Mon, 30 March, 2026
As this project draws to a close, we were delighted to welcome sponsors of our TWI Joint Industry Project (JIP) to an in-person workshop at TWI’s headquarters near Cambridge.
The programme - focused on the impartial assessment of handheld laser welding technology - featured live demonstrations, hands-on sessions, and a collaborative discussion exploring key learnings across a range of materials, joint configurations, and thicknesses. Health and safety has remained a central focus throughout, particularly in relation to weld fume and scattered radiation aspects, helping to build a clearer understanding of operational impacts.
Handheld laser welding is an emerging technology generating significant interest across industry. It has the potential to complement - or in some cases replace - conventional manual arc welding processes such as MIG/MAG and TIG. However, the absence of standardised assessment methodologies and robust supporting data has meant that many of its performance claims remain independently unverified, slowing wider adoption.
To address this, TWI have established this JIP programme to deliver independent, third-party assessment and validation of handheld laser welding technology.
The project sponsors for this JIP include BAE Systems, DSTL, Böhler Welding, Baker Hughes, ITP Aero, IPG Photonics, and Caterpillar.
You can find out more about this project, here:
https://www.twi-global.com/what-we-do/research-and-technology/research-programmes/joint-industry-projects/handheld-laser-welding-technology-an-impartial-assessment-to-support-industrial-adoption-1