EWI, CWB Group announce mutually beneficial affiliation agreement

The CWB Group and EWI have announced the signing of an affiliation agreement that will create a strategic alliance between the two nonprofit organizations and allow them both to maximize their value proposition to clients, employees, and partners. The two organizations recognize that internal and external stakeholders may have questions about what this means for the manufacturing community. Hence, the CWB Group and EWI compiled a list of questions and answers that may arise due to this announcement.

What Is Happening?

CWB Group and EWI, two of the world’s most respected institutions in materials joining and allied manufacturing technologies, have entered into an agreement to form a strategic alliance intended to lead the world in the design and delivery of services across all technology readiness levels. The agreement has been approved by all relevant regulatory agencies.

CWB Group and EWI have formed the alliance to make it easier for customers to access cutting-edge services across the entire continuum of technology readiness. This new alliance will seamlessly combine EWI’s capabilities in developing new materials joining technologies to CWB’s tools and programs that support the application of those technologies on the shop floor.

Who Is EWI (formerly the Edison Welding Institute)?

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, EWI has technology centres in Buffalo, NY, and Loveland, Colorado. They also operate consortia that act as hubs for advancing specific technologies and industries. These are designed to improve public and private collaboration, strengthen U.S. manufacturing supply chains, and make U.S. manufacturers more competitive globally.

With various technology labs and $35 million in capital equipment across their three labs, EWI’s associates—more than 160 engineers, technicians, industry experts and member advocates—help clients overcome complex manufacturing challenges and integrate new processes to bring products to market quickly and efficiently. With expertise and advanced manufacturing technology resources, EWI is an integral extension of its clients’ innovation and R&D teams. They can assist you at any stage in your process or collaborate with you from start to finish.

What’s in it for CWB Group’s Customers?

The CWB Group and EWI now will be able to offer one of the most innovative and technically capable solutions to its customers in the allied technologies and material joining sector while maintaining its core certification business certification within Canada.

How Is This Different From an Acquisition or a Merger?

Both organizations will continue to operate independently, except where collaboration makes sense. CWB Group’s mission, strategies, programs, business practices, leadership team, and operating model remain the same.

CWB Group and EWI have had a longstanding relationship, and both leadership teams are thrilled with the alliance.

“CWB Group is excited about the opportunities that will open up for both of us,” said Doug Luciani, president/CEO of CWB Group. “The alliance will allow us to ramp up capabilities in current and new technologies and additional workforce training and learning resources, resulting in new ways to create value for our customers. We are excited to partner with EWI, a highly complementary ally, to develop powerful new solutions for our customers.”

“EWI was actively searching for investment capital to expand its technology and other service offerings in order to compete successfully in a rapidly evolving marketplace,” said Henry Cialone, president/CEO of EWI. “Our strategic alliance with CWB Group accelerates our ability to advance our mission of delivering innovative technical solutions that fuel our customers’ competitiveness in new and exciting ways while allowing EWI to remain a U.S. nonprofit corporation.”

Please contact eduard.erbiceanu@cwbgroup.org with questions.