chs²
Strong International Participation at CHS²-2026 in Plzeň
From 1–3 June 2026, researchers, engineers, and industry representatives from around the world gathered in Plzeň, Czech Republic, for the 10th edition of CHS² – International Conference on Hot Sheet Metal Forming of High-Performance Steel. The conference is recognized as one of the leading international forums for research and development in hot forming technologies for high-performance materials.
This year's event attracted approximately 145 delegates from 16 countries and three continents, bringing together leading experts from academia and industry to exchange knowledge and strengthen international collaborations. The conference featured an extensive technical program, with 65 presentations, from the regular program and two special sessions, and five invited plenary lectures. Over three intensive days, participants shared the latest research findings and technological innovations in areas such as hot forming, advanced high-strength steels, process modelling, material characterization, and sustainable manufacturing. The conference once again demonstrated the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. Researchers and industrial experts exchanged knowledge, discussed emerging challenges, and explored new opportunities for innovation in the development of next-generation materials and manufacturing processes.
During the closing session, the host city for the next CHS² conference was officially announced. In 2028, CHS² - 2028 will be held in Barcelona, Spain, where the international community will once again come together to share knowledge, present new research results, and discuss future challenges and opportunities in high-performance materials and advanced forming technologies. Following the success of CHS²-2026 in Plzeň, the organizers look forward to building on the strong international network that the conference series has developed over nearly two decades. CHS² continues to serve as a key platform for collaboration between academia and industry, fostering new ideas, partnerships, and innovations.
We look forward to welcoming both returning and new participants to CHS²-2028 in Barcelona for another inspiring event at the forefront of research and industrial development.
Best Regards
Jens Hardell
Daniel Casellas
CHS² Organizing Committee
While all the accepted full papers will be published in the conference proceedings, selected papers fulfilling the aims & scope will be invited to prepare manuscripts for submission to the journal Materials Science and Technology for a Special Issue on hot stamping steels.
Materials Science and Technology is a journal of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (https://www.iom3.org/) published by Sage (https://www.sagepub.com/). The aims & scope and other details of the journal can be viewed at: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/MST.
Policy regarding publication ethics of the journal for prior publication can be found here: https://www.sagepub.com/journals/publication-ethics-policies/prior-publication
For questions regarding the special issue, please contact:
Radhakanta Rana, Editor-in-Chief, Materials Science and Technology (radhakanta.rana@tatasteeleurope.com), or
Kate Hall, Senior Publishing Editor, Sage (Kate.Hall@sagepub.co.uk)






