We recently received the sad news that Hans van den Brug passed away on the 8th December.

Besides being director of the Netherlands Institute for Welding, Hans was also President of the EWF from 1996 to 1999.

As such he was the Chairman of the bilateral EWF/IIW Commission and thus the architect of the transfer of the EWF qualification system to the international level.

The associated legal problems were considerable, but ultimately resulted in the creation of the International Authorisation Board, with which the basis was laid for the current IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IWI, IW, etc.

With Hans, an expert and especially a friendly person has passed away.

The EWF Board of Directors send its deepest condolences to his family and close friends.