IIW Annual Report 2025

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 .

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