Page 3 - ITAtube Journal 1 2022

Foreword
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President ITA
Dear colleagues from the Tube and Pipe industry, dear readers of the ITAtube Journal.
The corona Pandemic with its 4th wave is still influencing our living. The industry had an impressive restart in 2021 and our pipe and tube industry did also partially participate from this positive development. Anyhow raw material and energy prices as well as deficits in the supply chains were real challenges to our industry.
The Russian Invasion into the Ukraine may be a role changer for the economic system. So far, the world economic system and structures were based on relatively free trade and the idea that economic net- works prevent from warlike activities. This world-view is being put to the test with unforeseen consequences for global free trade.
However, the reconsideration of the world oil and gas supplies, in this scheme, will not only provide new challenges to our industry but also possible chances for future business.
Despite travelling limitations caused by the corona pandemic, the International Tube Association ITA contributed successfully to keep the exchange in our industry ongoing. The ITA, organizing several webinars in 2020 and 2021 for our tube and pipe industry and for the first time we organized the ITA net Forum which was established to substitute the finally cancelled tube show Tube 2020 in Düsseldorf. On top, with our tube market reviews we also participated in some webinars organized by other reputed organisations.
During the corona pandemic, last October we published a special edition of our ITAtube Journal.
Our business activities are still influenced by the corona pandemic. Our largest industrial event, the Tube Düsseldorf 2022 show, which was originally scheduled to take place early May 2022 had to be postponed by a couple of weeks. This postponement shall ensure that present travelling restrictions will be overcome to allow our industry to meet under safe circumstances.
This pre-Tube 2022 edition of our ITAtube Journal provides a great opportunity to prepare exhibitors and visitors for this prestigious event in Düsseldorf. In this edition you will find some articles about possible measures how to achieve sustainable success for our tube and pipe industry.
The next ITAtube Journal will be published alongside the Tube 2022 Düsseldorf trade show from 20th to 24th of June 2022.
Yours faithfully 3 Dr. Gunther Voswinckel
ITAtube Journal April 2022