AILEEN highlights at welding week in Antwerp
The Belgisch Instituut voor Lastechniek (Belgian Welding Institute) hosted
the second national AILEEN event during Welding Week – Metal –
Subcontracting from 19 to 21 May 2026. Set within the premier
ecosystem for the Benelux metalworking and manufacturing industry, the
three-day event provided a dynamic platform to showcase the AILEEN project’s
vision, celebrate young technical talent, and address the evolving
skill needs of the sector.
Throughout the exhibition, engagement spanned both emerging professionals and
industry veterans. Students visiting the AILEEN booth had the
opportunity to test their skills on an augmented reality welding simulator,
while a dedicated conference session on lifelong learning outlined clear
career pathways for future welders. The event also celebrated the Belgian team's
success in the European AILEEN inspection competition—taking home
1st place and Best Team—serving as a powerful inspiration
for young technicians to pursue continuous skill development.
In addition to inspiring new talent, the event delivered deep technical value
for industry professionals through presentations covering damage analysis,
weld quality monitoring, standards, advanced MIG/MAG welding,
and corrosion. The AILEEN stand served as an active hub for inquiries
on manual hand laser welding, 3D printing, technical training,
and standardization. Demonstrating the critical real-world application of
these skills, the Belgian Defence delivered a presentation on Battle
Damage Repair under extreme conditions, reinforcing how technical
flexibility, creativity, and advanced manufacturing techniques
like additive manufacturing are vital for defence readiness.
With over 3,300 total exhibition visitors and 300 attendees at the
technical lectures, the event successfully demonstrated how local
national initiatives drive the broader AILEEN strategy, thus
connecting hands-on VET training, cutting-edge technology, and
defence applications.