This issue represents a further step in the process to establish Welding in the World as the leading international journal in the field of materials joining and allied technologies. Starting with this issue, the journal will be published by Springer, a worldwide leader in the publication of scientific and technical journals and books. Along with this transition, we are now using an editorial manager system for manuscript submission and peer review. This will greatly streamline the review and publication process and continue to enhance the reputation of our journal.

In an editorial in the July/August 2010 issue of Welding in the World, we proposed a strategy that would take Welding in the World to the next level. We would like to report to our readers on how we are progressing.

We feel that we have made great progress over the past 4 years in improving the quality and impact of Welding in the World. In 2009, we introduced a peer review system for all papers submitted to the journal. In March 2010, the journal was accepted by the Thomson Reuters Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) which provides a rating system for journals based on an impact factor. This represented a significant step for the journal, since acceptance into the SCIE is restricted to journals that show high potential for success. Starting in 2011, we changed to a new cover design and layout that has improved the “look” of the journal. The quality and quantity of the articles published has been on a steady increase. Thanks in part to achieving SCIE status and the new look, publication rates in Welding in the World have steadily increased over the last 2 years. In 2012, there were 89 articles published in Welding in the World, nearly double that of 2010.

Publication of the journal by Springer will bring many benefits. Since layout of the journal is now managed by the publisher rather than the Secretariat, it is possible to publish as many papers as is practical to handle the backlog. Based on this new production system, our current backlog of manuscripts will be significantly reduced in 2013. It is anticipated that the time from submission to publication will be reduced to approximately 6 months starting in 2014. In addition, to reducing the time from submission to print publication, Welding in the World will introduce the digital object identifier system that assigns a document number and electronic access to a manuscript once it has been approved for publication. This will make WiW articles available online up to 4 months prior to being assigned to an issue.

The impact factor (IF) calculated for a journal has become an important measure of a journal’s quality and reputation, i.e., the scientific visibility of the journal. This factor reflects the number of citations of the articles published in the journal over a fixed period of time. The IF is determined over a 2- or 5-year period. The 2011 IF was 0.35 and we expect the 2012 IF to approach 0.5. Most journals entering the SCIE need several years to establish a representative IF and our goal is to achieve an IF in the range from 1.0 to 2.0 by 2016.

We would like to emphasize that the achievements over the past 4 years would not have been possible without the contributions of many groups and individuals. The process begins with the International Institute of Welding Working Units and we are grateful to the Chairpersons of the Working Units for their “continuous improvement” policies that have raised the quality level of the papers submitted to Welding in the World. The Secretariat has worked tirelessly over this same period to not only implement a peer review system but significantly increase the rate of publication. We are especially grateful to Ms. Veronique Souville, the former Chief Technical Officer who retired in August 2012. Her successor, Dr. Pierre Tran, has been instrumental in facilitating the transition to the Springer system and we look forward to working with him as we continue on our plan to strengthen the journal. We would also like to recognize our Editorial Board who helps guide and monitor our progress, as well as the IIW Working Group on Communications and Marketing who has been diligently working to improve the image of the journal.

Finally, we are most grateful to the many individuals who contribute to Welding in the World, both as authors and participants in the peer review system. Ultimately, it is the quality of our journal that will allow us to achieve recognition as the leading international journal for welding and joining. Thanks for your continued support and full speed ahead!

Thanks to the following Principal Reviewers who reviewed papers in 2011:

  • Albert Shaju

  • Alexandrov Boian T

  • Babu Sudarsanam Suresh

  • Barsoum Zuheir

  • Benatar Avi

  • Bhaduri Arun Kumar

  • Boellinghaus Thomas

  • Bolser David R

  • Booth Geoffrey

  • Cross Carl Edward

  • Costa Luca

  • De Meester Bruno

  • De Amitava

  • Dilger Klaus

  • Dobmann Gerd

  • Du Toit Madeleine

  • Enzinger Norbert

  • Farajian Majid

  • Fricke Wolfgang

  • Hobbacher Adolf

  • Huismann Gerd

  • Juettner Sven

  • Kannengiesser Thomas

  • Koseki Toshihiko

  • Kotecki Damian

  • Lippold John C

  • Marquis Gary

  • Marya Surendar

  • Matsuyama Kin-ichi

  • Mayr Peter

  • Mendez Patricio

  • Na Suck-Joo

  • Norrish John

  • Pittner Andreas

  • Posch Gerhard

  • Ramirez Antonio Jose

  • Reisgen Uwe

  • Remes Heikki

  • Rethmeier Michael

  • Richardson Ian M

  • Schoeppner Volker

  • Scotti Américo

  • Sonsino Cetin Morris

  • Sowards Jeffrey W

  • Stoschka Michael

  • Tuominen Jari

  • Westin Elin Marianne