From September 15 to 19, 2025, the international exhibition SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025 was held in Essen, Germany – the most prestigious global event in the fields of welding, cutting, and surface treatment. The event attracted over 800 exhibitors from 44 countries, and more than 37,000 visitors from nearly 100 countries, further solidifying the fair’s leadership position in the global industry.
As part of the fair, the traditional international competition for young welders – the Young Welders Competition – was organized by the German Welding Society (DVS). Teams from 13 different countries participated, with contestants aged between 16 and 23.
Day
One: Individual Competitions
On the first day, young welders
competed individually, testing their skills in various welding
methods. Our participants earned impressive positions in the
competition.
The Bulgarian Youth National Welding Team placed an impressive 4th in the group standings – a particularly significant result considering the high competition and complexity of the tasks.
Day
Two: Fabrication of a Vessel
On the second day of the
competition, teams fabricated a vessel using sheet and pipe
materials, which included three testing positions for each welding
method. Once all activities were completed, the vessel was subjected
to a pressure test of 50 bars, passed all technical checks, and
successfully underwent non-destructive testing – evidence of the
excellent preparation and professionalism of the Bulgarian
participants.
Team
Members of the Bulgarian Youth National Team
The four young
welders who represented Bulgaria were selected in the summer of 2023
after successfully passing tests and completing modular training at
the “Nexas” Ltd. base, under the guidance of a team of
specialists and educators.
Two years later, they successfully passed the selection exam again, demonstrating that they are outstanding regulars. The new development for them is that they are now studying at various universities in Bulgaria and Europe:
-
Anatoli
Ivanov – student at PG “Ivan Hadzhienov”, Kazanlak –
Method 111/SMAW
➤ Current education (2025): Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Sofia - Katrin
Eftimova – graduate of PG “Ivan Hadzhienov”,
Kazanlak – Method 135/GMAW
➤ Current education (2025): Trakia University – Preschool and Primary School Pedagogy - Martin
Mihnev – graduate of PGMEE, Burgas – Method 141/GTAW
➤ Current education (2025): Specialization in “Computerized Technologies in Mechanical Engineering”, Technical University, Varna - Stanislav
Yordanov – student at SGAS “Hristo Botev”, Sofia –
Method 311/OAW
➤ Current education (2025): Rhein-Waal Hochschule, Kleve, Germany
Management
and Partner Support
The leader of the Bulgarian team was
Eng. Pavel Popgeorgiev, Welding Coordinator, Welding Inspector, and
General Secretary of the Bulgarian Welding Union (BWS).
Member
of the international jury was Dr. Eng. Svetlana Boshnakova, Welding
Coordinator, Welding Inspector, and Deputy Chairman of the BWS.
The
preparation of the youth team was made possible with the help and
mentorship of Eng. Grigory Ignatov and Eng. Sergey Prokopenko, to
whom we express our heartfelt thanks!
Support
and Recognition
Representatives of Bulgarian businesses who
visited the fair congratulated the competitors in person.
Motivational words were also shared by Mr. Georgi Beloev, Head of the
Working Group at the BWS – International Relations.
This year,
for the first time, the BWS participated with its own booth at the
welding fair, where the organization’s activities were showcased,
and strategic meetings were held with representatives of leading
international welding organizations and Bulgarian and foreign
partners.
Along with showcasing their skills, our team impressed everyone with the latest generation of workwear and personal protective equipment provided by ESAB. Personal congratulations and support were extended to the Bulgarian team by Eng. Valentin Ilov and Eng. Ivalin Kostadinov, representatives of the sponsoring companies.
Bulgarian
Participation Among the Exhibiting Companies
Once again,
Bulgarian companies were present among the exhibitors. At the fair,
the Bulgarian company Kimex Technology presented its latest
developments and technical solutions in robotic welding under the
Kibersys brand.
World-renowned companies like Fronius and their
local representative Soldar, led by Eng. Nikolai Harizanov, as well
as Trumpf with their sales expert Eng. Anton Nikolov, invited the
Bulgarian companies and the youth team to visit their booths and
learn about the latest trends in welding and cutting.
Women
in the Welding Competition
In 2023, Katrin Eftimova set a
good example as the only female representative in the classic welding
methods competitions. As a result, this year, teams from Germany,
India, and the Czech Republic included female competitors who
demonstrated a high level of skill and quality work in the various
welding methods.
The
Mission of the BWS
The organizer of the Bulgarian
participation is the Bulgarian Welding Union (BWS). The main goals of
the participation and the competitions for young welders are:
- Comparison of professional levels with international standards
- Exchange of experience, contacts, and best practices
- Expansion of professional horizons and increased motivation
- Raising the prestige of the welding profession in Bulgaria
We express our gratitude to all partners, educators, institutions, and organizations that contributed to this inspiring performance!
Neksas ACADEMY, Kammarton Bulgaria Ltd., ESAB Bulgaria EAD
