WELDING experts from across the world will descend on Glasgow this

week to forge new bonds and exchange information at the 46th annual

assembly of the International Institute of Welding.

Around 500 delegates from 30 countries are expected at what will be

the first occasion that the assembly has visited Scotland and only its

third visit to the United Kingdom. Specialists from some of the world's

best-known industrial companies will meet with scientists from Japan,

Germany, the United States and Russia to discuss developments across the

globe in the fields of welding technology and joining applications.

The IIW was created in 1947 as the international forum for

developments in welding in heavy manufacturing industry such as

shipbuilding and plant construction. But today almost 30% of the average

motor car is made up of plastic and the IIW's work is increasingly

concerned with the joining of dissimilar materials.

Different technical commissions within the annual assembly deal with

polymers, ceramics, microelectronics, non-destructive testing,

metallurgy, engineering performance, design, safety, and education.

The importance of the gathering is underlined by Sir Robert Easton,

chairman of Yarrow Shipbuilders and chairman of the Glasgow '93

International Institute of Welding Conference industrial support group.

He said: ''From the offshore structures that provide our oil and gas to

the micro-electronic devices that drive our computers and videos,

practically everything that is manufactured relies on welding and

joining technology.''

He added: ''There are over 30 welding processes including lasers,

electron beams and computer controlled machinery and without these the

engineering, energy, transport, chemical and construction industries of

the world could not function. Knowledge of the processes involved and

the way different materials behave when welded is critical for design,

economy and safety and the international assembly is the world's major

opportunity for sharing experience and information.''

For the week from August 28, experts will meet in 17 different

technical commissions to consider specialist welding topics. Technical

visits will be hosted by a range of prominent companies including

Babcock Energy Ltd, Allied Distillers Ltd, Scottish Nuclear Ltd, Yarrow

Shipbuilders Ltd, National Engineering Laboratory, Kvaerner Govan Ltd,

and Glasgow Marine Technology Centre.

The wide extent of the co-operation rendered by Scottish companies has

delighted the organisers. Sir Robert stressed: ''Glasgow was one of the

cradles of the industrial revolution and is still at the forefront of

technological innovation. Scottish and UK industry has much that will

interest our visitors and this international gathering provides a unique

chance to explore business opportunities.

''Here in Scotland and the UK, manufacturing is the vital base for our

economy. Whether companies use welding in their manufacture or rely on

welded machinery and plant for their business, they will recognise the

value and opportunity of hosting this conference of industrialist,

engineers and academics, all recognised experts and decision makers in

their own countries.''

Mr Frank Coe, former director of planning at the Welding Institute,

has been charged with chairing the organising committee for the

assembly. He is gratified at the level of support received and is

buoyant about the benefits to be derived by UK companies and visitors

alike.

He explained: ''It is very appropriate that the assembly has come to

Glasgow. Some of the first welding of ship structures was carried out on

the Clyde. Scotland is a good example of how industries mature and fade

and of how others are born and take their place.

''Industrial regeneration in Glasgow and Strathclyde has lessons for

other parts of the world and, while the assembly is not meant to be a

commercial event, one of the biggest advantages for participating UK

companies is that they have a representative gathering intelligence at

the heart of things.''