Istituto Italiano di Saldatura

What Istituto Italiano di Saldatura does

Istituto Italiano di Saldatura (IIS), founded in 1948 in Genoa, is a private non-profit organization (Ente Morale) that functions as Italy's reference institution for welding technology, certification, and engineering. Operating through wholly-owned subsidiaries — IIS CERT (personnel, process and management-system certification), IIS SERVICE (engineering and inspection), IIS PROGRESS (training), IIS TECH, H2 IIS SIDER (hydrogen services), and the CEC consortium — IIS delivers a multidisciplinary portfolio spanning welding training (IWE/IWT/IWS/IWP/IWI diplomas, NDT, additive manufacturing, IPC electronics certification), second- and third-party inspections executed by approximately 60 certified inspectors, structural and process engineering, laboratory testing, technical publications, and major events such as the biennial Giornate Nazionali della Saldatura (GNS, ~1,500 participants).

IIS holds a regulatory monopoly position as the sole Authorized Training Body in Italy for both the International Institute of Welding (IIW, 53 member countries) and the European Welding Federation (EWF), and also operates as an IPC Training Center and AWS Agent. Its distribution network comprises direct regional offices in Genoa (HQ), Legnano, Mogliano Veneto, Bologna, and Rome, supplemented by 10+ authorized Training Centers (Salesian institutes, CNOS FAP, Enaip), 5+ Centers of Excellence (AQM, Progetto Azienda), blended-learning and remote-proctoring delivery, and international partnerships (e.g., SIDDCO/INGENIUM in the UAE). Core technology spans welding and joining processes, non-destructive testing, additive manufacturing (EOSynt M290 PBF-LB), and inspection-campaign management software (IPSE).

IIS monetizes primarily through professional services fees across training courses, personnel and system certifications, engineering/inspection contracts, technical publications and subscriptions (Rivista Italiana della Saldatura), and event/advertising revenue (GNS, Exposaldatura). It serves approximately 2,600 active customers across primary verticals of oil & gas, infrastructure, railway/transport, energy, and shipbuilding (notably Fincantieri), with a workforce of 240 employees.

Name

Istituto Italiano di Saldatura

Legal name

Istituto Italiano della Saldatura - Ente Morale

Website

https://iis.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Istituto Italiano di Saldatura (IIS) is a 1948-founded Italian non-profit that trains, certifies, and inspects welding personnel and processes, serving ~2,600 industrial customers across oil & gas, infrastructure, energy, railway, and shipbuilding as Italy's sole IIW/EWF Authorized Training Body.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Welding Training and Certification Services

NAICS

Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOADAJ

Metallurgy, Welding Processes & Materials Science for Welders

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Welding, Metalwork & Fabrication

SECONDARYEUAEAHAN

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Infrastructure & Services (EPC, O&M, Field Services)/Inspection, Testing & Certification (ITC) / NDT for Energy Infrastructure

SECONDARYIMAIACAH

Tank, Vessel & Pipeline Inspection/Cleaning/Repair (API/ASME)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Industrial Maintenance & Plant Shutdown Services

SECONDARYEUAKABAF

In-Service Inspection (ISI) & NDE (ASME Code, Ultrasonics, Eddy Current)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Nuclear Energy/Nuclear Power Plant Operations, Maintenance & Life Extension

SECONDARYTLAHANAH

Hazardous Materials (IMDG) & Dangerous Goods Compliance Services

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Maritime Security, Safety & Compliance Services (ISPS, Inspections, Vetting)

Keywords

• Welding training
• Welding certification
• Non-destructive testing
• Welding inspection
• Metallurgical laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

Genoa

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Courses: IIS delivers a comprehensive portfolio of training courses for welding personnel, inspectors, coordinators, and engineers at multiple certification levels (IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IWI), non-destructive testing personnel (PND), and specialized topics including additive manufacturing, robotics, adhesive bonding, and electronics. Courses are offered at multiple Italian locations and through blended learning.
2. Personnel and System Certification: Through IIS CERT, the group provides certification of personnel, quality management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001), environment and safety, manufacturing and control processes, products, and materials according to national and international codes and standards.
3. Engineering and Inspection Services: IIS SERVICE provides integrated engineering services including structural engineering, process engineering, materials and corrosion engineering, as well as second and third-party inspections, non-destructive testing, QA/QC, and expediting services.
4. Technical Publications and Library Services: IIS publishes the Italian Welding Magazine (Rivista Italiana della Saldatura), technical publications, and maintains a specialized technical library with national and international standards, journals, and conference proceedings available for reference and sale.
5. Technical Events and Advertising: IIS organizes major technical events including Giornate Nazionali della Saldatura (GNS) and sells advertising space through its Media IIS platform, Exposaldatura virtual exhibition, and technical publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Istituto Italiano di Saldatura (IIS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1948 in Genoa, Italy, providing training, certification, engineering, inspection, and laboratory services related to welding technologies and materials testing. It serves industrial sectors including oil & gas, infrastructure, energy, railway, and manufacturing through accredited programs and proprietary tools such as the IPSE welding management software.

Product overview

Istituto Italiano di Saldatura is a private non-profit organization founded in 1948, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized into six core divisions: Training (Formazione), Certification (IIS CERT), Engineering (IIS SERVICE), Inspections and NDT, Laboratory services, and Technical Events. The organization provides specialized Smart Services including Adhesive Bonding, Coating, Failure Analysis, Electronics (IPC certification), and Additive Manufacturing (GeaM). Additional offerings include publications, library services, the Italian Welding Magazine, and the Exposaldatura virtual exhibition platform. Training is delivered at multiple locations across Italy and through remote options, with programs spanning from basic welder certification to advanced engineering levels (IWE/IWT). The group operates approximately 60 certified inspectors and maintains partnerships with EWF and IIW for international certification standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Welding and NDT Training Courses
• Personnel Certification Services
• Welding Engineering and Consulting Services
• Third-Party Inspection Services
• Materials and Metallurgical Laboratory Services
• IPSE Welding Management Software
• Technical Magazine Publication

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,500 registered participants at GNS10, described as one of the most important technical-scientific conferences in Europe for welded constructions.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• PreVEnT Erasmus+ ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-funded by the European Union under Erasmus+ (2023-1-RO01-KA220-VET-000151056), PreVEnT brings together leading VET providers and research centers to strengthen links between education and industry in the welding sector.
• INGENIUM / SIDDCO Group (UAE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2015Partnership signed at UAE's EXPO Milano stand to establish welding training centers at Kizad and Hamriyah (UAE) for the fabrication of pressure equipment. IIS PROGRESS provides technology transfer and trains local workers for internationally certified welding qualifications. The initiative supports UAE's Economic Vision for economic diversification and talent development.
• Consiglio Nazionale degli Ingegneri (CNI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IIS PROGRESS is recognized as a Provider by CNI, authorized to issue Professional Training Credits (CFP) for engineers. Courses accredited include NDT Module (16 CFP), Welding Coordinator EN 1090-2 (40 CFP), and IWE Design and Calculation Module (48 CFP).
• Università di Genova (University of Genoa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Joint development of a Master of Science Level II in Advanced Welding Engineering with the University of Genoa. The program combines IIS's International Welding Engineer diploma with university-level lectures on automation and robotics in welding, delivered one week per month at IIS Genoa.
• Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (ISQ) - PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2014ISQ (Portugal) hosted the kick-off meeting for the SAT_EN 1090 European Training Programme (ERASMUS+), a harmonized training program for EN 1090 compliance across European metalworking companies. IIS participated as a consortium partner alongside ISQ and organizations from multiple European countries.
• FUTUREWELD Consortium (European Partners)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014IIS is involved in the FUTUREWELD project — Implementation of guidelines for mechanized, orbital and robotized welding personnel — under the ERASMUS+ family of vocational education and training projects.
• International Institute of Welding (IIW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIS hosts the IIW Secretariat and serves as the sole Authorized Training Body (ATB) for IIW in Italy. The partnership enables IIS to issue internationally recognized welding diplomas (IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IWI) and participate in global welding standardization. IIW has 53 member countries.
• European Welding Federation (EWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIS is the sole EWF-authorized ATB in Italy, delivering European-level welding qualifications aligned with EWF guidelines. EWF provides the harmonized framework for welding personnel certification across Europe.
• IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIS PROGRESS operates as an IPC Training Center, offering certification programs (IPC-A-610, IPC-7711/7721, IPC-J-STD-001, IPC/WHMA-A-620, IPC-A-600, IPC-6012) for electronics assembly. IIS PROGRESS was the first IPC Training Center in Italy and first among European IPC centers for IPC-6012.
• SIRI (Associazione Italiana di Robotica ed Automazione)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIS collaborates with SIRI on training programs for personnel coordination in robotized, mechanized, and orbital welding. SIRI is the Italian Association of Robotics and Automation, bringing industry expertise to IIS course development.
• TICASScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTICASS collaborated with IIS PROGRESS and the University of Genoa to structure the Advanced Welding Engineering university master's program, contributing to specialized didactic content.
• American Welding Society (AWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIS PROGRESS holds AWS Agent status, enabling it to offer AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification programs and examinations in Italy, expanding its international certification portfolio beyond IIW/EWF.
• voestalpine Böhler WeldingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVoestalpine Böhler Welding funded a professional welding training course for ten refugees at IIS's Legnano laboratory, with diploma delivery at IIS headquarters. The company has invested €1.2 million in training and hospitality for migrants in Austria.
• AQM srl (Center of Excellence)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAQM srl operates as an IIS Center of Excellence in Provaglio d'Iseo (BS), providing welding training and NDT services to local SMEs in the metalworking sector under IIS standards.
• Progetto Azienda srl (Center of Excellence)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgetto Azienda srl operates as an IIS Center of Excellence in Bellizzi (SA), supporting and assisting local SMEs in the metalworking sector with IIS-aligned training and qualification services.
• Istituto Salesiano San Zeno (Training Center)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIstituto Salesiano San Zeno in Verona operates as an IIS Training Center partner, delivering practical and theoretical welding courses under IIS training standards. Active since 1962.
• Istituto Salesiano Bearzi (Training Center)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIstituto Salesiano Bearzi in Udine operates as an IIS Training Center partner, hosting Welding Junior Cup competitions and delivering IIS-standard welding courses.
• CNOS FAP (Training Centers - multiple locations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCNOS FAP operates multiple IIS Training Centers: Agnelli (Turin), Fossano (Cuneo), and Emilia Romagna (San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna). These Salesian vocational training centers deliver IIS-standard welding programs.
• Enaip Trentino (Training Center)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnaip Trentino operates as an IIS Training Center partner, providing welding training under IIS standards in the Trentino region.
• Collegio Manfredini (Training Center)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollegio Manfredini in Este (PD) operates as an IIS Training Center partner, delivering welding training under IIS standards.
• SOGES SPAGTM or Marketing PartnerSOGES SPA sponsored the IIS charitable welding training project for migrants, providing welding wire and electrodes.
• SIAD SPAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSIAD SPA sponsored the IIS charitable welding training project for migrants, providing argon gas 5.0 for welding.
• Lincoln Electric Italia SRLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLincoln Electric Italia sponsored the Italian Welding Olympics, providing Viking 4CTM auto-darkening welding helmets as prizes. Also sponsored the charitable welding course for migrants.
• ESAB Saldatura SPAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerESAB Saldatura SPA sponsored the IIS charitable welding training project for migrants, providing welding wire and electrodes.
• Weld AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed by IIS Ente Morale, Weld Australia promotes the Paolo Corronca Scholarship offering 6 months of professional training at Weld Australia for welding professionals.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TWI (The Welding Institute): TWI is the UK-based global counterpart to IIS, providing welding research, training, certification, and inspection services. Both serve as national welding institutes with IIW/EWF ATB status and operate multi-service platforms (training, certification, NDT, engineering) — making them the closest international peer.
• DVS (Deutscher Verband für Schweißen und verwandte Verfahren): DVS is the German Welding Society, functioning as Germany's national welding association providing training, certification, and standards. Directly comparable to IIS as a national IIW/EWF-aligned welding body in a major European industrial economy.
• ISQ (Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade): ISQ is the Portuguese welding and quality institute, partnered with IIS on the SAT_EN 1090 European Training Programme. Offers similar services in welding training, certification, inspection, and engineering in the Portuguese and Iberian market.
• BWI / Institut Belge de la Soudure (IBS): BWI is the Belgian Welding Institute, providing welding training, certification, NDT, and engineering services in Belgium. Comparable as a smaller national welding institute in a neighboring European market with similar service breadth.
• Institut de Soudure (France): Institut de Soudure is the French welding institute offering training, certification, inspection, and engineering services. Directly comparable as a national welding body serving France's oil & gas, nuclear, and industrial sectors.

Regional players

• RINA (Registro Italiano Navale): RINA is an Italian classification society providing certification, inspection, and engineering services, particularly strong in the naval/marine sector where IIS also serves Fincantieri and other shipbuilders. Comparable as a Genova-based Italian certification body in adjacent industrial verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Cetim (Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques): Cetim is the French technical center for mechanical industries providing testing, R&D, certification, and training. Comparable to IIS in offering multidisciplinary industrial services to manufacturers, though broader in scope beyond welding.
• AWS (American Welding Society): AWS is the dominant US welding standards body, offering CWI certification (which IIS PROGRESS delivers as an AWS Agent). Comparable as a national welding authority and certification body, though much larger in scale and operating in a different geography.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) giant serving the same oil & gas, infrastructure, energy, and marine customers as IIS SERVICE. Comparable as a third-party inspection and certification provider, though much larger and broader in scope.
• EWF (European Welding Federation): EWF is the European federation of which IIS is the Italian ATB. While EWF sets qualification frameworks and harmonizes standards across Europe (which IIS implements), it is the regulatory/standards body above national institutes like IIS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/iiswebtv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/istituto-italiano-della-saldatura---il-gruppo
• Instagraminstagram.com/istitutoitalianodellasaldatura
• Facebookfacebook.com/GruppoIIS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Istituto Italiano di Saldatura