IIW supports the development of welding, joining and allied processes since 1948.
Initially focused on metals, IIW now covers welding and joining of all materials.

Discover IIW History

2023
16.07 | IIW is in new shape!

During the 76th Annual Assembly, IIW Announces a new visual identity, with a new logo, tagline and a brand new set of communication tools.

The logo keeps its liaison with the past and clearly identifies its relation with the people in the entire world and its history with welding to promote the development of a safer and sustainable world.

IIW video

16.07 | A new strategy for IIW

At the 76th IIW General Assembly IIW approves a new vision, mission and strategic plan.

The Mission of IIW is The leading global welding community linking industry, research and education. The vision is Advance welding and joining through a worldwide network.

Vision and mission come with the acclamation of IIW core values, and a set of projects and objectives.

 

DOCUMENTS

IIW Strategy 2023-2028

 

2020
15.07 | The pandemic turns the IIW Annual Assembly Online and Hybrid
15.07 | The pandemic turns the IIW Annual Assembly Online and Hybrid

Having duly considered the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic, IIW decided to cancel the Annual Assembly and International Conference initially planned in SIngapore in 2020 and to run the first on-line IIW Annual Assembly. In 2021, restrictions to international travel required the cancellation of the event in Genoa and brought to the second online Annual Assembly.

IIW well succeeded in managing its technical and scientific activities through a virtual working environment which allowed all the groups to meet, discuss, recommend and develop deliverables as usual. In 2021, IIW was also able to hold the International Conference as usual and run virtual social events.

In 2022, the event was held in Tokyo in a Hybrid form, as Japan still was not fully open to any international traveller. Thanks to the great efforts of the organisers, the Japanese Welding Engineering Society (JWES), the event was run smoothly with great interaction between live and on-line participants.

DOCUMENTS

01.01 | THE IIW MOVES TO ITALY WITH A NEW CEO
01.01 | THE IIW MOVES TO ITALY WITH A NEW CEO

Upon decision taken at the extraordinary Assembly held on 7 July 2019 in Bratislava, the host country of the Secretariat and thus the organisation itself is moved from France to Italy.
Dr Luca COSTA is appointed as the new IIW CEO, and the address of the organisation is now Lungobisagno Istria 15, 16141 Genoa (Italy).
The services for the IIW General Secretariat will be delivered by Istituto Italiano della Saldatura, the Italian Institute of Welding (IIS Group), a founder member of the IIW.

2018
15.07 | THE IIW IS TAKING A NEW DIRECTION

During the 71st General Assembly, IIW Members approved the new Mission and Vision serving a new 5-year Strategic Plan.

2017
25.06 | LOOKING BACK TO 25 YEARS OF HISTORY
25.06 | LOOKING BACK TO 25 YEARS OF HISTORY

During the 70th IIW Annual Assembly in Shanghai, P.R. China, a new book on the history of the organisation was shared with the community. More than 40 contributors participated in the preparation of this outstanding book covering the period from 1990 to 2015.

2015
A MATURE ORGANIZATION

By the end of 2015, IIW membership reached a record high of 59 Member Countries and approx. 125,000 IAB diplomas were awarded since 2000. Nearly 1,700 companies worldwide, including 278 new ones, were certified by 26 ANBCCs in 2015.

2014
FROM IN-HOUSE TO PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHING

The change from in-house to professional publication, through the partnership with Springer, resulted in the exposure and the growing influence of the “Welding in World” journal within the scientific community.

THE RISE OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Resolutely turned towards the future, IIW intended to highlight the next generation of leaders and scientists throughout the first Young Professionals Evening, followed by the first Young Professional International Conference (YPIC) held in Hungary.

START OF THE IIW FELLOW PROGRAMME
START OF THE IIW FELLOW PROGRAMME

Launching of the Fellow of IIW (FIIW) award, which celebrate lifetime achievement through distinguished contributions to the field of welding science and technology, and for promoting and sustaining the professional stature of the field. The first awards were presented in 2015.

2013
DEVELOPMENT AND UPLIFTMENT OF THE NATIONAL WELDING CAPABILITY

Working Group Regional Activities (WG-RA) introduced a new project entitled “Establishing a National Welding Capability (NWC)” as part of its WeldCare programme developed in 1996.

2012
THE IIW WHITE PAPER
THE IIW WHITE PAPER

The IIW White Paper published with the financial support of several Member Societies and prepared by IIW experts from around the world was a means of stimulating interest in the development of a shared vision of a sustainable and desirable future.
Looking forward to see you all soon!

DOCUMENTS

IIW White paper

2010
A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE IIW QUALIFICATION & CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

A historic year for the International Authorization Board (IAB), during which over 10 000 diplomas were issued for the very first time.

MICRO- AND NANO-JOINING
MICRO- AND NANO-JOINING

SC-Microjoining’s title changed to “Research and Development in Micro- and Nano-Joining Technology”, which became C-VII “Microjoining and Nanojoining” in 2017.

A JUMP INTO 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

IIW has improved the service provided to the membership through the launch of a set of modern online services. The new website became available on 2010.

2009
DEVELOPING CONNECTIONS WITH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

To encourage young people’s participation in IIW, a special registration category for events was created with the support of DVS, the German Member Society.

IIW, ISQ AND EWF

Contractual Joint Secretariat agreement signed between IIW, ISQ and EWF, on one hand, and licensing agreement signed between IIW and EWF, on the other hand.

2008
IIW AS MIRROR OF POLITICAL UPHEAVALS
IIW AS MIRROR OF POLITICAL UPHEAVALS

IIW’s membership always reflected the world’s political changes: in the 90’s, when several countries broke up into distinct countries, e.g. Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, members were added to or re-joined IIW. In the early 2000’s new members, e.g. Nigeria, Morocco, South Korea, made IIW truly representative of the world at large. The Arab Spring led some countries, e.g. Tunisia and Libya, to suspend their membership.

THE BIRTH OF A TASK GROUP GOVERNANCE

Task Group Governance (TG-Gov) appointed to investigate the present governance situation of IIW and make adjustments or changes where appropriate.

2007
THE 2007-2012 BUSINESS PLAN

The key points of this business plan were: “Drafting of best practices for sustainable development; Development/implementation of ETQ&C programmes on a global basis; Promotion of IIW in all regions of the world; Implementation of IIW’s outcomes; Provision of quality services to IIW Member Societies and other organizations.”

2006
A NEW AWARDS SYSTEM
A NEW AWARDS SYSTEM

In the permanent lighting of its men and women, IIW launched a new awards system recognizing its members’ attendances of over 40, 30, 20 and 10 years at Annual Assemblies.

SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH WORLDSKILLS INTERNATIONAL

IIW signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WorldSkills International, whose competitions at all levels provide a means for young vocational welding trainees to display their skills and improve the image of welding as a career.

2005
THE RISE OF INDIA

IIW organized the first IIW International Congress in India (Mumbai), a devoted and active member to the cause of promotion and advancement of welding science and technology.

IIW STATEMENT ON MANGANESE

Release of IIW Statement on Manganese summarizing evidence from scientific literature and making recommendations for the control of exposure and future research.

2004
COUNTRIES JOIN TO BE STRONGER

The National Welding Societies of Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia & Montenegro established the South-East European Network (SEENet) for welding technology transfer in the region.

2002
REORGANIZATION OF IIW

Title of the “Technical Committee” created in 1990 changed to “Technical Management Board”, that gave it more visibility and authority with responsibility for the general policy and objectives of all IIW’s scientific and technical activities and their role in producing standards.

THE PRINCIPLE OF COHABITATION

ISO accepted the principle of “cohabitation” that allows two paths for a standard in the case where two somewhat different systems of national/regional standards have evolved in the world market, e.g. for welding consumables.

2000
THE CHANGES OF BEAUFILS

The incoming CEO Daniel Beaufils improved the Secretariat’s operation, on many levels: new software, upgrading of the technical database, improved and user-friendly version of the website, changes to the Secretariat staff.

AN AUTHORISED NATIONAL BODY FOR COMPANY CERTIFICATION

The first country outside of Europe to have its IIW Authorised National Body (ANB) approved was China, then Japan, Australia and the USA. By the end of 2004, over 24 000 IIW diplomas had been issued and the IIW International Authorization Board (IAB) network consisted of 34 active ANBs.

1999
THE BIRTH OF AN IIW INTERNATIONAL AUTHORISATION BOARD

Setting up the IIW International Authorization Board (IAB) and global ETQ&C scheme gathered pace. Mrs Rute Ferraz became in particular the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IAB.

LAUNCHING OF THE FIRST WEBSITE

Launching of the first website before a newly revamped version in 2001 that aimed to create a user-friendly browsing experience. By 2003, IIW also refined the content for an enhanced user experience in storing and distributing Working Unit documents.

1998
AN AUTHORISED NATIONAL BODY FOR COMPANY CERTIFICATION

Italy and the UK became the first countries to have an authorized National Body for Company Certification (ANBCC) through EWF.

FROM PROFESSIONAL TO IN-HOUSE PUBLICATION

Elsevier, who had bought out Pergamon Press in 1992, ceased publication of Welding in the World. This has led IIW to resume in-house publication until 2012, when a partnership was created with Springer.

1997
A NEW IIW CONSTITUTION

A new IIW Constitution was approved at the San Francisco Annual Assembly and whose main changes were: “the Executive Council renamed Board of Directors, Governing Council renamed General Assembly, and a limit set on the Chairs’ terms of office.”

1995
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SINGLE SECRETARIAT

The concept of a single secretariat had been considered since the early 90’s. After years of numerous heated debates and interactions, at the Stockholm Annual Assembly, Institut de Soudure (France) was finally awarded the merged Secretariat role.

1994
FRENCH LANGUAGE, GOODBYE OLD FRIEND

IIW, bilingual (French/English) since its foundation, adopted English as its only official language towards the goal of speaking with one voice.

ETQ&C SCHEME

The Governing Council unanimously approved a resolution to go ahead with an IIW global education, training, qualification and certification (ETQ&C) scheme.

CREATION OF A NEW EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

New Executive Council WG “Regional Activities and Liaison with Developing Countries” (WG-RA) formed.

1992
EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF WELDING QUALIFICATIONS

EWF, formerly known as ECCW, extended a partnership arrangement for the recognition of welding qualifications to all countries in the European Union as well as to some Eastern European countries.

1991
THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT

Following the signing of the Vienna agreement, ISO, CEN and IIW concluded a tripartite agreement.

WELDING IN THE WORLD

Cooperation agreement signed with Woodhead Publishing for re-design and e-publishing of IIW books.

1990
MOVING TOWARDS A NEW VISION

In March Dr Eaton reported the provisional findings of the first strategic planning group to the Executive Council. At the subsequent Montreal Annual Assembly, he mentioned that IIW faced new challenges and opportunities in a time of rapid change, thus introducing a new vision for IIW – Towards 2000.

THE IIW DATABASE

Introduction of a computerised database as the first step towards electronic document management.

1988
THE FIRST REGIONAL IIW INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

Since the distance from certain regions precluded their greater involvement in IIW activities, e.g. attending Annual Assemblies, it was proposed to hold regional congresses. The first IIW Regional Congress was held in Hobart, Australia.

1986
FIRST STEPS WITH STANDARDS AUTHORITIES

In 1985 IIW applied to ISO to become an international standardizing body. By ISO resolution 24-1986, IIW was officially approved to develop standards in the field of welding and related processes.

1983
WELDING IN THE WORLD

To increase Welding in the World’s sales it was decided that Pergamon Press would take over publication of the journal.

1974
FOUNDATION OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL FOR COOPERATION IN WELDING

In 1974, the European Council for Cooperation in Welding (ECCW) was founded to meet the wide interest and need prevailing in Europe for harmonising qualifications of welding professionals, such as welding engineers, technologists, specialists and welders.

1968
EMERGENCE OF NEW WELDING TECHNOLOGIES
EMERGENCE OF NEW WELDING TECHNOLOGIES

The growing importance of new processes, termed special, e.g. electron beam, plasma and later laser welding, provoked the creation of Commission IV (C-IV) Special Welding Processes. C-IV changed name in 1985 to High Energy Density Welding and again in 2003 to Power Beam Processes.

1963
31.03 | FIRST PUBLICATION OF WELDING IN THE WORLD
31.03 | FIRST PUBLICATION OF WELDING IN THE WORLD

Guy Parsloe, Secretary General, a strong advocate of the Institute’s involvement in documentation and terminology, was particularly interested in the dissemination of the IIW’s work . In 1962, the Institute’s journal Welding in the World was first published directly by the Institute. The journal was bilingual (French/English) with Parsloe as joint editor in chief and André Leroy, Scientific and Technical Secretary as publication coordinator.

1948
11.06 | LAUNCHING OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WELDING (IIW)

Following WW II, many members of the welding community, including CPI members, actively sought to establish a truly international welding organisation. The stage was set for the official launch of the International Institute of Welding, which took place at a conference organised by the Belgian Institute of Welding, on 11 June 1948