer and reliable societies. Indeed, the organization has since the 1980s developed a close relationship with ISO, the International Organisation for Standardization and is recognised as an International Standardization body in the field of welding and a wide range of allied techniques and processes.

Since then, key outcomes have been the publication of a number of International Standards, Technical Specification and Technical Reports, very often adopted by regional and national entities, as for example by CEN (the European Committee for Standardization) and its members. This is notably the case for such aspects as for example, welding consumables, resistance and solid-state

joining processes, non-destructive testing of welds, terminology, health and Safety, fatigue performance of welded structures and personnel and quality management. In 2025, besides all the efforts regarding the maintenance and update of more then 30 already existing ISO deliverables under the responsibility of the IIW, a new project has been developed regarding requirements and guidelines for weldments on hydrogen transportation pipelines, illustrating again the leading role IIW plays in setting up the standards for the future of the industry and even for the well-being of people and the need for an environment-friendly, efficient and sustainable World.

19

LEARNING INTERNATIONAL AUTHORISATION BOARD MESSAGE OF IAB CHAIR AND CEO

Mr Fernando Mañas llW-IAB Chair (Spain)

Mrs Rute Ferraz llW-IAB CEO (Portugal)

In 2025, the IAB network continued to develop the technical initiatives undertaken by Groups A and B, focusing respectively on Education, Training and Qualification, and on Authorization and Certification. Strategic priorities concerning IAB governance, as well as the promotion and positioning of the IIW System, were also addressed at the IAB Board level. Meetings were held in hybrid format during the IIW winter sessions, and in person at the IIW Annual Assembly in Genoa, Italy, in June. A key milestone during the year was the strengthening of collaboration between the TMB and the IAB through the establishment of the joint Task Group TG TM/IA. This initiative supported the identification of emerging technologies and recent developments, contributing to the enhancement of key guidelines, including the one for the International Welding Engineer (IWE). The IAB continued to support the welding sector by promoting an effective global system for the education and qualification of professionals. This mission is fulfilled through the ongoing development and implementation of the IIW Education, Training, Qualification and Certification System. Several rules and guideline documents underwent review and revision during the year to ensure alignment with the most recent industry demands.

CERTIFICATION AND DIPLOMA ACTIVITY - 2025 RESULTS In 2025, the following were issued worldwide: • 7.789 Diplomas • 672 Personnel Certificates (new and renewals) • 728 Company Certificates (new and renewals) These figures represent a 9% overall increase compared to the previous year. Cumulatively, by the end of 2024, the system had issued: • 198.521 Diplomas

• 2.609 Personnel Certificates (only new) • 3.448 Company Certificates (only new)

A notable achievement was the accelerated digital transformation across the majority of ANBs and ANBCCs. The transition toward fully digital diplomas and certificates is expected to enhance document integrity while supporting sustainability objectives through reduced paper consumption. STRATEGIC OUTLOOK Looking ahead, the primary challenge lies in expanding the implementation of the IIW Education , Training , Qualification and Certification System , guided by the IIW strategy and IAB Operational Plan. Particular emphasis is placed on increasing adoption in Asia with examples, as the implementation of the International Additive Manufacturing System (IAMQS) guidelines in some Asian countries, and in Africa where some countries are joining in the welding system. The continued engagement of all Members is crucial to ensure long-term stability and sustainability of the IIW-IAB framework, the pursuit of new areas of activity, and the ability to respond effectively to evolving market requirements .

20

LEARNING INTERNATIONAL AUTHORISATION BOARD ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: WHO IS DOING WHAT

Mr Horia Dascau IIW-IAB Group A Chair (Romania)

Mr Stefano Morra IIW-IAB Group B Chair (Italy)

GROUP A 'EDUCATION, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION' IS RESPONSIBLE TO: • Develop and revise the Qualification Guidelines, Alternative Route rules and requirements and deal with Blended Learning Programs; • Develop and manage the harmonised examinations. Approval of the IAB Guidelines is the responsibility of Group A. 2025 HIGHLIGHTS FROM GROUP A In 2025, Group A advanced the IIW-IAB education and qualification system through modularisation, harmonisation, and digital transformation. Key activities included: • Progressing the modular revision of the IAB-252 guideline, with dedicated teams working on each module. A new version is expected in January 2026. • Integrating GREENWELD project results into the Welder guideline as optional content, supporting sustainability goals. • Revising the Welding Inspector (IWIP) guideline, including updates to syllabus and harmonised exams. Feedback from ANBs led to simplification of exam structure and scoring. • Enhancing the Harmonised Examination Database, with over 250 questions updated and new features like automatic scoring and statistical analysis in development. • Expanding blended learning, including integration into laser processing and mechanized welding guidelines. OP-15 and IAB-195 are under revision. • Develop new Working Group rules, including rules on the participation, intermediate meetings, and expert nominations from ANBs.

GROUP B 'IMPLEMENTATION, AUTHORISATION AND CERTIFICATION' IS RESPONSIBLE TO: • Develop, maintain, and revise the Rules and Operational Procedures for implementing the Qualification Guidelines and the Certification Systems; • Grant and confirm authorisations of Authorised Nominated Bodies (ANBs) and Authorised Nominated Bodies for Company Certification (ANBCCs); • Approve Access Conditions, Transition Arrangements and Blended Learning Programs; • Appoint Assessors. Approval of the IAB Rules and Operating procedures is the responsibility of Group B. IAB Peer, Blended Learning and Lead Assessors are Experts of the llW-IAB qualification and certification systems and are responsible for assessing ANBs and ANBCCs against the llW-IAB Rules. 2025 HIGHLIGHTS FROM GROUP B In 2025, Group B made significant strides in improving access equity and certification system recognition welding professionals. Highlights include: • Approval of harmonised Access Conditions for International Wedling Engineer, replacing the National Access Conditions. Implementation begins on 1 February 2026. • Increase the issuance of digital diplomas by IAB Members, with ANBs integrated and paper diplomas to be phased out. • Ongoing accreditation of the IIW CIWIP Certification System by IAF, with technical evaluation underway. • Development of digital audit feedback forms and updates to assessor documentation to streamline authorisation processes.

21

IAMQS

EWF and IIW continue cooperating in the implementation, promotion, and development of the International Additive Manufacturing Qualification System (IAMQS)

In 2025, the IAMQS continued to strengthen its global presence and expand its scope of qualifications, marking another year of significant progress. The system is now implemented in an increasing number of countries, reinforcing its position as the global benchmark for personnel qualification in Additive Manufacturing (AM). The IAMQS - International Additive Manufacturing Qualification System was created by industry and for industry to ensure that companies and professionals are equipped with the right set of skills to implement Additive Manufacturing at the industrial level . The IAMQS is also based on the engagement with various AM stakeholders operating in the global market, in close connection with Standards requirements and with the support of EU funds . The 1 st international harmonised qualification system in AM is managed by EWF and has also been supported by the International Institute of Welding (IIW) with the objective of creating a global network of qualification and training institutions across the world . IAMQS currently offers 13 Qualifications in Additive Manufacturing , and more than 70 short courses defined in Competence Units .

GLOBAL EXPANSION AND NEW AUTHORIZATIONS The IAMQS network grew with the approval of new AM Authorised Nominated Bodies (AM ANBs) and the launch of new courses worldwide. • CESOL (Spain ) received full authorisation to deliver the AM Coordinator Qualification. • Chinese Welding Society (CWS) joined the network as a new AM ANB. • 3D GENS (Malaysia) became the newest AM ANB, expanding the IAMQS reach in Southeast Asia.

• JWES (Japan) successfully delivered the CU-00 “Additive Manufacturing Process Overview” course to around 75 participants, contributing to the development of AM education in Asia.

• In Morocco , AFS delivered the first Operator PBF-LB course, marking the expansion of IAMQS activities in Africa. Over the year, IAMQS issued approximately 500 Records of Achievement through EU-funded projects, further demonstrating its impact in supporting skill development and professional recognition in AM.

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDISATION ALIGNMENT During 2025, IAMQS continued its active participation in ISO/TC 261 – Additive Manufacturing , ensuring that qualification standards evolve in alignment with international industry needs. The system maintained its strong link with standards such as ISO/ASTM 52926 and ISO/ASTM 52935, now recognised references for AM personnel qualification. A new qualification for “Metal Designer Technician” was approved, with corresponding Competence Units (CUs) added to the IAMQS catalogue. Additionally, new examination questions were validated and integrated into the international database to maintain harmonised assessment quality. IAMQS reinforced its engagement with the European Defence Agency (EDA) by participating in the AM for Logistic Support (AMLS) Group, supporting the integration of AM education and qualification within the defence sector.

For more information please visit: https://www.ewf.be/qualification/iamqs.aspx

22

2026/28 IIW AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS

11-17 July 2026 SALZBURG, AUSTRIA 79° IIW ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WELDING AND JOINING 5-9 October 2026 UZHHOROD, UKRAINE VIII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

FUTURE IIW EVENTS 15-20 October 2026 NANTONG CITY, JIANGSU PROVINCE, CHINA 2026 ARC CUP INTERNATIONAL WELDING COMPETITION 4-7 April 2028 DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY IIW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN WELD ART 4-7 April 2028 SINGAPORE

ON WELDING AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES (WRT 2026)

8-10 October 2026 CHENNAI, INDIA WELDING RESEARCH & COLLABORATION COLLOQUIUM (WRCC),

IIW INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON ADVANCING INTELLIGENT WELDING AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

PAST IIW EVENTS 5-6 September 2025 NEW DELHI, INDIA YPIC INDIA 17-19 September 2025 ESSEN, GERMANY INTERNATIONAL WELDERS COMPETITION September/November 2025 BEIJING, CHINA 13° ARC CUP INTERNATIONAL WELDING COMPETITION 2025

22-27 June 2025 GENOA, ITALY 78° IIW ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WELDING AND JOINING

1-3 December 2025 HONG KONG, CHINA

19° INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TUBULAR STRUCTURES (ISTS19)

5-6 February 2026 ONLINE 3 rd YOUNG PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE (YPIC 2023)

23

INFLUENCING WELDING IN THE WORLD ANNUAL REPORT 2025

In 2025, Volume 69 of Welding in the World published 256 papers comprising over 3,900 pages of fundamental and applied research associated with materials joining and allied technologies. Figure 1 shows the distribution of these papers by Technology Area

Technical Editors

Managing Editor

Dr Majid Farajian (Germany)

Prof. Américo Scotti (Brazil)

Erdmuthe Raufelder (Germany)

Prof. Thomas Kannengiesser (Germany)

Prof. Norbert Enzinger (Austria)

Key Performance Indicators (2024 value)

Change from 2022

Number of papers submitted (798)

37%

Number of paper decisions (652)

27%

Technology areas of the Welding in the World journal 2025 ( Figure 1 ) Additive Manufacting 14% Arc Welding Processes 9% Brazing and Soldering 9% Design and Fitness-for-Service 16% HED Processes 10% Metallurgy and Materials 21% Solid-State Process 10% Other 10%

Number of papers published (220)

18%

Number of pages published (3315)

24%

Total Cites (4220)

29%

CiteScore (4.6)

21%

SCI Impact Factor (2.5)

19%

Full text Downloads (429,890) 71% Royalties paid by Springer (62,472 Euro - 2024) 90%

Table 1. Key Performance Indicators values in 2024 and the changes in comparison with the year 2022

The journal continues to publish papers in a wide range of advanced technological areas associated with scientific aspects of materials joining science, technology, and performance including artificial intelligence in design and manufacturing. Following a tradition established in 2023 the IIW is organizing a symposium on Intelligent Welding Manufacturing (IWM) held as part of the Annual Assembly. This symposium is dedicated to the advancements in key technologies for future intelligent/smart, robotic, and automated welding manufacturing. The journal supports the IWM Symposium by publishing selected papers in topical collections. Focus of the 2025 Symposium was generative AI enabling new solutions. Accepted papers will be published in a special issue in the first half of 2026.

24