Page 3 - ITAtube Journal 2 2022

Foreword
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President ITA
Dear colleagues from the Tube and Pipe industry, dear readers of the ITAtube Journal.
Dear colleagues from the Tube and Pipe industry, dear readers of the ITAtube Journal.
Geopolitical turbulences are still permanent companions also this year 2023. While our thoughts and actions over the last 70 years have been shaped by the assumption that international trade strengthens peaceful coexistence in the world, the last 2 years we had to painfully realise that this maxim unfortunately has increasingly limited validity. This painful realisation now has a direct and significant impact on the further strategic orientation of our industry. While quality, delivery time and costs were previously the only decisive factors, geo-political and logistical risk considerations are now increasingly taking centre stage. All sources of supply are being subjected to critical scrutiny, and one can only hope and warn that international trade will not suffer too much as a consequence.
The transition to environmentally friendly and carbon reduced produc- tion became a central mission of the industry. The consequences on the cost increases are unevenly distributed across the world. In partic- ular, the regional differences in energy prices will have an impact on the current landscape of the energy-intensive steel and tube industry.
However, disruptive times also always create new opportunities for economic success. New markets such as carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), new networks for hydrogen transportation, elec- tromobility and productivity improvements at production sites as part of the transformation towards more environmentally friendly plants offer opportunities that should be seized.
It is great to see, that our largest industrial event, the Tube Düsseldorf 2024 show, is taking place in only some months and offers our indus- try again the opportunity to meet and exchange the latest innovations.
We which you all a peaceful holiday season and a successful year 2024 in best health.
Yours faithfully ITA Team
ITAtube Journal December 2023
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