IIW History 1990-2015

Activities at the successful third ‘Arc Cup’ International Welding Competition, Beijing, China, 2014

the exchange of international welders. The intention was to hold the event every even year in Beijing and at other venues every other year in participating countries. Since its inception, the ‘Arc Cup’ has become a platform for international welding and technology and has increased the development and recognition of welding skills in the countries involved in the organisation of the competition (China, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Indonesia, Korea, Mongolia, Romania, Singapore, USA, UK and Ireland). Over 285 welders from 25 countries, including Chinese national enterprises and vocational schools, took part in the ‘Arc Cup’ in 2014. 29 The event was to gain even further international status as a result of its success and is destined to play an even more important role with the decision, made in Helsinki in 2015, for IIW to support the next scheduled event in Beijing in 2016, with further support in 2017 when the ‘Arc Cup’ will be held in conjunction with the 70th IIWAnnual Assembly in Shanghai, 25-30 June 2017. With respect to regional activities, the business of attracting young engineers from around the world to the ranks of IIW has been a common cause and was frequently raised in discussion at Annual Assemblies. Dr Baldev Raj (India), for instance, was a devout enthusiast of supporting young people to attend IIW International Congresses and associated events during his period as President 2011-2014. As a result it has become an important

LINKING PEOPLE, JOINING NATIONS