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

09:00 – 10:00	Participant registration
10:00 – 11:00	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)
11:00 – 12:30	Plenary Session 1 – Lectures 1 and 2
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch
13:00 – 15:00	Thematic Sessions 1 / 2 / 3
15:00 – 16:00	Coffee and networking break
16:00 – 18:00	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

Prof. Łukasz Madej

AGH University of Krakow, Poland
President of Polish Forging Association

Lukasz is a full professor and the head of the Industrial Digitalization and Multiscale Modelling Division at the Faculty of Metal Engineering and Industrial Computer Science at AGH University of Krakow. His research focuses on the development of modern numerical solutions for the industry and, in particular, full-field multiscale modelling models for materials science. Digital microstructure-based modelling of various metallic and non-metallic materials is of particular interest. Besides, the digitalisation of industrial operations with the application of machine learning, virtual and augmented reality solutions, robotics and vision systems is intensively researched.
Lukasz is a member of various scientific organisations, e.g., the Polish Association of Computational Mechanics, the Committee on Mechanics, as well as the Committee on Materials Engineering and Metallurgy of the Polish Academy of Sciences. In 2022, he was elected as a Fellow of the CIRP – The International Academy for Production Engineering. Since 2020, he has also been a member of the Board of Directors of ESAFORM. He is the editor-in-chief of the Computer Methods in Materials Science journal and associate editor of Metallurgical and Material Transactions, International Journal of Material Forming and CIRP Annals. Since 2024, he has been the deputy director of one of the largest doctoral schools in Poland at AGH University in Krakow.

Session 1: Sustainable and Low-Emission Technologies in Automotive Production Chains

Keynote speaker:

Dr. Ansgar Hatscher

Volkswagen Group

Sustainable manufacturing processes, the use of recycled materials, low-emission technologies and carbon footprint reduction along the production chain, with particular focus on the automotive sector.

Session 2: Essential Technologies for Defence

Keynote speaker:

TBC

–

Modern technologies of forming and processing of materials for defence and military applications, including the development of durable and resilient alloys and the adaptation of production processes for armoured vehicles and mobile defence systems. Manufacturing of ammunition, including 155 mm shells.

Session 3: Bulk Metal Forming

Keynote speaker:

TBC

–

Conventional and modern bulk metal forming processes.

Session 4: Large Language Models & Data-Driven Mathematical Models in Production Processes

Keynote speaker:

Prof. Łukasz Rauch

AGH University of Krakow

Application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive models and digital twins in the optimisation of manufacturing and production processes in the automotive sector. Numerical simulations of forming processes.

Session 5: Multi-Scale Advanced Characterization Techniques of Structure, Mechanical Behaviour and Deformation Mechanisms

Keynote speaker:

Dr. Ilana Timokhina

Luleå University of Technology

This session highlights recent advances in experimental techniques for multi-scale characterization of materials’ structure and mechanical behaviour. Emphasis is placed on state-of-the-art methods such as electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, EBSD, EDS), X-ray diffraction (including synchrotron-based), and atom probe tomography (APT) for investigating deformation, damage, and phase transformation mechanisms. Contributions that combine these techniques with in-situ or operando mechanical testing, correlative 3D/4D microscopy, or data-driven analysis are especially encouraged. The session aims to foster discussions on how advanced experimental approaches can deepen our understanding of the relationships between structure, properties, and performance of materials.

Session 6: Sheet Metal Forming

Keynote speaker:

Prof. Zbigniew Gronostajski

Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Conventional and modern sheet metal forming processes.

Session 7: Forming of Non-Ferrous Metals and Advanced Alloys

Keynote speaker:

Prof. Ulrich Prahl

Technische Universität Freiberg

Forming of non-ferrous metals (Al, Ti, Cu, Mg) and other alloys for applications in electromobility, aerospace and energy sectors.

Session 8: Green Manufacturing and Alloy Design of High-Performance Steels for Sustainable Transport Infrastructure

Keynote speaker:

Dr. Aleksandra Królicka

Wrocław University of Science and Technology
GreenSteel project coordinator

This session focuses on sustainable and innovative approaches to the development and manufacturing of high-performance steels and metal alloys intended for transport infrastructure. The aim is to explore how green steelmaking technologies (EAF and DRI), energy-efficient processing routes, and advanced alloy design strategies can reduce the environmental impact of steel production while maintaining or improving the mechanical and durability performance required in demanding applications. The session welcomes contributions addressing process optimization, material performance, and the implementation of circular economy principles (including recycling-oriented design) in steel manufacturing for sustainable transport systems.

Session 9: Additive Manufacturing, welding & joining of metal parts

Keynote speaker:

Dr. Wojciech Suder

Cranfield University