ECHT 2027 & 32nd IFHTSE World Congress

ECHT 2027 and 32nd IFHTSE World Congress will be jointly held in Milan in April 2027 by AIM, the Italian Association for Metallurgy.  
These joint conferences represent the premier global forum for the exchange of cutting-edge scientific knowledge and industrial advancements in heat treatment and surface engineering and offer great networking opportunities. The event is dedicated to researchers, engineers, metallurgists, and industry leaders seeking to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and large-scale industrial application. 

Important Deadlines
• Abstract Submission Deadline: November 30, 2026 
• Notification of Acceptance: January 23, 2027 
• Early Bird Registration: February 5, 2027 
• Full paper or extended abstract: March 12, 2027 

Topics for Abstract Submission
We invite online submission of abstracts (300-500 words) covering recent scientific research, technological innovations, and case studies related to the following topics:
1.    Advances in heat treatment: quenching, tempering, carburizing, and nitriding.
2.    Vacuum heat treatment technologies: low-pressure carburizing, high-pressure gas quenching, and vacuum furnaces.
3.    Thermochemical surface engineering: cvd, pvd, coatings, and diffusion treatments.
4.    Induction and laser hardening technologies.
5.    Heat treatment for additive manufacturing: post-processing and heat treatment of 3d printed components.
6.    Industrial furnaces & equipment: energy efficiency, industry 4.0, sensors, and process control.
7.    Heat treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys: microstructure evolution and mechanical properties.
8.    Sustainability for heat treatment plants and process chains
9.    Simulation and modelling: distortion control, residual stresses, and process simulation.
10.    Artificial intelligence and digitalization
11.    New material developments
12.    Material analysis and quality control

Proceedings 
The full text or extended abstract of the accepted papers will be published in the electronic proceedings and issued to attendees on arrival at the Conference.  
Only papers which are accompanied by the signed copyright transfer form can be accepted.

Certain papers may be considered for publication in the AIM journal La Metallurgia Italiana – International Journal of the Italian Association for Metallurgy, which is covered in the Science Citation indexed by Clarivate Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), and in Scopus by Elsevier B.V. 

Tom Bell award and further IFHTSE awards
For young researchers under 35 years of age, IFHTSE will give
* the Tom Bell Young Author Award (TBYAA), which consists in free participation at the next IFHTSE World Congress in Switzerland 2028, including the cost of travel and accommodation, and    
 * the IFHTSE World Congress scholarship, a financial support.
To candidate for the awards, just click the respective tickbox on the online submission form when you submit your abstract!"
The „Tom Bell Young Author Award” (TBYAA) and the IFHTSE World Congress Scholarship are given for the best papers from young authors presented at the IFHTSE World Congress. 

The TBYAA consists in the invitation for free participation at the next IFHTSE World Congress. The award covers economy class transport, accomodation, and participation fee. The award is named in honour of the late Prof. Tom Bell of the University of Birmingham, twice IFHTSE President, IFHTSE Fellow and IFHTSE Medalist.
The IFHTSE World Congress Scholarship is a financial support in cash.
To be eligible for the awards, the author must
• be under 35 years of age on the last day of the World Congress,
• register for the awards when submitting the paper to the World Congress,
• submit the full paper not later than a month before the event,
• and present the paper in person at the World Congress

Privacy Policy
By registering to the Conference, you express your consent that not only AIM but also IFHTSE receives, saves and handles your personal data, as collected for the registration, for the organization of the Congress and the distribution of the IFHTSE bulletin.

Conference Chair: Massimo Pellizzari (University of Trento)
Co-Chair: Lesley Frame (IFHTSE President)

International Scientific & Steering Committee (to be completed):
Belfi Marco - Politecnico Di Milano
Christiansen Thomas L. - Worcester Polytechnic Institute 
Fechte-Heinen Rainer - Leibniz-Iwt 
Felde Imre - Óbuda University
Franceschi Mattia - Cenim-Csic
Gu Jianfeng - Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Hock Stefan - IFHTSE
Jurči Peter - Stu Trnava
Keßler Olaf - Universität Rostock
Kuntzmann Bernard - Listemann Ag
Morgano Enrico - Motivexlab
Okumiya Masahiro - Toyota Technological Institute 
Pezzato Luca - CNR
Podgornik Bojan - Institute Of Metals Technology
Schneider Reinhold - University Of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
Somers Marcel - Technical University Of Denmark
Toldo Isabell - Hilti AG
Stocky Christophe - Abs Acciaierie Bertoli Safau
Vráblík Filip - ATZK
Villa Matteo - Politecnico Di Bari
Vitry Veronique - A3TS
Waldenmaier Thomas - AWT

Venue
The Conference will be held in Milan, at the FAST Congress Centre in Piazzale R. Morandi, 2. The FAST Congress centre is set in the hearth of Milan, very near to its Cathedral, known as Duomo and to the best hotels of the city. It can be easily reached from the Central railway station and it’s well served by the public transportation (Underground: line 3 yellow - Turati station).

Organising Secretariat 
aim@aimnet.it | +39 0276021132