HK 2026 – Call for papers Event
Call for papers
Dear Esteemed Colleagues, Researchers, Industry Leaders, and Innovators,
It is with immense pleasure and a truly warm welcome that we invite you to four conferences at a glance: 31st IFHTSE-World Congress, European Conference on Heat Treatment, Heat Treatment Congress, and Steel Innovation, to be held in the vibrant and historic city of Cologne, Germany, in October 2026.
This conference has been carefully designed to be the world’s leading gathering for professionals dedicated to advancing the critical fields of materials, heat treatment, and surface engineering. In an era where material performance is paramount to technological progress, the need for robust, innovative, digital, and sustainable solutions has never been greater.
We invite you to join us in Cologne and explore the forefront of scientific discovery and industrial innovation. This exceptional event provides an outstanding platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research, groundbreaking developments, and practical applications that are shaping the future of our industry. From fundamental metallurgical insights to revolutionary process technologies, our program will encompass a broad spectrum of topics reflecting the dynamic nature of heat treatment and surface engineering.
Ph.D. Lesley Frame Dr. Thomas Waldenmaier
(IFHTSE Vice President) (AWT Chairman)
We cordially invite you to contribute to this prestigious event by submitting your research and findings. Your active participation will be instrumental in making the conferences a truly impactful and memorable experience. The congress is planned as a three-day event, with English as the conference language.
Abstracts of up to 1,800 characters (including spaces), along with your photo, should be submitted via the webform at the website www.hk-awt.de. Please note that only English abstracts can be accepted.
Abstract Deadline: 15 March 2026
Notification of abstract acceptance: 15 May 2026
Preliminary Program: 30 May 2026
Deadline for proceedings manuscript (extended abstract): 15 July 2026
We eagerly anticipate welcoming you to Cologne in October 2026, where together, we will forge new pathways for innovation and collaboration. The main topics of the various conferences are:31st IFHTSE-World Congress, ECHT, HeatTreatmentCongress (HK)
•Heat treatment – processes, systems, media, safety
•Sustainability concepts for heat treatment plants and process chains
•Artificial intelligence, simulation and digitalization
•Production and processing of components in the process chain
•Properties of components in processing
•New material developments
•Material characterization and quality control
Steel Innovation
•Materials Engineering steel
•Digital steel technology
•High strength and wear-resistant steels
•Sustainable steel – recycling, re-use and re-manufacturing
•Corrosion-resistant steels
•Hydrogen embrittlement /steel development for the hydrogen economy
•Materials testing for steel
•Increasing the damage tolerance of steels
•New steel concepts for additive manufacturing
Chair
Dr. Lesley Frame (University of Connecticut,
Vice President of IFHTSE, USA)
Dr. Thomas Waldenmaier (Robert Bosch GmbH, Chairman of AWT, Germany)
International Committee
Dr. Mischa Bachmann (Volkswagen AG, Germany)
Prof. Rafael Colas (Universidad Autónoma de Nueva Leon,
Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Mexico)
Prof. Rainer Fechte-Heinen (Leibniz-Institut für Werkstofforientierte Technologien – IWT, Bremen, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Germany)
Dr. Imre Felde (Óbuda University, Treasurer of IFHTSE, Hungary)
Prof. Jianfeng Gu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, China)
Bernard Kuntzmann (Listemann AG, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Switzerland)
Dr. Stefan Hock (Secretary General IFHTSE, Germany)
Dr. Scott Mackenzie (Quaker Houghton Inc, Executive
Committee Member of IFHTSE, USA)
Enrico Morgano (Presidente del Comitato Tecnico AIM, Italy)
Prof. Masahiro Okumiya (Toyota Technological Institute, Japan)
Prof. Massimo Pellizzari (University of Trento, Italy)
Prof. Reinhold Schneider (University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Austria)
Christophe Stocky (R&D Centre of ABS Acciaierie Bertoli Safau, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, France)
Dr. Eva Troell (RISE IVF Research Institutes of Sweden,
Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Sweden)
Bernhard Vandewiele (General manager at BVDW consultancy, Belgium)
Filip Vráblík (ECOSOND s.r.o., President of ATZK,
Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Prof. Mufu Yan (Harbin Institute of Technology, Executive
Committee Member of IFHTSE, China)
Scientific/Program Committee
Prof. Thomas L. Christiansen (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, USA)
Prof. Rainer Fechte-Heinen (Leibniz-Institut für Werkstofforientierte Technologien – IWT, Bremen, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Germany)
Dr. Volker Heuer (ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH, Germany)
Prof. Olaf Keßler (Lehrstuhl für Werkstofftechnik, Universität Rostock, Germany)
Prof. Ulrich Krupp (Director of IEHK – Institut für Eisenhüttenkunde, RWTH Aachen University, Germany)
Prof. Marcel Somers (Technical University of Denmark, Executive Committee Member of IFHTSE, Denmark)
Dr. Matthias Steinbacher (Leibniz-Institut für Werkstofforientierte Technologien – IWT, Bremen, Germany)
Dr. Isabell Toldo (Hilti AG, Liechtenstein)Prof. Veronique Vitry (Université de Mons – Faculté Polytechnique, France)
Local Organizing Committee
Sonja Müller (Managing Director of AWT)
Dr. Thomas Waldenmaier (Robert Bosch GmbH, Chairman of AWT)
Dr. Rainer Tinscher (F&E Technologiebroker Bremen GmbH)
Prof. Rainer Fechte-Heinen (Leibniz-Institut für Werkstofforientierte Technologien – IWT, Bremen, Germany)
Dr. Stefan Hock (Secretary General of IFHTSE)
Cross-industry
Global Highlight!
In addition to the extensive scientific and technical program, attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience a major international exhibition and trade fair. Leading companies from around the world will present their latest developments in equipment, services, operating materials and other relevant technologies that are essential for the heat treatment and surface engineering industries. The exhibition will provide invaluable networking opportunities and a chance to discover new solutions while fostering collaborations between academia and industry. Special offers for complete stands and for newcomers can also be found on the website.
Congress tickets include exhibition admission. Tickets only for the exhibition admission can be purchased separately. The ticket shop will be available from the beginning of June 2026 on the website www.hk-awt.de.
Questions about the event will be answered by the AWT-office. Phone +49 421 5229339, info@awt-online.org.
Questions about the exhibition booking will be answered by the exhibition office of F&E Technologiebroker Bremen GmbH, Phone +49 421 3972850, contact@congressmanagement.info
