In the Surface Pavilion, the stand of the German Aluminum Surface Finishing Association (VOA) attracted a great deal of interest from member companies. Here, companies and representatives of international bodies discussed the current situation in the industry. In view of the economic situation, the VOA describes the mood as cautiously optimistic.
Constellation of high strength and low weight
With a view to lightweight construction, competitiveness and decarbonization, Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, described aluminium as the ideal material for the future in his video message at the start of the trade fair. In fact, the particular advantages of the metal lie above all in the favorable combination of high strength and low weight, its versatile use in industrial and consumer goods and its recycling possibilities through energy and resource-saving reprocessing. The sustainability aspect in particular is driving demand for surface-treated aluminum worldwide.
Conference topic Sustainability & Circularity
At the Aluminum Conference, the industry addressed the topic of "Sustainability & Circularity". During the subsequent panel discussion, VOA Managing Director Dr. Alexa A. Becker sharpened the audience's awareness of the essential role of the surface finishing industry in the global value chain: it is surface finishing that gives aluminum its decorative and functional properties, makes it particularly hard, scratch-resistant and resilient, gives it the desired feel or a wide variety of colors.