The metalworking sector (turnover 970 billion Euro per year) represents 8% of the total EU business. Welding is the most important joining technique in this sector; there are about 730,000 full time and 5.5 million welding related jobs in Europe.

Welding has also a great impact on health for it is physically high demanding leading to a high percentage of sick leave (yearly about 160 working hours per welder). These high sick leave costs are extremely threatening the financial position of SMEs, endangering their competitiveness. Aiming at addressing these topics of global interest to the welding communities an EU project ECONWELD is under developement. This project intends to stop the downward spiral in which welding is at the moment, by:
 
Reducing welding costs and improving welding production for European SMEs by coming up with solutions and guidelines for (flexible) mechanization of welding.
 
Making welding a healthier and more attractive profession by reducing the amount of welding fumes and by lighten the welding activities; by developing new solutions to improve the work conditions (ergonomics and work flow).
 
The results obtained in ECONWELD are expected to increase competitiveness of SMEs in Europe and to contribute for improvement of the image of the welding related professions.
   
 
© 2007 Econweld Powered by DG