Bond Technologies will sponsor the International Friction Welding Conference 2026 (IFWC) this May in England. This newly combined event brings together researchers, engineers, and industry professionals working across friction welding technologies. The conference joins the long-running International Symposium on Friction Stir Welding and the International Symposium on Linear Friction Welding, while expanding the program to include a broader range of friction joining and processing topics.
The conference is closely aligned with Bond’s work in Friction Stir Welding, Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding, and Friction Extrusion, along with the broader development efforts that connect research, application, and production. Bond’s technologies support customers in automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, railcar, electronics, and other advanced industries.
Dave Hofferbert to Present on RFSSW in a Lunar Environment
Former Bond Technologies President Dave Hofferbert is scheduled to present “Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding in a Lunar Environment” at IFWC. The presentation highlights ongoing work involving Bond and EWI on the use of Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) for a NASA-funded lunar tower concept, including evaluation of how the process could support construction of large structures on the moon.
The topic points to a bigger question that continues to gain attention across aerospace and manufacturing: how materials may one day be joined in environments where conventional methods are far less practical. In that context, Dave’s presentation offers a look at the kind of work helping move lunar construction from concept toward technical possibility. It is a compelling example of how friction-based technologies are being studied not only for today’s manufacturing challenges, but also for the realities of building beyond Earth.
A Shared Commitment to Friction Stir Welding
As the organization that introduced Friction Stir Welding to the world, TWI holds an important place in the history of the technology.
Bond values the collaborative relationship that continues between the two organizations, most recently through TWI’s lease of a Bond RS2 Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding system for aerospace and automotive research.
That connection also reflects a shared commitment to the continued development of friction-based technologies. Advancing these processes requires sustained effort, technical curiosity, and a willingness to keep building on what has already been achieved. Over the last decade, that mindset has shaped Bond’s work in Friction Stir Welding and related solid-state processes.
Connecting at IFWC
For Bond Technologies, IFWC is an opportunity to reconnect with customers, research partners, and industry peers, while also meeting new contacts from across the global friction welding community. Attendees interested in Friction Stir Welding, Friction Extrusion, Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding, and related process development work can connect with the Bond team during the conference.
IFWC 2026 Event Details
Event: International Friction Welding Conference 2026
Dates: May 19–21, 2026
Venue: TWI Ltd, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, United Kingdom
Register Here.
