Martina Confortin (Spazzolplastica S.R.L.)

"Closing the Loop: KONIK and the Future of Circular Welding Wire Packaging"

Spazzolplastica presents KONIK – a patented, reusable drum designed to revolutionize welding wire packaging through circular economy principles. With a clear vision aligned with the 2030 Agenda, KONIK combines durability, space optimization, and certified sustainability (PSV), offering tangible economic and environmental benefits across the entire supply chain.

Through real-world case studies and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, the system’s efficiency and impact are demonstrated. Looking ahead, Spazzolplastica is scaling up a European-wide recovery project to collect, grind, and regenerate used KONIK components. This closed-loop system minimizes logistics emissions, eliminates virgin plastic consumption, and maximizes material reuse – all supported by a digital platform for traceability and service optimization.

Join us at the Future Hub to discover how KONIK is redefining plastic’s role in sustainable manufacturing and turning a challenge into an opportunity for innovation. Let’s close the loop. Together.

Product presentation, presentation language: English

Andreas Fleischner (XTRACTION GmbH)

"Smart Welding, Smart Cutting, Smart Future: Wie XFLARE die Metallbearbeitung revolutioniert"

Welding and cutting processes are coming under increasing pressure - not because of a lack of orders, but due to a shortage of skilled workers, increasing documentation requirements and growing quality demands, while at the same time the requirements to produce more sustainably, flexibly and digitally are increasing. Companies need to respond to this with new solutions and targeted automation. However, small and medium-sized companies in particular quickly reach their limits when it comes to implementation. The result is a structural competitive disadvantage in the production organisation. If there is a lack of qualified personnel or if the systems used reach their limits in terms of operability, flexibility or process reliability, production comes to a standstill and work steps such as demanding seams or precise cuts have to be outsourced at great expense in terms of time and money.

This is where XFLARE comes in: For the first time, welding and cutting processes are intelligently linked on a single production platform. The system automatically records process data, makes it visible and transforms traditional manual labour into reproducible, documented quality. Pre-programmed parameters, assistance functions and Industry 4.0 connections enable even less experienced employees to achieve high-precision results - from the first to the last component.

At the same time, the way in which work is performed in production is changing.

Presentation language: German

Andreas Fleischner (XTRACTION GmbH)

"Smart Welding, Smart Cutting, Smart Future: How XFLARE is revolutionising metalworking"

Welding and cutting processes are coming under increasing pressure - not because of a lack of orders, but due to a shortage of skilled workers, increasing documentation requirements and growing quality demands, while at the same time the requirements to produce more sustainably, flexibly and digitally are increasing. Companies need to respond to this with new solutions and targeted automation. However, small and medium-sized companies in particular quickly reach their limits when it comes to implementation. The result is a structural competitive disadvantage in the production organisation. If there is a lack of qualified personnel or if the systems used reach their limits in terms of operability, flexibility or process reliability, production comes to a standstill and work steps such as demanding seams or precise cuts have to be outsourced at great expense in terms of time and money.

This is where XFLARE comes in: For the first time, welding and cutting processes are intelligently linked on a single production platform. The system automatically records process data, makes it visible and transforms traditional manual labour into reproducible, documented quality. Pre-programmed parameters, assistance functions and Industry 4.0 connections enable even less experienced employees to achieve high-precision results - from the first to the last component.

At the same time, the way in which work is performed in production is changing.

Presentation language: German

Will Healy (Universal Robots)

"Torch to Tech: The Rise of Welding Automation in Europe"

In today’s volatile environment, manufacturers are turning to automation to stabilize output, reduce rework and address the growing shortage of skilled welders. Learn how robots are being deployed in Europe to deliver measurable business impact, create better workplaces and extend careers. In welding environments, precision, repeatability and flexibility are non-negotiable. From long seams to repetitive work and complex geometries, robots are helping teams maintain quality and throughput without expanding floor space or increasing headcount.

We’ll take you inside our welding ecosystem—where sector specialists, open-source software and plug-and-play solutions are converging to create highly adaptable automation setups. You’ll see a live demo, hear case stories from the field and get a first look at our newest robot, designed with metals in mind. Whether you're scaling long-run production or adapting to high-mix, low-volume jobs, this session will show you how to get started safely and effectively.

Presentation language: English

Moritz Paul (Carl Cloos Schweißtechnik GmbH)

"QNECT as a digital platform for the product life cycle"

The entire product life cycle should be digitally supported in order to make processes more efficient and transparent. The intelligent networking of customers, sales partners and manufacturers with the machines and systems is crucial here. This is the only way to create digital workflows that enable knowledge transfer and counteract the shortage of skilled labour in the long term. The central QNECT platform, digital service processes and collaborative tools enable expertise to be preserved, shared and further developed - for a future-proof, networked and more resilient industry.

Presentation language: German

Wilbert van de Ridder (AWL-Techniek B.V.)

"From Vision to Precision: The Future of AI Weld Inspection"

Known for our expertise in welding and laser automation, AWL is now taking weld inspection to the next level. During the show, we’ll unveil a smart weld inspection demo that combines Vision AI with deep welding expertise. This compact yet powerful solution checks welds in real time on multiple quality aspects. Don’t miss our live stage presentation by one of AWL’s leading experts Wilbert van de Ridder, an engaging speaker with a sharp view on the future of automated weld inspection.

Presentation language: English

Simone Schlüter (Universal Robots)

"Torch to Tech: The Rise of Welding Automation in Europe"

In today’s volatile environment, manufacturers are turning to automation to stabilize output, reduce rework and address the growing shortage of skilled welders. Learn how robots are being deployed in Europe to deliver measurable business impact, create better workplaces and extend careers. In welding environments, precision, repeatability and flexibility are non-negotiable. From long seams to repetitive work and complex geometries, robots are helping teams maintain quality and throughput without expanding floor space or increasing headcount.

We’ll take you inside our welding ecosystem—where sector specialists, open-source software and plug-and-play solutions are converging to create highly adaptable automation setups. You’ll see a live demo, hear case stories from the field and get a first look at our newest robot, designed with metals in mind. Whether you're scaling long-run production or adapting to high-mix, low-volume jobs, this session will show you how to get started safely and effectively.

Presentation language: English

Stanislav Wiens (EWM GmbH)

"Ensuring quality despite a shortage of skilled workers: Rethinking successful welding"

In Germany, the challenge has been known for a long time; no one wants to weld anymore. Those who have mastered this craft are retiring. Unfortunately, hardly anyone new is coming in. Automation does not guarantee the hoped-for solution, because even robots require skilled parameter settings.

If I can't drive a car, the automatic distance control is of no use to me. Therefore, welding must become more intuitive. Easier to set up. More self-explanatory.

This presentation focuses on questions such as: “What innovations can help me before, during, and after the welding process?” and “How can I ensure that the welding process and the quality of the weld seam are independent of the welder's manual dexterity?”

Presentation language: English

Wenqi Zhang (SWANTEC Software and Engineering ApS)

"Transforming Spot Welding from Planning to Production with Simulation, Optimization and Digital Twins"

The increasing demand for high-quality, cost-effective, and sustainable production has driven the manufacturing industries to embrace advanced digital technologies for process development and production efficiency. In resistance spot welding, achieving consistent weld quality traditionally relies on extensive trial-and-error tests, operator expertise, and reactive troubleshooting. These methods are time-consuming, costly, and often inefficient.

The software SORPAS® is developed with three core technologies: Simulation, digital optimization and digital twins, a new generation that is currently under development. Simulation enables accurate modeling of spot welding processes, allowing engineers to predict results, test parameters, and evaluate material combinations virtually. Digital Optimization applies intelligent algorithms to automatically determine the optimal welding parameters for each weld, reducing the need for trial-and-error tests and accelerating development timelines. Digital Twins are under development but aim to leverage live process data to monitor quality, detect anomalies, and adapt to variations during welding production.

From pre-production planning to in-process optimization and post-production analysis, these digital technologies enable manufacturers to shorten time-to-market, enhance quality consistency, and achieve measurable cost savings - paving the way for the next generation of smart manufacturing.

Presentation language: English

From step-controlled devices to high-tech inverters: Welding equipment between progress and challenge

With the ban on step-controlled devices and the triumph of modern inverter technology, welding technology has undergone fundamental changes. But what does this change mean for manufacturers, users, and the market? What role do energy efficiency, ease of use, and sustainability play in practice? And how can skeptics be convinced of new solutions?

Future Hub moderator Tobias Wobbe and Matthias Wulf (podcast “Einfach Schweißen”) lead a lively discussion with high-profile guests from the industry. The panel will highlight technical advances, market trends, and user needs—from energy efficiency and automation to the “Welder 2035.” The audience is also invited to contribute their perspectives.

Note: The discussion will be recorded and published in an episode of the “Einfach Schweißen” podcast.

Discussion language: German

Participants:
Peter Fronius, Fronius International GmbH
Dr. Erwan Siewert, EWM GmbH
Andreas Stalp, Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik GmbH
Matthias Wulf, Einfach Schweissen-Podcast