8th International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding, (8ISFSW)
Timmendorfer Strand, Lübeck, Germany 18th-20th May 2010

This event was held in the idyllic surroundings of Timmendorfer Strand situated on the Baltic Sea approximately 15 km northeast of Lübeck. Almost 200 delegates came from countries all around the world to participate in this successful Symposium despite air travel difficulties.

80 technical papers presented a detailed overview of the current state of the art, demonstrating both new and incremental developments in FSW technology and how it is being used in industry. A number of companies exhibited their products during the symposium, and this was appreciated by the delegates.

Delegates were treated to a special event on the evening of the first day when Wayne Thomas, the inventor of the Friction Stir Welding process and a force behind its development delivered a special keynote review of FSW Technology. This was followed by a buffet reception giving delegates the opportunity to thank Wayne for his contribution to friction technology and wishing him a happy retirement.

This event was run on behalf of the Friction Stir Welding Licensees Association by TWI, with a great deal of local assistance from the GKSS. Over 60 delegates took the opportunity to visit GKSS in Geesthacht taking a tour of their facilities and the friction stir welding laboratory followed by a barbeque lunch.

Figure 1 shows the Symposium venue located on the shores of the Baltic Sea

Figure 2 shows Wayne Thomas receiving an award from the FSW Licensees Association presented by the three delegates who have attended all eight Symposia. These are from left to right, Jorge dos Santos (GKSS, Germany), Wayne Thomas, Kevin Colligan (Concurrent Technologies Corporation, USA) and Masaki Kumagai (Sumitomo Light Metals, Japan)

The 9th Symposium will take place in the USA in 2012, when Concurrent Technologies Corporation will be our local partner.