Virtual weldability testing and prototyping significantly reduces the time and cost needed in product and process development. However, implementation is often inhibited due to lack of accurate information, support tools and methods to capture all knowledge elements from across the development process. Furthermore, results from previously conducted tests are often unavailable due to absence of knowledge reusability schemes and enabling tools. In this paper, a knowledge platform development is presented which has been implemented in industrial cases from Swedish automotive industries. The platform is demonstrated to be a key element in enabling effective virtual testing and prototyping. © 2018 The Authors.