ExpoWELDING 2024

Machines and equipment, including robots, new technologies and solutions for safety, and expertise from specialists in welding. Nearly one hundred exhibitors and 3,300 participants contributed to the 8th edition of the International Welding Fair ExpoWELDING, which was held for the first time at the International Congress Centre in Katowice. The Best of Welding awards were presented during a special ceremony. The classical formula was expanded with the 63rd International Welding Conference, 5th International Gluing Seminar, XIV Stainless Steel Forum, and the WELDING Zone with all-welding debates.

ExpoWELDING at the International Congress Centre in Katowice was held from 18 to 20 October this year. Over the three days, the participants in the most important welding event in Poland and one of the key ones in Europe could get practical advice directly from leading welding experts.

‘Some among the nearly 100 exhibitors were national and international leaders in welding equipment, software, robotisation, and automation. The event fostered forging new and cementing old business relationships. The fair was very popular among welders, managers, and factory engineers, which confirms its value to welding professionals,’  said Wioletta Błońska-Dudek, Project Manager for EXPO and coordinator of ExpoWELDING.

Estimates put the number of welders in Poland at 150 thousand, with much more people linked to the industry in such sectors as automotive, mining, or construction.

‘Our events are dedicated to specialist and their needs, and I believe we managed to satisfy them once again. For a few days, Katowice became the capital of this industry that is crucial to the Polish economy. I am happy ExpoWELDING has a new home,’ added Wioletta Błońska-Dudek. 

Apart from the standard fair formula, the event boasted the WELDING Zone where visitors could listen to experts talk about the current state of the industry and its future. The Zone hosted managers from top Polish welding players. The speakers included Andrzej Korpak, President of Stellantis Gliwice, Mirosław Motyka, President of the Polish Steel Association (HIPH), Henryk Orczykowski, President and CEO of Stalprofil, Zygmunt Mikno, Deputy Director of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Welding, Janusz Gajowiecki, President of the Polish Wind Energy Association, Piotr Monsiorski, Sales Director at Famur SA responsible for wind energy sector development, and Robert Ostrach, Head of the NDT Laboratory at SGS Polska. 

The second day of the event was crowned with The Best of Welding award gala night. Eight manufacturers were rewarded for the most interesting, innovative technical solutions, devices and equipment, materials, software, and auxiliary equipment.

A parallel event was held over the same three days, the 63rd International Welding Conference: ‘Welding in the Network of New Opportunities’ under the auspices of the Ministry of Development and Technology, which attracted two hundred participants. Another fringe event was the 5th International Gluing Seminar. This event, dedicated to employees of facilities where glueing is used, specialists, engineers, and glue manufacturers, focused on new technologies of industrial glue applications, bus industry glueing processes, and glueing of different materials. Both events were held by the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Welding from Gliwice, the honorary patron of ExpoWELDING.

‘We are glad the International Welding Conference and ExpoWELDING are back in Katowice. We've noticed people are more interested in such events now that the pandemic restrictions are over. The attendance among the conference participants and visitors to our stand was satisfactory. We received many opinions from visitors happy with the new location for the event. They stressed that both the fair and fringe events abounded in interesting propositions, which illustrates the level of the event,’ said Barbara Wolnicka, Director of Communication and Marketing at Łukasiewicz – Welding Institute.

According to representatives of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Welding, it is a tried and effective approach to science-industry communication to combine conferences with a welding fair. Topics discussed by conference speakers could be easily juxtaposed with their practical applications at the stands of welding machinery and materials manufacturers.

‘The fair operator created an opportunity for us to present our research results on posters to conference participants and all visitors to ExpoWELDING. Twenty welding projects on impressive boards is the perfect way to reach a broader audience with the research capabilities of our welding researchers,’ emphasised Mirosław Łomozik, DSc Eng., Head of the Conference Scientific Committee.

On 19 October, visitors could participate in the XIV Stainless Steel Forum. Outstanding speakers, key business partners, and relevant discussions: the forum was the perfect platform to exchange views, experience, and knowledge on the latest solutions in stainless steel.