The TWI Group of companies, the operating arm of The Welding Institute, is one of the world's foremost independent research and technology organisations. The group headquarters has been at Great Abington near Cambridge, UK, since 1946, the group provides industry with engineering solution in structures incorporating welding and associated technologies (structural integrity, metallurgy, failure investigation etc.) trough:

• information
• advice and technology transfer
• consultancy and project support
• contract R&D
• training and qualification
• personal membership

Over 550 skilled staffs are dedicated to helping industry apply all forms of joining technology safely and efficiently . Some 3500 companies and organisations - representing virtually all sectors of manufacturing industry from over 60 countries around the globe - benefit from TWI service.

TWI undertakes contract R & D in confidence for both industry and govervement. TWI can offer individual experts or teams able to help solve problem of all knds related to materials joining. It will send its specialist anywhere in the world at short notice on troubleshooting missions.

Welding Standards for Procedure Qualification .

European and American Standards have been developed to give comprehensive details about :

• How a welded test piece must be made to demonstrate join properties.
• How the test piece must be test.
• What welding details need to be included in a WPS.
• Range of production welding allowed by a particular qualification test weld.