Conference Agenda – AutoMetForm 2026

Day 0: 26.10.2026 (Monday)

Networking activities

18:00 – 21:00	Welcome dinner

Day 1: 27.10.2026 (Tuesday)

Opening, plenary and thematic sessions

08:00 – 09:00	Participant registration
09:00 – 09:45	Conference opening Welcome address to participants Inaugural speech by the organisers Addresses by honorary guests of the conference (Marshal and President of Saxony / Minister of Culture and Science)
09:45 – 11:15	Plenary Session 1 – Lectures 1 and 2
11:15 – 12:00	Coffee and networking break
12:00 – 14:00	Thematic Sessions 1 / 2 / 3
14:00 – 15:30	Lunch / poster session
15:30 – 17:30	Thematic Sessions 4 / 5 / 6
20:00 – 22:00	Gala dinner

Day 2: 28.10.2026 (Wednesday)

Plenary sessions, workshops and exhibition

09:00 – 10:30	Plenary Session 2 – Lectures 3 and 4
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee break
09:00 – 14:00	Technical exhibition – Exhibition of new technologies and productsc – Industrial companies and research institutes exhibitions
11:00 – 13:00	Workshops / Thematic Sessions 7 / 8 / 9
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
14:00 – 18:00	Plant tour
19:00 – 21:00	Informal social evening

Lecture 1

Prof. Wolfgang Bleck

RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Prof. Wolfgang Bleck is Professor Emeritus of Steel and Materials Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and a recognized expert in steel metallurgy and advanced structural materials. His research has focused on microstructure design, phase transformations, high-strength steels, and materials performance in engineering applications. He has authored numerous scientific publications, books, and educational materials that have significantly contributed to the development of modern steel research and materials engineering.

Prof. Wolfgang Bleck is Professor Emeritus of Steel and Materials Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and a recognized authority in the field of steel metallurgy and advanced structural materials. During his distinguished academic career, he has made significant contributions to the understanding and development of modern steels for demanding engineering applications.
His research has focused on microstructure design, phase transformations, thermomechanical processing, high-strength steels, and the relationship between microstructure and material performance. Particular attention has been devoted to the development of advanced steel grades for automotive, energy, and structural applications, as well as to the optimization of processing routes for achieving improved mechanical properties and service performance.
Prof. Bleck has coordinated and participated in numerous national and international research projects, collaborating closely with industry and academic partners. He has authored and co-authored a large number of scientific papers, books, and educational materials that have contributed substantially to the advancement of steel research and materials engineering. His work has influenced both fundamental scientific understanding and industrial practice in the field of steel development and processing.
In addition to his research achievements, Prof. Bleck has been actively involved in engineering education and the training of future generations of materials scientists and engineers. His scientific contributions and leadership have established him as one of the leading figures in modern steel metallurgy and materials engineering.

Lecture 2

Prof. Francisca G. Caballero

National Center for Metallurgical Research (CENIM)
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

Prof. Francisca G. Caballero is a Research Professor at the Spanish National Centre for Metallurgical Research (CENIM-CSIC) since 2018. Her research focuses on understanding the atomic mechanisms of phase transformations in steels and their relationship to material performance and service properties. She has published more than 250 papers in SCI-indexed journals, with over 12,500 citations and an h-index of 57 according to the Scopus database.

Prof. Ms. Francisca G. Caballero is Research Professor at the Spanish National Centre for Metals Research (CENIM-CSIC) since 2018. She obtained her Ph.D. in Physics from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1999 for studying solid-solid phase transformations in steels during reheating. From 1997 to 2000, she worked as a research associate at the University of Cambridge in UK on the design of carbide-free bainitic steels. She has held a visiting scientist position at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge-TN-USA since 2004. Additionally, between September 2013 and October 2014 she has been the Deputy Director of Science at CENIM, and Vice-Rector for Postgraduate Studies and Research at Menendez Pelayo International University (UIMP) between October 2014 and December 2018. From 2018 to 2021 she has worked for Elsevier Inc as Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Materials: Metals and Alloys published by in 2021, a collective work of 4 volumes, 8 sections and around 2500 pages.

Prof. Caballero’s current research objective is to understand the atomic mechanisms of phase transformations in steels, and their relationship to the material’s use properties. In this regard, she characterizes the structure of the material from the micro to the nano-scale and develop simulation tools that allow describing the physics and chemistry that govern the processes of transformation of steel and its properties under real conditions of use.

She has coordinated and participated in different European and Spanish research projects. She has published more than 250 articles in journals included in the SCI, her works have been cited in more than 12,500 articles and she presents an h-index of 57 according to the Scopus database. She is the co-author of three patents on advanced steels and has supervised undergraduate, master and pre-doctoral students.

On 2024, the Fundación Tatiana granted her the VIII Julio Peláez Award for Women Scientists with Civic Leadership in the field of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Lecture 3

Prof. Stewart Williams

Cranfield University, United Kingdom

Prof. Stewart Williams is Professor of Welding and Additive Manufacturing at Cranfield University and one of the pioneers of large-scale metal additive manufacturing technologies. His research focuses on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), process development, manufacturing systems, and industrial implementation of large-format metal 3D printing. He has authored numerous highly cited publications and has played a leading role in establishing WAAM as an industrial manufacturing technology.

Prof. Stewart Williams is Professor of Welding and Additive Manufacturing at Cranfield University, United Kingdom, and one of the pioneers of large-scale metal additive manufacturing technologies. Throughout his academic career, he has played a leading role in the development and industrial implementation of advanced manufacturing processes, with particular emphasis on welding technologies, automation, and metal additive manufacturing.
His research focuses on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), process development, manufacturing systems, digital production technologies, and the industrial deployment of large-format metal additive manufacturing. He has been instrumental in establishing WAAM as a viable manufacturing technology for aerospace, maritime, energy, and other high-value engineering sectors. His work combines fundamental process understanding with practical industrial applications, contributing significantly to the transition of additive manufacturing from laboratory research to large-scale production environments.
Prof. Williams has coordinated and participated in numerous collaborative research projects involving industrial partners and international research organizations. He has authored a large number of scientific publications, many of which are highly cited within the fields of welding engineering and additive manufacturing. His research has contributed to the advancement of process monitoring, manufacturing automation, material performance, and qualification methodologies for additively manufactured metallic components.
Through his scientific achievements and strong engagement with industry, Prof. Williams has become one of the most influential researchers in the field of metal additive manufacturing and continues to shape the future of advanced manufacturing technologies worldwide.

Lecture 4

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Chairman: PhD. DSc. Łukasz Rauch

AI, machine learning, digital twins and numerical simulations for optimising forming and production processes in the automotive sector.