The 69th Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) was held in Melbourne in July 2016. The Conference gathers experts in welding and related technologies from around the world, and this year it brought together over 700 delegates from 55 different countries.

The 69th Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) was held in Melbourne in July 2016. The Conference gathers experts in welding and related technologies from around the world, and this year it brought together over 700 delegates from 55 different countries. 

It is the most prestigious event in the welding sector on a global level where experts in working groups share their information regarding research outcomes and technological development.  "At a time of political, economic and ethnic turmoil in the world, such a spirit of cooperation of people from diverse cultures, religions and economies is noteworthy and exemplary," said Ing. Peter Ďurík, head of the Secretariat of the Slovak IIW Committee.

The main topic of the Conference was the life cycle of welded components from the project, through design and manufacture, installation, maintenance and repair up to their removal — the overall quality, suitability of materials and elongation of the durability of welded components. Ing. Peter Ďurík adds: "Sharing information on the international level will be beneficial for the industry on a global scale, which fulfils the main aim of the Conference". 

Next year the 70th Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding will be held in Shanghai. In 2018 it will be held in Istanbul, and in 2019 the world's experts in welding gather in Bratislava, Slovakia.