IIW History 1990-2015

welding technology. In developing relationships with IIW members even further, the application of friction stir welding in China was strengthened through an agreement between BAMTRI and TWI to establish a Friction Stir Welding Centre in 2002. 24 From that point on China was to utilise friction stir welding in aerospace applications including the manufacture of airline storage panel components and carrier rocket storage tanks. In the main, fundamental research into the welding of new materials and joining of composites for the aerospace industry is undertaken by specialist research organisations throughout the world such as TWI and BAMTRI, many of which are directly or indirectly associated with IIW Working Units. Appropriately, global industry demands and

Ernest Levert

new developments in the aviation industry have necessitated re-activation of the previous Select Committee Air (SC-AIR), to cover permanent joints in new materials and coatings for aircraft engineering under the chairmanship of Prof. Shuili Gong (China). The work of this committee covers the latest joining technologies for new aircraft and the research needs of the aviation and aerospace industries where IIW’s expertise and international networking capabilities can effectively be utilised, in particular in the areas of solid state welding, power beam processes, behaviour of materials, new welding filler metals for aircraft structures and engine components, and the use of advanced NDT of aircraft joints and adhesive-based repair joints. Again it will be the use of innovative welding processes such as electron beam and laser beam welding and other developments that will lead the way in the quest for man to explore the outer regions of space and the universe. Critical infrastructure is also inclusive of road and rail

transport, so important in the transfer of materials, goods, other resources and people within a country, or between countries. This includes construction and maintenance of roads, building of bridges, viaducts, canals and other crucial structures to overcome natural geographical barriers. With respect to improvements to road transport, including heavy vehicles, one of IIW’s Select Committees on Automotive and Road Transport (SC-AUTO), has played a

LINKING PEOPLE, JOINING NATIONS strategic role in leading discussions on the application of new technologies and materials concerning joining in the automotive industry in order to improve vehicle safety while, at the same time, decreasing vehicle

Michael Rethmeier