Influence of the natural aluminium oxide layer on ... - ALU-WEB.DE

Christian Wellner
Executive Director <strong>of</strong> GDA
Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie
e.V. (German Aluminium
Association)
Aluminium industry
continuing to grow
in future
Despite <strong>the</strong> current crisis in <strong>the</strong> banking
and finance sector, <strong>the</strong> global <strong>aluminium</strong>
industry is continuing to look optimistical-
ly to <strong>the</strong> future. The industry is still on a
path <strong>of</strong> solid growth despite a weakening
in <strong>the</strong> growth dynamics and a dampener
being put on business expectations.
Forecasts for <strong>aluminium</strong> continue to be
optimistic. The dynamic development is
closely linked to <strong>the</strong> innovative capability
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sector and <strong>the</strong> metal’s beneficial
properties. Aluminium has established itself
in numerous user markets. Whe<strong>the</strong>r it
be in <strong>the</strong> most important market, <strong>the</strong> transport
sector, in mechanical engineering,
in <strong>the</strong> electronics sector or in packaging,
<strong>aluminium</strong> companies have continued to
push technological development forward
and opened up new uses and fields <strong>of</strong> application
for <strong>the</strong> lightweight metal again
and again. The worldwide consumption
<strong>of</strong> <strong>aluminium</strong> will continue to grow in <strong>the</strong>
next 10 to 15 years, with an annual global
consumption <strong>of</strong> some 70 million tonnes
expected by around 2020. Growing demand
from Asia and <strong>the</strong> important user
markets – automotive, mechanical engineering,
building and construction, packaging
and solar energy – will help <strong>the</strong> lightweight
metal achieve continuous growth.
Growing consumption <strong>of</strong> <strong>aluminium</strong> will
result in enormous importance being given
to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> innovative process
technologies and plant concepts for <strong>the</strong>
production and processing <strong>of</strong> <strong>aluminium</strong>.
More complex material properties demand
a high degree <strong>of</strong> technological expertise
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and <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> special solutions.
Future technological developments will
also focus on resource efficiency and potential
savings <strong>of</strong> CO 2 and energy in all
processes. In future, too, we must repeatedly
develop material properties fur<strong>the</strong>r,
create new products and optimise production
processes via investments in application-oriented
research and development.
What innovative technologies can
equipment suppliers <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>the</strong> <strong>aluminium</strong>
industry? Will new processes or material
developments open up new markets for
<strong>aluminium</strong>? What new trends are emerging?
Experts from <strong>the</strong> <strong>aluminium</strong> industry
will be discussing <strong>the</strong>se and o<strong>the</strong>r questions
with <strong>the</strong>ir equipment partners and suppliers
at <strong>the</strong> European Aluminium Congress
‘Technologies for <strong>the</strong> Aluminium Industry’
on 22-23 November 2011 in Düsseldorf.
It provides <strong>the</strong> equipment suppliers and
technology partners <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>aluminium</strong> producing
and processing industry with a comprehensive
platform to present and discuss
<strong>the</strong>ir latest developments.
The congress programme <strong>of</strong>fers <strong>the</strong> opportunity
to exchange information and
have detailed discussions with representatives
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> European <strong>aluminium</strong> industry,
its equipment manufacturers and o<strong>the</strong>r
suppliers.
I wish all EAC congress participants an
informative programme <strong>of</strong> presentations
and I hope <strong>the</strong>y enjoy interesting discussions
and make valuable contacts during
both days <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> congress in Düsseldorf.
ALUMINIUM · XX/2011 EAC CONGRESS 2011 3
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