The joining of materials is a critical part of manufacturing. Materials with otherwise promising properties would find limited application if there are not cost-effective and reliable joining methods. The development of welding technologies developed rapidly in the post WWI era. Today we see continuous improvement in established automated methods such as arc and resistance welding. The automotive industry is a key driver for welding technology. The demand for lighter weight vehicles drives the demand for joining dissimilar materials, namely steel and aluminum. Completely new welding or joining methods do not emerge frequently, but we highlight an important high throughput resistance welding technology that emerged in the last few years. This newsletter also looks at recent developments in joining of polymers and composites, and brazing/soldering. However, the important issue of lead-free soldering is not covered here.