Conference Programme

Conference Programme

A full programme will be published once we have received the abstracts.

Prominent FSW Researchers/Speakers attending IFWC 2026

Laurent Dubourg, CEO, Stirweld

In 1998, Dr Dubourg joined IREPA Laser at Strasbourg, France, where he held a R&D engineer position. He worked on the laser welding of aluminium. He got his PhD in 2002. The topic of his PhD thesis related to the development of aluminium laser surface cladding. In 2003, he joined National Research Centre Canada. He was responsible for aluminium welding processes by laser and FSW (Friction Stir Welding). In 2010, he joined the Institute Maupertuis team in Rennes, France, as a business development manager on FSW. In 2017, Dr Dubourg co-founded as CEO the STIRWELD company to make FSW accessible by reducing drastically the process cost and making user friendly its application.

Social Event

As part of the conference there will be a social event on Wednesday 20 May at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire. The evening event will take place on Wednesday 20 May in The AirSpace Aircraft Hall at IWM Duxford which offers a distinctive venue for events as it is set within an exhibition that tells the story of British and Commonwealth aviation. Home to over 30 historic aircraft - including the Spitfire, Lancaster and Concorde - the hall provides an impressive and memorable backdrop for an enjoyable and interesting evening of food and music.

More information about the Imperal War Museum in Duxford can be found here.

This social event is included in the registration fee.

The Air Space where the social event will be held at Duxford.

Tour of TWI's Facilities

On Friday 22 May there will be a tour of TWI's laboratories and engineering halls and technology demonstrations.