
Joining in Car Body Engineering 2026
Every year in April, the three-day Automotive Circle conference on Joining in Car Body Engineering, held in Bad Nauheim, Germany, presents recent supplier innovations, latest OEM application reports (accompanied by car body exhibits, whenever possible) and new, application-oriented academic studies, discussing progress and latest trends on all aspects of industrially relevant car body joining technologies, with an audience of expert automotive engineers from all over the world.
Please note the date: The next Joining in Car Body Engineering conference in Bad Nauheim will take place on April 14-16, 2026.
Conference Structure
The three conference days consist of two, separately bookable modules:
Module 1, covering progress in Adhesive Bonding and Hybrid Bonding technologies, starts on the first conference day and ends in the early afternoon of the second.
Module 2, covering developments in Thermal and Mechanical Joining technologies, starts in the morning of the second conference day and ends in the afternoon of the third.
The first sessions or the second conference day feature a joint program of presentations for participants of either module, with topics that are presumed to be of interest to all participants, for instance OEM presenting the full joining concept of a recently launched car body project.

Conference Program
MODULE 1: ADHESIVE AND HYBRID BONDING
| 8:15 AM | Welcome and conference introduction Module 1 | Dr. Dirk Meine, Automotive Circle, DE |
Circular Economy Concepts |
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| 8:45 AM | Keynote: Circular economy and adhesive bonding technology – opponents or allies? Positioning adhesive bonding technology for the 21st century | Prof. Andreas Groß, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, DE |
| 9:45 AM | De-bonding approaches for new battery concepts in the automotive sector | Dr. Jens Holtmannspötter, Innovationszentrum der Bundeswehr, Innovations- und Technologieerschließung, DE |
| 10:15 AM | Use less and use better: innovative multi-functional concepts for sustainable (de)-bonding solutions and circular economy | Dr. Nicolae Bordeanu, Björn Funke, Sika AG, DE |
| 10:45 AM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Coffee and contacts |
|
Structural and Functional Adhesives Solutions I |
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| 11:30 AM | Advanced bonding solutions enabling modular vehicle assembly | Dr. Felix Koch, DuPont, CH |
| 12:00 PM | Speed meets structure: Fast-curing polyurea and plasma polymer for instant bonding | Joost Poppelaars, Collano AG, CH |
| 12:30 PM | New acrylics for structural and battery bonding | Dr. Andreas Lutz, DuPont, CH |
| 1:00 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Lunch Break |
|
Structural and Functional Adhesives Solutions II |
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| 2:15 PM | Pumpable foaming materials for body shop | Matthias Hagn, BMW AG, DE |
| 2:45 PM | Advanced structural solutions in NVH and crash | Dr. Marwen Chatti, Nadine Millies, Henkel AG & Co., DE |
| 3:15 PM | Innovative and sustainable thermal interface materials for efficient battery cooling | Dr. Holger Fricke, Martin Rütters, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, DE |
| 3:45 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Coffee and contacts |
|
Physical and Virtual Concept Innovations |
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| 4:30 PM | tba | Dr. Fabian Fischer, Volkswagen AG / Open Hybrid Lab Factory e.V., DE |
| 5:00 PM | Integrating crash-resistant polymer interlayers to enable structural adhesive joints in assembly line |
Christoph Schult, Volkswagen AG, DE
|
| 5:30 PM | Transforming automotive material simulation: digital materials hub and virtual material data card | Dr. Arnob Banik, 3M, US |
| 6:00 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Get together |
|
| 7:00 PM |
Networking dinner Module 1 |
|
MODULE 1: ADHESIVE AND HYBRID BONDING (Continued)
MODULE 2: THERMAL AND MECHANICAL JOINING
*joint sessions of both modules*
| 8:15 AM | Welcome and conference introduction Module 2 | Dr. Dirk Meine, Automotive Circle, DE |
Body Shop Process Innovations |
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| 8:45 AM | The green solution – Compressed-air free joining systems | Dr. Marcus Matzke, Tox Pressotechnik SE & Co. KG, DE |
| 9:15 AM | Revolutionary robot hemming with a ski in one step | Jean-Marie Coquet, Stellantis NV, FR |
Body-in-white Presentation |
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| 9:45 AM |
Joining technologies and manufacturing process of the DS N°8 – subsequent discussion with the speakers at the BIW exhibit – |
Nicolas Imholz, Halim Drif, Stellantis NV, FR |
| 10:30 AM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Coffee and contacts |
|
Focus on surfaces |
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| 11:15 AM | -online- Enhancing laser welding and adhesive bonding of aluminium materials through plasma surface cleaning |
Vasileios Bagiatis, Jaguar Land Rover Ltd., UK |
| 11:45 AM | Plasma cleaning offers new possibilities on aluminium | Daniel Rudolph, Audi AG, DE; Thomas Hager, Fronius, AT |
Body-in-white Presentation |
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| 12:15 PM |
Joining technologies of the Neue Klasse – BMW iX3 at the all new plant Debrecen – subsequent discussion with the speakers at the BIW exhibit – |
Andreas Reisinger, Dr. Shahan Tutunjian, BMW Group, DE |
| 1:00 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Lunch Break |
|
Challenging Joints |
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| 2:15 PM | Simulation of local suitability for bonding of aluminium high-pressure die casting parts | Dr. Norbert Hoffmann, Technische Universität Braunschweig – Institute für Joining and Welding, DE |
| 2:45 PM | Joining strength of pre-hole flowdrill screws with structure adhesive as a hybrid joining technology | Amanda Freis, Ford Motor Company, US; Andreas Wenzel, Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, DE |
| 3:15 PM | Fastest and safest laser welding solution for assembly simplification for Honda | Alan Seid, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC, US; Gagan Tandon, ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks Americas, US |
| 3:45 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Coffee and contacts |
|
END OF MODULE 1 / MODULE 2 CONTINUED
Advances in Mechanical Joining |
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| 4:30 PM | New self-pierce rivet serving the modern market needs |
Dr. Sergej Hartwig-Biglau, Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH, DE
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| 5:00 PM | Next generation of flow drill screw fastening systems – Robot driven with active adaptive alignment | Aaron Alexander Brinkmann, Paderborn University, Laboratory for Material and Joining Technology (LWF), DE |
| 5:30 PM | Further developments in plasma assisted mechanical joining technologies | Dr. Julian Vorderbrüggen, Dr. Christian Reis, Stanley Engineered Fastening Tucker GmbH, DE |
| 6:00 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Get together |
|
| 7:00 PM |
Networking Dinner Module 2 |
|
MODULE 2: THERMAL AND MECHANICAL JOINING
Progress in Resistance Spot Welding |
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| 9:00 AM | MultiPulse Resistance Welding : towards a unique parameter to improve weld strength on AHSS | Helena Lejault, ArcelorMittal, FR |
| 9:30 AM | Innovative preconditioning functions for resistance spot welding: intelligent process control for challenging joints | Maximilian Wohner, Jürgen Häufglöckner, Bosch Rexroth AG, DE |
| 10:00 AM | – online- New high-performance solutions for challenging joints by means of nugget control welding technology |
Zhongjie Yuan, Sanyu Group, CN |
| 10:30 AM | Development of a new approach to resistance spot weld AW-7075 aluminum alloys for structural applications: a material characterization study | Pedro Bamberg, ISF – Welding and Joining Institute, RWTH – Aachen University , DE |
| 11:00 AM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Coffee and contacts |
|
New joining technologies |
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| 11:45 AM | Innovative REW multi-material joining solutions: where global multi-material joining strategies and “very difficult-to-join” material stacks lead to the same technology choices | Sean Farrell, Regis Alain, Gaming Engineering, FR |
| 12:15 PM | Increasing process robustness in friction stir welding through the use of multi-pin tools | Michael Wiegand, University Kassel, Department for Cutting and Joining, DE |
| 12:45 PM | Enhancing efficiency and precision in blind rivet nut installation – advances in automated solutions | Ingo Untch, Weber Schraubautomaten GmbH, DE |
| 1:15 PM |
Meet the speakers | Exhibition | Lunch Break |
|
Material developments |
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| 2:30 PM | Cold cracking in laser welds of high-strength steels | Peter Ohse, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, DE |
| 3:00 PM | Welding of highest strength hot-form materials for tailored blank applications | Jana von der Heydt, Baosteel Tailored Blanks GmbH, DE |
OEM conclusions/outlook |
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| 3:30 PM | OEM Advisory Board members on current challenges in the body shop | OEM Advisory Board experts |
| 3:45 PM | Farewell address and end of the conference | |
The conference program is subject to change. Status of March 3, 2026
Participants
International OEM Advisory Board
Dominik Binder
AUDI AG, DE
Thomas Richter
BMW
Stefan Axmacher
Ford-Werke GmbH
Jason Brown
General Motors Company
Anthony Leanza
Honda Development and Manufacturing of America
Michael Pearson
Jaguar Land Rover Group Ltd.
Dr. Patrick Schäberle
Mercedes-Benz AG
Taishi Tarui
Nissan Motors Co. Ltd.
Véronique Sorel
Renault
Stefan Leber
Stellantis Germany
Christian Borowetz
Volkswagen AG
Dr. Per Lindahl
Volvo Cars
Become a sponsor or exhibitor
Take advantage of the high coverage of the Automotive Circle and profit from the sponsoring options before and during the events. Show your competence and services, matching the conference subjects, to the numerous car body engineers of international OEM. Thus, you are strengthening your brand awareness in the automotive industry!
Come on board as an exhibitor or sponsor and benefit from this excellent platform to strongly promote your company’s capabilities as a reliable supplier!
Check out the various exibition and sponsoring options!
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