AFS - Association Française du Soudage

What AFS - Association Française du Soudage does

AFS - Association Française du Soudage is a non-profit professional association (gouvened by the French law of July 1, 1901) founded in 1991 jointly by Institut de Soudure (IS) and Société Française des Ingénieurs, Scientifiques et Techniciens en Soudage (SIS). It operates as the sole French ANB (Authorized Nominated Body) and ANBCC (Authorized Nominated Body for Companies Certification) designated by the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF). The organization delivers internationally recognized personnel qualifications in welding (IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IW, IWIP), adhesive bonding (EAB, EAS), welding coordination (EWCP), and additive manufacturing (IAMQS across AM Operator, Engineer, Designer, and Coordinator roles), as well as ISO 3834 company certification for fusion welding quality management.

The association's core technology is the IIW/EWF Personnel Certification Scheme, which standardizes qualification pathways through Competence Units with examination components. Services are distributed indirectly through a network of 19 authorized training bodies (ATB) across France, including IS Industrie (which operates multiple sites), ESSA, APAVE, AFPMA, Polytech schools, IUT Nîmes, RESCOLL, and CDS. The association itself operates a lean permanent secretariat of approximately 8 staff, with Philippe Lebeau serving as Chief Executive and Scheme Manager, supported by one administrative assistant.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring annual membership dues from 20+ corporate members (including EDF, Bureau Veritas, KNDS, Naval Group, Apave, and major manufacturers), one-time examination and certification fees for personnel qualifications, training center authorization and surveillance fees from ATBs, and product sales through an online shop (official stamps priced €115-€130 HT, diploma reprints at €145 HT, plus reference documents). The credential base exceeds 11,285 diploma holders in assembly and 322 in additive manufacturing, with credential holders distributed across France, Africa (Angola, Tunisia, Morocco), and Asia (Thailand, Kazakhstan). Since July 2020, AFS has expanded into additive manufacturing personnel qualification through authorization from the IAMQC of EWF, deployed in partnership with France Additive.

Name

AFS - Association Française du Soudage

Legal name

Association Française du Soudage

Website

https://afs-asso.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFS is the French non-profit ANB/ANBCC designated by IIW and EWF, delivering internationally recognized welding, bonding, and additive manufacturing personnel qualifications (IWE/IWT/IWS/IWP, EAB/EAS, IAMQS) and ISO 3834 company certifications to French industrial manufacturers, inspectors, and training centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Welding and Joining Certification Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

akta.pro primary industry

Welding Codes, Safety & Compliance Training (AWS/ASME/OSHA) (EDAOADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Welding Inspection, QA/QC & NDT Prep Training (e.g., CWI) (EDAOADAF), Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ), Certification & Credentialing (Operators, Engineers, Inspectors) (IMAAAJAD)

Keywords

• Welding personnel certification
• Additive manufacturing qualification
• ISO 3834 company certification
• Adhesive bonding qualification
• IIW EWF qualification schemes

Headquarters

HQ city

Villepinte

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from corporate members including constructors, customers, inspection organizations, and educational institutions
2. Examination and Certification Fees: Fees for personnel qualification exams, certifications, and company ISO 3834 certification including initial audits and annual surveillance
3. Products and Services: Sale of official stamps for qualified personnel, diploma reprints, and reference documents
4. Training Center Authorization: Fees for approval and surveillance of authorized training bodies (ATB) that deliver AFS qualifications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AFS is the French ANB/ANBCC that administers IIW, EWF, and ISO 3834 personnel and company qualification schemes for welding, adhesive bonding, and additive manufacturing. It delivers international welding qualifications (IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IW, IWIP), bonding qualifications (EAB, EAS), welding coordination certification (EWCP), the IAMQS additive manufacturing qualification system, and ISO 3834 company certification, supported by a network of approved training centers.

Product overview

AFS (Association Française du Soudage) is a non-profit professional certification and qualification organization for welding, adhesive bonding, and additive manufacturing. The organization operates as a unified national body (ANB/ANBCC) authorized by IIW and EWF, providing a portfolio of international and European qualifications including IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IW, IWIP for welding personnel; EAB, EAS for adhesive bonding; EWCP for welding coordination; ISO 3834 company certification; and the IAMQS system for additive manufacturing personnel. AFS also issues official stamps and duplicate diplomas, and provides competence attestations for welding coordinators. The offerings are delivered through a network of authorized training centers across France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Welding Engineer (IWE) Qualification Highest-level welding coordination qualification providing complete knowledge for planning, execution, supervision and testing of all welding responsibilities. Aimed at welding engineers across industrial manufacturers, inspection organizations, and project owners.
• International Welding Technologist (IWT) Qualification Mid-level welding qualification providing sufficient technical knowledge for planning, execution, supervision and testing of welding activities in a specific or limited technical domain.
• International Welding Specialist (IWS) Qualification Welding qualification providing sufficient technical knowledge for planning, execution, supervision and testing of welding responsibilities in limited scope requiring only simple welding work.
• International Welding Practitioner (IWP) Qualification Practical-level welding qualification for practitioners performing welding operations.
• International Welder (IW) Qualification Professional welder certification following EWF/IIW IAB 089 guidelines, certifying competence for production welders.
• International Welding Inspector (IWIP) Qualification Welding inspection personnel certification following EWF/IIW IAB-041 guidelines, aimed at inspection organizations performing third-party welding inspection.
• European Adhesive Bonder (EAB) Qualification Certification for adhesive bonding personnel following EWF 515 guidelines, meeting DIN 2304 and DIN 6701 requirements.
• European Adhesive Specialist (EAS) Qualification Advanced certification for adhesive bonding coordination personnel following EWF 662 guidelines.
• European Welding Coordination Personnel (EWCP) Qualification European welding coordination personnel certification for welding coordination following EN 1090-2, available in basic (EWCP-B) and specialized (EWCP-S) levels for structural steel.
• ISO 3834 Company Certification Certification for manufacturing organizations demonstrating compliance with quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials, available at comprehensive (ISO 3834-2), standard (ISO 3834-3), and elementary (ISO 3834-4) levels. Valid for 5 years with annual surveillance.
• International Additive Manufacturing Qualification System (IAMQS) Comprehensive personnel qualification system for additive manufacturing including AM Operator, AM Process Engineer, AM Designer, and AM Coordinator qualifications across PBF-LB, DED-LB, and DED-Arc processes, based on a modular Competence Units (CU) framework.
• Official Stamps for IIW/EWF Diplomas Official rubber stamps containing qualification details and diploma/certificate numbers for professionals to prove their qualifications when signing documents. Multiple models available (AFS, Welding Coordinator, IIW) at unit prices.
• Welding Coordinator Competence Attestation Third-party competence attestation for welding coordinators following ISO 14731, issued by AFS Qualification Committee based on audit reports for companies.
• EWF/IIW Diploma Reprint or Transcription Service for diploma reprints or EWF to IIW diploma transcriptions, sold at unit price.
• Authorized Training Body (ATB) Authorization and Surveillance Approval and ongoing surveillance of authorized training bodies (ATB) that deliver AFS qualifications and host examinations. Currently 19 approved centers across France.

Quantifiable outcome

• International market access through IIW/EWF recognized qualifications
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• International Additive Manufacturing Qualification Council (IAMQC) of EWFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020AFS received authorization from IAMQC (EWF) in July 2020 to deliver additive manufacturing personnel qualification schemes. Provides modular qualification framework (IAMQS) for AM operators, engineers, designers, and coordinators.
• Institut de Soudure (IS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Co-founder of AFS along with SIS. Principal technical partner providing training infrastructure across multiple French locations. IS operates most approved training centers (ATB) and provides technical expertise for qualification programs.
• Société Française des Ingénieurs, Scientifiques et Techniciens en Soudage (SIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Co-founder of AFS along with Institut de Soudure. Provides professional expertise and governance representation in welding science and technology.
• International Institute of Welding (IIW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFS is the designated ANB (Authorized Nominated Body) and ANBCC (Authorized Nominated Body for Companies Certification) for France. Licenses international qualification schemes including IWE, IWT, IWS, IWP, IW. Subject to IIW/EWF audits and surveillance.
• European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFS holds ANB and ANBCC status through EWF as part of IIW/EWF dual accreditation system. Receives guidelines and frameworks for European welding qualifications.
• France AdditivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-tier partner for additive manufacturing deployment in France. France Additive members are key actors in additive manufacturing industry. AFS collaborates through France Additive for AM qualification delivery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS Société Générale de Surveillance: Global TIC leader with welding inspection and industrial certification services. Comparable to AFS at the industrial quality certification layer, with substantially broader geographic and service scope.
• TÜV Rheinland: Major international TIC and certification provider offering welding-related quality and personnel certifications across multiple jurisdictions. Represents a broader incumbent that competes in adjacent certification services.
• EWF - European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting: European umbrella body that licenses ANBs (including AFS) and develops qualification guidelines. AFS is a member; EWF defines the rules AFS implements, making it both parent framework and broad institutional comparator.
• International Institute of Welding (IIW): Global authority for welding qualification that designates ANBs worldwide. AFS derives its international qualification mandate from IIW authorization; IIW represents the apex of the same governance hierarchy AFS operates within.

Emerging players

• France Additive: French additive manufacturing industry association that partners with AFS to deploy the IAMQS qualification scheme. Closely aligned ecosystem partner, but also a potential competing voice in shaping French AM standards and certification strategy.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) conglomerate and current AFS corporate member. Overlaps with AFS in welding inspection certification and could evolve into a direct competitor if it develops its own ANB-style qualification schemes.
• Apave: French TIC and risk-management firm that is both an AFS corporate member and an approved training body. Combines inspection, certification, and training in welding/NDT domains that overlap with AFS's offering.

Direct peers

• DVS - Deutscher Verband für Schweißen und verwandte Verfahren: German Welding Society serves as the German ANB/ANBCC equivalent of AFS, delivering IIW/EWF welding personnel qualifications (IWE, IWT, IWS) and ISO 3834 certifications through a similar national-body model. Most direct functional comparator due to parallel regulatory monopoly structure.
• AWS - American Welding Society: US national body for welding standards, personnel certification (CWI, CAWI, SCWI), and qualification. Comparable non-profit model focused on welding certification, though operating under US rather than IIW/EWF frameworks.
• TWI Ltd (The Welding Institute): UK-based R&D and certification body for welding and joining technologies, operating as the IIW ANB for the UK. Comparable mission of personnel certification, training center authorization, and standards-driven qualification delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afs-association-fran%C3%A7aise-du-soudage

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AFS - Association Française du Soudage