(pressebox) (Aachen/Düsseldorf, 2017-04-10) From March 21 to 22, Aachen (well-known for the cathedral, the Charlemagne Prize and the Printen gingerbread) was the venue of the 4th IEBW International Electron Beam Welding Conference. At the invitation of the German Welding Society (DVS), the expert world of electron beam welding congregated above the roofs of the imperial city in the conference building of the Rhineland-Westphalia University of Technology (RWTH) in Aachen in order to discuss the latest knowledge from the sector.

In the two-day lecture programme, the 77 scientists, engineers and technologists from all over the world obtained information about subjects such as surface machining and process simulation methods as well as about the newest innovations, e.g. additive manufacturing. The participants travelled from 13 different countries in total - most of them from Germany, America, Great Britain and Japan. In this respect, the public was widely diversified - from experienced users from industry and proficient researchers to interested people who wanted to obtain new knowledge about the application possibilities of electron beam welding. A lot of the people delivering the lectures were young speakers who, in part, also make use of the promotion of the DVS/IIW Young Professionals. They reported on the latest knowledge from their doctoral theses and subsequently put this up for discussion.

The organisers were pleased about the good participation and the lively exchange of experience. The around 25 lectures had previously been recorded in the proceedings which were entitled "International Electron Beam Welding Conference 2017" and were handed over to all the participants at the beginning of the session. Thus, it is possible to read the individual specialist lectures once again and to work through the subjects. In the evening of the event, there was a well-visited Networking Event at which the participants were able to review the lectures in a pleasant atmosphere and to intensify their contacts.

DVS itself is intensively dedicated to the subject of "electron beam welding" and shows its commitment in its "Research and Technology" and "Education and Certification" departments. On their expert committees and in their working groups, the Research Association on Welding and Allied Processes of DVS and the Technical Committee (AfT) in DVS elaborate new projects as well as DVS technical bulletins, technical codes and guidelines in German and English for the sector. On the Education Committee (AfB), Expert Group 4.7: "Training for Beam Welding" in particular deals with refining electron beam welding and establishing the technology in industry. In all the bodies, experts from industry, educational establishments, higher education institutions and skilled trades come together in order to explore new aspects of joining technology, to record these and to pass them on using the training.

In a biennial rhythm, the International Electron Beam Welding Conference is alternately organised by the American Welding Society (AWS) and DVS. Dr. Ing. Wilfried Behr from the Jülich Research Centre acted as the Technical Director of the event. Every time, the International Institute of Welding (IIW) is a co-organiser. Furthermore, IEBW is supported by Ernest Levert (Chairman of IIW Commission IV B), Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, a US technology company focusing on aircraft and spacecraft construction. Levert was the President of AWS from 2002 to 2003.

Now, all the experts in electron beam welding can already make a note of the fifth IEBW which will take place in Chicago/USA in 2019.