The impact of new powertrain technologies in the automobile on the demand of aluminium casting alloys and the aggravation of the general conditions for the European aluminium recycling industry in the international competition were the main topics of the 10th International Aluminium Recycling Congress on 2 and 3 March 2009 in Berlin. Numerous delegates from 19 countries discussed with high quality experts of industry, trade, associations and the European Parliament and took the opportunity to exchange views on the possibilities to cope with the global economic crisis, with colleagues, suppliers and customers.
The plans of the EU commission to include the secondary smelters into the emission trade as of the year 2013, were regarded as a major threat of aluminium recycling in the European Union.
The international character of aluminium recycling was emphasised by presentations on the current status of aluminium recycling in Russia, China and India. Presentations on melting techniques, a new technology to recover aluminium metal from aluminium alloys, the recycling of aluminium from aircrafts, an aluminium recycling project by Jaguar, the raw material potential on packaging and the concerns about attempts to define the sustainability of aluminium by the recycled metal content, showed the high significance and the variety of aluminium recycling in Europe and the world.
v.i.S.d.P. Günter Kirchner, Organisation of European Aluminium Refiners and Remelters (OEA)
