Refractories Worldforum - Hot Topics 1/2020
Preview Next Issue refractories WORLDFORUM
Dear reader, we are glad to be able to inform you that in spite of Corona, the next issue will come as planned. You will find reports on the Freiberg Refractories Forum 2019 and the Roskill Workshop on Market Insights – Battery Raw Materials; the papers of the winners of the Poster Award at ICR Aachen 2019 and details on new “green” high-temperature insulating materials made from renewable raw materials. Refratechnik is using rice husk ash as source for biogenic silica and developed a new product line.
Publication date: 18 May 2020
WRA: Refractories are Essential for Daily Life
Safe and responsible operations need to continue is the message of WRA (World Refractories Association) to governing bodies. In response to the Corona virus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the temporary closing of non-essential businesses and other efforts to keep COVID-19 from overwhelming hospital and healthcare facilities are creating challenges for many countries and across many industries. Governing bodies must keep essential businesses open that support health systems operations and guarantee public safety and national security. Refractories should be recognized as a critical industry that must continue to operate.
AISTech Rescheduled
AISTech 2020 – The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition has been rescheduled for 31 August – 3 September 2020 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
CEMBUREAU Position Paper on Carbon Border Mechanisms
In short, the European cement industry welcomes the idea of carbon border mechanisms as an opportunity to create a level-playing field on carbon and deliver deep CO2-emissions reduction. We however highlight a number of key design principles which should apply, namely:
• In the initial phase, a carbon border mechanism must be complementary to the EU ETS free allowances.
• It must be fully WTO-compatible.
• It must be based on verified emissions from importers to the EU, and include indirect emissions.
• It must be applicable to all ETS sectors alike.
• It should provide for a CO2 charge exemption for EU exporters.
Tenova First Consteel® EAF in Japan for Nippon Steel Corporation
Tenova/IT, a Techint Group company specialized in innovative solutions for the metals and mining industries, was awarded a contract for the supply of a Consteel® EAF (Electric Arc Furnace/EAF) for Nippon Steel Corporation/JP.
Digital Hub for 4.0 Projects
RHI Magnesita/AT, the leading global supplier of refractory products and solutions, has kick-started the fourth revolution of the refractories industry. Thanks to intensive basic research and global, interdisciplinary development work, the company successfully developed the first systems for data-based process optimization at temperatures of 1200 °C and higher. The Digital Hub that was established specifically for this purpose will now bring these concepts to market readiness.
Call for Papers ALAFAR Congress
The Organizing Committee of the 42nd ALAFAR Congress would like to inform that the event is confirmed to take place in the city of Foz do Iguaço, Brazil, from 9–12 November 2020.
Bricking Solutions’ Aftersales Services Maximize Uptime
Bricking Solutions/US, a full solution provider of refractory installation equipment, offers a number of aftersales services to help operations maintain equipment to maximize uptime during refractory installation applications. Services include equipment evaluation, parts and repair, and refurbishment options. These services, paired with proper routine maintenance, provide a cost-effective measure for facilities and contractors, virtually eliminating unnecessary downtime during refractory installation while ensuring crew safety and extending machine longevity.
Stainless Steel Melt Shop Production up on 2,9 % in Year 2019
The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) has released figures for the full year 2019 showing that stainless steel melt shop production increased by 2,9 % year–on–year to 52,2 Mt. By region a different trend had to be recorded: Europe (–7,9 %), USA (–7,6 %), Asia without China and South Korea (–3,7 %), China (+10,1 %) and others (–2,0 %).
Obituary: Prof. Ivan Gutzow
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and the international scientific community in the field of the glassy state recently lost one of its most prominent and respected members. Ivan Gutzow (31.05.1933 – 23.03.2020) loved glass science from his earliest school-days, just like his father, who was Director of the first Bulgarian glass production factory in Beloslav (near Varna) and later Professor and Head of the Department of Silicate Science at the Technical University of Chemistry in Sofia. Ivan Gutzow graduated from this University in 1958 and in the same year began working at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPC-BAS) firstly as a Researcher, then as an Associate Professor, a Full Professor and finally from 2002 as a Real Member (Academician).
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