In the effort to support emerging talents and enhance the international character of our events, IFHTSE has invited four researchers under 35 to participate free, including travel expenses, at the IFHTSE World Congress in Cologne, October 13-15, 2026. The candidates selected by the Executive Committee include:
- Nur Suraya Binti Amad Mazni. The Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
- Lucas Carrillo. Colorado School of Mines, U.S.
- Asma Teghri. University of Padua, Italy.
- Mitchell Shields. Colorado School of Mines, U.S.
The applicants who answered the invitation submitted a summary of their degree program and on their present project(s), a letter of support from their professor or supervisor, and a travel plan. IFHTSE extends a warm congratulations to the awardees.
IFHTSE Fellow Prof. Heinz-Joachim Spies dies
IFHTSE mourns the death of Prof. Heinz-Joachim Spies, IFHTSE Fellow.
He was an internationally renowned expert in materials technology and heat treatment. His ability to communicate complex subjects in an understandable fashion made him an academic teacher who formed generations of students.
He started as a blue-collar worker at a blast furnace, and after graduating in metallurgy, he created a modern laboratory in a steel mill with test furnaces, metallography, and materials testing facilities. His Ph.D. thesis dealt with nonmetallic inclusions in solidification and deformation, and as a professor, he worked on microstructure and segregation in dendritic solidification of steel. Beginning in 1974, he was professor for materials technology at the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology in Saxony, Germany.
Spies’ most significant scientific achievements are in many ways related to nitriding, covering a broad range of topics around this technology. The wide scope of his research was enormous: solid state electrolyte gas sensors for controlled gas nitriding, surface activation of high-alloy steels by oxy-nitriding, application of fracture mechanics to indentations in nitrided surface layers, fatigue of nitrided steels, analysis of gas composition in plasma nitriding by means of laser absorption spectroscopy, production of duplex coatings by thermal spraying/nitriding, plasma nitriding of aluminum alloys, and even nitrided iron aluminide. While he was living in East Germany, his chances for international cooperation across the iron curtain were limited, but he kept in contact as much as politics and language allowed.
In 2009, on the occasion of a colloquium for his 75th birthday, he was appointed IFHTSE Fellow “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education and research in heat treatment and surface science and technology generally, and in particular to answering the consequent demands placed on materials development,” and he was also awarded the Adolf-Martens- Medaille of IFHTSE’s German member association, AWT.
He presented or co-authored at least 14 papers in the World Congresses or in conferences in the various IFHTSE series between1982 and 2017. He was always initiating cooperations with colleagues in many countries, which resulted in pioneering projects. He published more than 350 papers with obtained 1,800 citations. Of the generations of his students, many took important positions in academia and industry. He had 37 Ph.D. students, four of whom became university professors.
With his honesty, his common sense, and his ability to bring people together, he rendered a great service to the international community.
Conference updates
7th Asian Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering
September 10-12, 2026
Chengdu, China
The 7th Asian Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering of Materials (7ACHTSE2026) will be in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, September 10-12, 2026. The conference will focus on the latest research progress, technological frontiers, and future trends in the field of material heat treatment and surface engineering and is committed to promoting deep integration and collaborative innovation in this field in the Asian region.
The Asian Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering of Materials (ACHTSE) is an important series of international conferences jointly initiated by China, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. It focuses on the latest research and developments in surface engineering and heat treatment.
Deadlines
- Extended abstracts/full papers submission: July 31, 2026.
- Notification of acceptance: August 5, 2026.
- Early bird registration: August 31, 2026.
31st IFHTSE World Congress
October 13-15, 2026
Cologne, Germany
The 31st IFHTSE World Congress is organized by AWT – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wärmebehandlung + Werkstofftechnik e. V. and will be in Cologne, Germany, October 13-15, 2026, at the International Conference and Trade Fair. In addition to the World Congress, the event will also feature HK 2026 and the European Conference on Heat Treatment 2026. This will truly be a huge event. If you have never attended the AWT HK (HärtereiKongress) event, this is one of the largest (if not the largest) heat-treating trade show in the world. This, combined with ECHT 2026 and the 31st World Congress, will be the one event to attend.
The largest European congress on topics of heat treatment and materials technology, manufacturing and process engineering in 2026 is organized in cooperation with the International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE) as well as the European heat treatment associations from France, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Benelux countries. Due to the expected number of lecture registrations, the congress event is planned as a three-day event. The language of the conference will be English.
Deadlines
- Notification of abstract acceptance: May 15, 2026.
- Deadline for proceedings manuscript (extended abstract 2-4 pages): July 15, 2026.
More info www.hk-awt.de
32nd IFHTSE World Congress | ECHT 2027
Milan, Italy
April 14-16, 2027
Organized by Associazione Italiana di Metallurgia, this event combines the IFHTSE World Congress and ECHT. The event is dedicated to researchers, engineers, metallurgists, and industry leaders seeking to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and large-scale industrial application.
- Conference Chair: Prof. Massimo Pellizzari.
- Co-Chair: Lesley Frame (IFHTSE President).
Deadlines
- Abstract Submission Deadline: November 20, 2026.
- Notification of Acceptance: January 15, 2027.
- Early Bird Registration: February 5, 2027.
- Full paper or extended abstract: March 5, 2027.
