EAA in Aluminium Essen Fair 2010

Almost 900 exhibitors, 18,000 participants, 47 countries represented and several thematic pavilions made the success of this years edition of the Essen Aluminium Trade Fair.

This year again, EAA was partner of the largest aluminium fair in the world, and its team was pleased to welcome visitors at the joint EAA-OEA-IAI stand.

In the opening press conference, GDA Managing Director Christian Wellner gave an optimistic overlook of the near future for the German industry, after two very difficult years and the decline recorded during the financial and economic crisis. Despite these positive signs, he called upon the industry to be cautious since it is now clear that globalization brings both opportunities and risks due to interconnection and the increased vulnerability of the whole system.

EAAs Secretary General Patrick de Schrynmakers presented the impact of the crisis and latest trends on an EU-wide scale, as well as the essential conditions for the industrys lasting recovery. In particular, he identified a number of factors which will affect the future of the sector, and namely:

• Electricity prices and the possibility to establish long-term contracts with power generators,

• The impact of environmental legislation and the need for a global level playing field,

• The need for a real and consistent EU industrial and energy policy.

de Schrynmakers also recalled the enormous efforts performed by the aluminium industry in terms of emissions reduction, use phase in transport and buildings markets and recycling benefits.

The Fair also hosted the celebration of the 2010 Aluminium Awards¹rewarding the most innovative and creative solutions. 33 products were nominated - by a jury of international experts - in the categories Industrial products and Consumer products. More specifically, the following prizes were awarded during the ceremony:

• Transport & Automotive

• Buildings & Construction

• Machinery &, Electronics & Production techniques

• Innovation

• Design

• Young designers

On this occasion, Marcos Ramos EAA chairman and President of Alcoa Europe underlined that the recipe for any industry to recover from a recession is innovation and that the Aluminium 2010 Fair, as well as the European Aluminium Award Competition, are excellent platforms to tell our story and showcase all these great examples of innovative products and technologies making aluminium part of the solution for the many challenges our society is facing.

EAA is looking forward for the next edition of the fair which will move to Dusseldorf (9-11 October 2012) due to the success of this event and the need to provide exhibitors and visitors with increased capacity.

• Further information available here: www.aluminium-messe.com

1. The EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD is granted every two years. The award goes to products and projects that make innovative use of aluminium. The competition is organised by the Aluminium Centrum (Houten) in cooperation with EAA (European Aluminium Association), GDA (Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie) and ALUMINIUM 2010.