An excellent programme of speakers set out to address the conference theme – ‘What the future holds’ – with insights into the use of automation and digitalisation in the manufacturing industry. This was combined with an opportunity to visit facilities of ASK Romein and VDL VDS who are leaders in advanced technology in steel fabrication and component manufacturing, respectively.

Pieter Aarts, Managing Director, VDL VDS gave a fascinating insight into the use of automation and robotization in manufacturing.

Prof Markus Kuhnhenne, RWTH Aachen University, presented on the PROGRESS project on re-use of steel structures.

Another highlight was a review by Dr Frank van Assche (International Zinc Association) on the extensive scientific and advocacy work that has reassured regulators and users that zinc-based products are fully compatible with goals of environmental protection. As he approaches retirement, the Assembly acknowledged the immense personal contribution made by Dr van Assche to this work.

Networking opportunities included a conference dinner at the Art-Nouveaux inspired Horta Café and a lively party evening at the Felix Warehouse in conjunction with the Zink Info Benelux Galvanizing Trophy awards ceremony.

Many delegates also took the opportunity to visit Verzinkerij Weert and Verzinkerij Meerveldhoven to view their galvanizing and other coating operations.

The important role that galvanizing can play in the topical concept of the circular economy was the subject of a special session headed by a keynote speech by Professor Jacqueline Cramer on the fundamental concepts of circular thinking for business and the consumer.

This was reinforced by presentations by Prof Markus Kuhnhenne on the PROGRESS project on re-use of steel structures and by Koen Vandewalle on Kaseco’s approach to circular and sustainable building using galvanized steel.

New technical and market developments were also reported - including updates on the fire resistance of galvanized steel, design considerations for galvanized steel bridges, galvanized reinforcement for concrete and the successful promotion of galvanizing for architectural facades.

The next EGGA Assembly will be held in Salzburg, 8-10 June 2020.

The Global Galvanizing Awards have been presented at Intergalva 2018 to recognise the innovative use of batch galvanized steel by architects, engineers, constructors and artists around the world.

Prizes have been awarded for the most effective and innovative use of galvanizing in architecture and civil engineering – with special attention on the contribution of galvanizing to sustainable construction.

The Awards are organised through the international network of galvanizing industry associations and were sponsored by the International Zinc Association.

The Global Galvanizing Awards were presented on 19 June 2018, during Intergalva 2018, at the Estrel Hotel, Berlin. Delegates were enthralled by presentations of each of the winning and highly commended projects.

You can view all the Award Winners here.

Over 700 conference delegates and 300 other participants from 60 countries made Intergalva 2018 the most extensive gathering ever held for the batch hot dip galvanizing industry. The conference and exhibition were held in Berlin from 17-22 June and demonstrated the continued importance of the sector in protecting steel structures and components worldwide.

The conference highlighted innovative and sustainable solutions in the galvanizing process and new applications in corrosion protection for bridges, façade systems, concrete reinforcement, solar energy and other uses.

The creative use of galvanizing in architecture and construction was rewarded during the Global Galvanizing Awards that are an integral part of Intergalva. Pictured below, left to right, are the successful architects - Rueben Molendijk (Cepezed, Netherlands); Oliver Sachse and Katja Pfeiffer (Pfeiffer-Sachse Architekten, Germany); Caroline Nagel (COBE Architects); Aaron Poupard (ARM Architects, Australia) and Matthew Wells (Techniker, UK, representing the judges). The awards were organised by EGGA and sponsored by the International Zinc Association.

Advances in process technology and efficiency were also explored in a series of 12 workshops throughout the event.

The exhibition was the largest held for suppliers of plant, equipment and services to the industry – with 65 exhibiting companies.

EGGA President, Martin Kopf, opened the conference telling delegates that “It is fitting that, on its 25th anniversary, this international galvanizing conference is the biggest event since the first conference held in Copenhagen in 1950. Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters for helping deliver the biggest Intergalva ever”.

Nearly half of all delegates chose to visit galvanizing plants across Germany as part of their Intergalva experience.

The Intergalva 2018 dinner was held in the impressive setting of the Berlin Konzerthaus and was proudly sponsored by the galvanizing companies within the Board of the Industrieverband Feuerverzinken (Zinkpower, Seppeler, The Coatinc Company, Feuerverzinkerei Meyer, Otto Lehmann, Verzinkerei Dortmund).

Intergalva 2018 was organised by the European General Galvanizers Association and hosted by the Industrieverband Feuerverzinken. Paul Niederstein, speaker of the Board of the Industrieverband Feuerverzinken paid tribute in his closing remarks to the excellent collaboration between the industry’s worldwide associations, observing that “Our close cooperation is not only of fundamental importance to us as galvanizers – but is even more important in the face of separatism, protectionism, trade wars and general tendencies towards closed doors across the world. We are very wise to ignore these trends and stay united as an industry”

The conference papers from Intergalva 2018 are currently being edited and will be published as the Edited Proceedings of the 25th International Galvanizing Conference. Intergalva 2021 will be held in Italy in June 2021.

A large delegation of industry representatives participated in a visit to Parliament and Lunch with MEPs, organised by the European General Galvanizers Association (EGGA) and the International Zinc Association-Europe. Representatives from the batch galvanizing industry were joined by invited guests from Construction Products Europe and (UNIFE) at the event on 28 November 2017.

A meeting with from Angelika Niebler MEP (Germany) focused on the challenges facing the manufacturing industry and the role of the Parliament in supporting industry.

This was followed by the "Growing Europe's Hot Dip Galvanizing Industry" Lunch Briefing co-hosted by Paul Rübig MEP (Austria) and Massimiliano Salini MEP (Italy) and attended by 16 MEPs from 10 Member States. Industry representatives and MEPS enjoyed informal discussions, with a strong focus on the need for a more ambitious industrial strategy for the EU.

The European General Galvanizers Association has published an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for ‘Batch Hot Dip Galvanizing of Steel Products to EN ISO 1461 – European Average’.

The EPD has been generated under the International EPD System® based on Product Category Rules for Corrosion Protection of Fabricated Steel Products and is independently third-party verified in accordance with ISO 14025:2010 and EN 15804.

Batch galvanizing is most often specified early in the design of steel components and structures with the coating application being sub-contracted much later in the supply process. For this reason, a sector-based EPD is the most informative approach for architects and designers when considering environmental information.

The EPD is based on a new Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) study carried out by Life Cycle Engineering srl (Italy) that collected detailed environmental information from 66 galvanizing plants producing over 1 million tonnes of coated steelwork in 14 countries. LCE worked closely with EGGA’s national associations to collate the sample. The sample was then carefully checked to be representative of the mix of technology used across the industry. The LCI data are fully comprehensive – covering every aspect of the galvanizing process, from raw materials to process energy and ancillary operations.

Results are presented for a notional 1m² steel plate of 8mm section thickness. Environmental burdens of the galvanized coating are separated from that of the steel plate – to demonstrate that the additional burden of providing lifelong protection for steel components is extremely small.

View the EPD here - Environmental Product Declaration for Batch Hot Dip Galvanizing of Steel Products to EN ISO 1461 – European Average

View the EPD Certificate issued by the International EPD System®.

The EPD is also mutually recognised by the IBU EPD system (Germany). Download the IBU version here. https://epd-online.com/PublishedEpd/Detail/9545

The Product Category Rules ‘Corrosion Protection of Fabricated Steel Products' can be found at http://www.environdec.com/en/PCR/Detail/?Pcr=7877

The European General Galvanizers Association has elected Martin Kopf (Zinkpower Group & Chairman, Industrieverband Feuerverzinken, Germany) as its new President.

In accepting the role, Martin Kopf said:

‘I will further develop the Association’s engagement with the industry across all parts of Europe and broaden participation in the wide range of EGGA activities that are very important for our sector. We will also work closely with the industry in Germany to ensure the success of Intergalva 2018.’

EGGA comprises 15 member national associations that represent the industry in 22 countries. The industry will provide sustainable corrosion protection for over 7 million tonnes of steel products in 2017.

Outgoing President, Jeremy Woolridge CBE (BE Wedge Holdings Ltd, United Kingdom) reflected on his own period of Presidency, stating: 'This has been a period of intense activity and continued evolution for the European General Galvanizers Association. The need for additional effort to ensure the continued prosperity of the European general galvanizing industry was the main driver of our ‘EGGA 2020’ strategy that has given a strong focus to EGGA’s development over the past 3 years’.

Over 170 delegates from 24 countries attended EGGA Assembly 2016 in Sevilla, 6-9 June 2016 to hear the latest developments in Europe’s batch hot dip galvanizing industry. The event was held in conjunction with the Spanish national association (ATEG) and delegates visited Spanish galvanizing plants operated by ATEG members.

ATEG hosted a reception at Assembly 2016

Conference sessions covered market applications, process technology, regulatory issues and commercial aspects of the industry. Panel discussions on (i) market research into attitudes and motivations of coating specifiers and (ii) future demand from the solar power industry stimulated much debate amongst delegates. A detailed explanation of the ongoing revision of the EC BREF note for Ferrous Metal Processing and its importance in defining future environmental controls for galvanizing plants was given by Gabriele Klein of the EU JRC-IPPC Bureau.

Delegates networking at the Assembly 2016 dinner

Assembly 2016 also provided valuable networking opportunities for suppliers of plant, equipment and other services for the industry.

EGGA Assemblies are a benefit of membership of national galvanizing industry associations. EGGA Assembly 2017 will be held in the Nordic Countries – date and venue to be announced soon.

Sponsors of Assembly 2016 were: W. Pilling, Rezinal, Scheffer, Hasco-Thermic, Gimeco Impianti, Asturiana de Zinc S.A.U. and Zinco UK.

Over 400 people from 49 countries have already taken the decision to attend Intergalva 2015. With more galvanizing industry delegates joining each day, the overall attendance is set to exceed expectations once again.

In addition to informative conference sessions and practical workshops, delegates have been keen to book their places on optional visits to the UK’s galvanizing plants on 11 and 12 June. Some visits have now reached maximum capacity – but there are still places available on most visits.

A new feature for Intergalva 2015 is the chance to combine plant visits with sightseeing on Groups 6 and 7. These visits include an overnight stay on 11 June. Group 7 includes two of the most recently built galvanizing plants in the UK.

Delegates with an interest in integrated powder coating and galvanizing operations will be well served by Groups 2, 3, 4 and 6 – all of which include such facilities. Group 5 will visit the two largest galvanizing baths in the UK – including the longest kettle in Europe at 21 metres!

Despite clear guidance in international standards against the use of accelerated laboratory testing as a way to compare or predict the corrosion performance of different metallic coatings for steel, the results from these tests continue to be used to promote certain types of coating to unsuspecting users. EGGA has published a fact sheet to remind users and specifiers of protective coatings of the weaknesses of such test results and the misleading information they can provide.

Intergalva is organised by European General Galvanizers Association (EGGA) and hosted by the Galvanizers Association. The conference covers technical, commercial and environmental topics for the general (batch) hot dip galvanizing industry.

It continues the series that began in 1950 and was last held in Paris in 2012. The 'must-attend' event for the worldwide galvanizing industry.

Liverpool will provide a first class venue for Intergalva 2015:

• World class convention centre with extensive hotel facilities within 5 minutes walk
• Exciting waterfront location with Liverpool’s best bars and restaurants
• Europe’s newest and largest shopping/leisure experience is within 5 minutes walk
• Easy flight access through Liverpool or Manchester airports
• Excellent rail link to London and its airports