Research projects


  • FRIEX : New friction welding method for automatic welding of pipelines

    The FRIEX project aims to develop a new variant of the friction welding process for fully automatic welding of pipes. Since pipe sections can have a length up to 18 meters, it is for practical reasons not possible to weld them using conventional friction welding. Therefore, a new variant of the friction welding process was developed. This research is conducted by the company Denys NV, and takes place in cooperation with the Belgian Welding Institute and laboratory Soete of the Ghent University and with support of the Flemish region (VLAIO/IWT).

  • HYBRISONIC: Ultrasonic supported processing of hybrid materials

    Metal-composite sandwich panels consist of two thin solid metal plates with in between a synthetic material (e.g. polyethylene), glued under high pressure. The metal plates, together with the plastic core, form a kind of sandwich plate. Different types of metals are used; mainly aluminium, but also stainless steel, coated steel, brass, titanium etc.

    The surface of aluminium sandwich plates is extremely flat, corrosion-free and has a low coefficient of expansion. The stiff aluminium sandwich plates combine these properties with excellent ink printing. This makes them ideally suited for stylish applications, such as advertising pillars, stand construction, advertising boards and displays.

    Start: 01-04-2019
    End: 01-04-2021
  • INNOJOIN: Development and evaluation of advanced welding technologies for multi-material design with dissimilar sheet metals

    The INNOJOIN project provides insight in new modern welding technologies for welding of dissimilar sheet metals and helps companies to identify the most suitable welding technology for their products. During the project, a few representative cases were developed, based on the input of the participating companies.

    Start: 01-03-2014
    End: 30-06-2016
  • INNOLAS: Cost reduction by using innovative welding processes

    The Belgian Welding Institute has performed a collective research project about the innovative variants of the commonly used welding processes GTAW and MIG/MAG welding.

    The project aimed to determine to what extent these variants may contribute to a reduction of the production costs (welding costs) by increasing the productivity and the efficiency of the process.
    By means of this project, the participating companies received a better understanding of the capabilities of these modified welding processes, in order to facilitate the introduction of these new welding processes in the Belgian industry.

    Start: 01-04-2007
    End: 31-03-2009
  • Join'EM: Joining of copper to aluminium by electromagnetic fields

    JOIN’EM project addresses the increasing requirements of industrial enterprises to weld dissimilar materials. By allowing joining of copper to aluminium by electromagnetic fields, the project will provide increased performance, efficiency as well environmental benefits to Europe’s industry.

    Start: 01-09-2015
    End: 31-08-2018
  • Joining of multi-materials

    Future products will have the right material at the right place and joining is a very critical part within this context. For structural engineers from the transport, mechanical engineering and consumer and construction product sectors, unique products – with regard to performance, weight or functionality – can only be achieved by linking an optimum design to advanced production techniques.

    Start: 01-11-2016
    End: 31-10-2018
  • LightBEE : Development of Lightweight Battery Carriers for EV Energy Units

    The overall aim of the research project “LightBEE” is to develop a range of new high added-value battery components for the transport industry, using innovative joining technologies. Therefore, systematic and reliable knowledge and data will be generated about the applicability of promising joining processes for manufacturing of battery modules, carriers and sub-components. The optimised battery components should be lighter, having better safety properties, and produced more cost-effectively and more environmentally-friendly.

    Start: 01-05-2020
    End: 30-11-2022
  • MAGPULS : Electromagnetic pulse forming

    Magnetic pulse forming is a new, very innovative but nearly unknown production process. The Research Centre of the Belgian Welding Institute has started up a research project in 2008 to demonstrate the industrial advantages of this technique.

    Start: 01-01-2008
    End: 31-12-2009
  • MECHJOIN: Mechanical Joining of Materials with Limited Ductility

    The focus in this research is on the application of two of the most important conventional cold joining techniques (clinching and self-piercing riveting) for new emerging lightweight materials. 

    Start: 01-01-2015
    End: 31-12-2016