Representing a true world summit of welding experts, the 2012 Annual Assembly of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) was held last month in Denver, Colorado. In the 65-year history of IIW Annual Assemblies, this notable meeting has been held in the US only four times, and this year’s Assembly was widely considered a tremendous success by representatives of the 49 IIW member countries who participated.
The 2012 Annual Assembly was organized by the IIW American Council, consisting of the American Welding Society (AWS) (aws.org), the Edison Welding Institute, and the Welding Research Council. Co-chairs for the event were Dr. Damian Kotecki and Mr. Thomas Mustaleski, both AWS past presidents.
In all, some 800 international IIW delegates, experts, and guests attended the event, participating in IIW Commission Meetings to share information on the latest joining and cutting technologies. Commission IV, for example, on Power Beam Processes, included a talk by Nils Murray on welding and cutting by electron beam without a vacuum environment. Cutting was performed on materials 15–30 mm thick at high speed in stainless steel, aluminum, and copper. Commission VIII, Health, Safety, and Environment, featured a presentation by Susan Fiore on research into development of low-manganese flux-cored and metal-cored electrodes.
Fume tests on the electrodes with CO2 shielding showed an 83 percent reduction in generation of manganese compared to a standard E71T1 flux-cored electrode. Commission XI, Pressure Vessels, Boilers, and Pipelines, included a talk on laser-arc hybrid welding X70 pipe that allowed highspeed production of a root weld on offshore JLay pipe sections, followed by joint completion with normal GMAW welding.
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