AISI Welding Advisory Group Meets at DeLong’s to Discuss Advances in Steel Welding

Image: Members of the AISI Welding Advisory Group (WAG) toured the DeLong’s Inc. fabrication facility in Jefferson City, Missouri.

The American Iron and Steel Institute’s (AISI) Welding Advisory Group (WAG) held its 68th meeting on June 12, 2025, at DeLong’s Inc., a member of the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA), in Jefferson City, Missouri. The meeting brought together engineers, fabricators, researchers, government representatives and steel producers to focus on welding technologies, fabrication innovations and research developments relevant to steel bridges and related structures.

Supporting the Advancement of Steel Welding

Chaired by Matt Sinfield of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, WAG plays a central role in the welding community by coordinating research, reviewing new technologies and helping advance updates to national codes and specifications. The group includes representatives from steel producers, fabricators, welding manufacturers, academia and public agencies.

WAG’s objectives include developing guidance for welding a range of steel grades used in infrastructure, identifying research priorities and helping implement findings through coordination with standards bodies such as AWS D1.1, D1.5, and AASHTO.

DeLong’s Hosts Plant Tour and Meeting

AISI extends appreciation to Gary Wisch and Maria Richmiller of DeLong’s for hosting the event and organizing a tour of the company’s fabrication facility. Based in Jefferson City, Missouri, DeLong’s is a diversified structural steel fabricator serving the construction industry with bridge, structural, ornamental steel as well as elastomeric bearings and bridge components.

To date, DeLong’s has fabricated steel for bridges in 21 states. The company has four registered professional engineers on staff to assist architects, engineers, builders, and owners.

Technical Topics Addressed

The meeting agenda featured presentations on current research and developments in welding and fabrication, including:

• Advances in evaluating weld quality and acceptance criteria

• Fatigue performance improvements using post-weld treatment techniques

• Research on dissimilar metal welds in infrastructure applications

• New insights into steel’s acoustic properties and implications for weld inspection

• Updates on hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) for bridge fabrication

These topics reflect WAG’s ongoing focus on evaluating emerging technologies and supporting the practical application of research across the industry.

Continuing Industry Collaboration

In addition to the technical content, attendees received updates on committee work, including AISI activities, the AWS A5 Filler Metals Committee, and the National Steel Bridge Alliance. The meeting served as a forum for exchanging ideas and strengthening coordination across sectors.

As welding technology continues to evolve, WAG remains a key platform for connecting research with practice and ensuring that innovations in steel welding can be effectively implemented throughout the industry.

To learn more about AISI’s Welding Advisory Group and its ongoing work, contact Dan Snyder at dsnyder@steel.org