Global Aluminium demand is growing

Global demand for Aluminium is set to increase in the medium term, in spite of the uncertainties in the international financial markets. Expectations in the industry are optimistic. The recovering demand from all major application markets is felt also by the world’s largest industry trade fair Aluminium 2012. Following its move from Essen to Düsseldorf, it will start out at the new location with 950 exhibitors from 50 countries and a significant increase in exhibition surface (+20 %) from 9 to11 October.

Already, the move to Düsseldorf generates new records for Aluminium and releases new energies: Many companies have taken advantage of the opportunity to noticeably enlarge their stands. What is more, as a result of the new hall planning for the trade fair, Aluminium will be able to allocate the halls even more clearly to individual exhibition segments. The trade fair will follow the process chain, from primary products and the associated technologies (Hall 9) to casting and Heat treatment as well as recycling (Hall 10) and semi-finished products (Halls 11 & 12) through to Surface treatment (Hall 13) and the themes of metal working and processing, welding and joining (Hall 14).

Supported by the German federation of the Aluminium industry GDA and EAA – European Aluminium Association, every two years the trade fair showcases the complete range of products and services offered by the industry: from the production of the material to processing through to the finished product. From the key players such as Alcoa, Constellium, Hydro, Trimet, SMS, BWG, Sapa or Quatalum through to smaller specialist providers, the international Aluminium industry will be represented in Düsseldorf.

Especially the trade fair participation from abroad has grown in 2012. Among the largest exhibitor nations this year (after Germany) are Italy (with more than 70 exhibitors), followed closely by Turkey and China. Apart from the European countries, North America, the Arab states and Asia are also strongly represented at Aluminium. 50 countries are to be found in the exhibitor list. The excellent capacity utilisation of Aluminium is currently also reflected in the bookings for the six national pavilions. Among the largest joint pavilions is the Chinese Pavilion. The range of country presentations will be completed by the Danish Pavilion, the long-established Holland Pavilion, the French Pavilion and the Scandinavian Pavilion.

While displaying the international diversity of the Aluminium industry in its full depth and width, Aluminium also creates focal points and provides special points of interest for visitors with its eight theme pavilions. Among these are the Primary Pavilion (Hall 9), the Foundry Pavilion (Hall 10) and the Welding and Joining Pavilion (Hall 14) as well as the Research Forum offering a platform for scientific research institutions.

A new central point of contact on the topic of Surface treatment will be the Competence Centre Surface Technology in Hall 13 in which the former Surface Pavilion and the Pavilion for Piecework Coating will be combined.

A further début will be the Distributor Pavilion in Hall 11 which is organised by the German semi-finished non-ferrous product wholesalers’ federation WGM. Here Aluminium and metal wholesalers present themselves.

While once again the key players from all segments of the Aluminium industry dominate the trade fair this year, smaller and younger companies also present their new products in Düsseldorf. This is made possible by, among other things, the funding programme by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology which again sponsors Aluminium. The young companies present themselves at a joint stand of their own in Hall 14.

30 lectures, five subject areas: the Aluminium Conference 2012 provides an overview of the future prospects of Aluminium in the various application markets. The conference is once again organised by trade fair partner GDA. "Aluminium – Material for the Future" is the overall theme for the lectures to be presented in the five sessions on “Processes”, “Surface”, “Automotive”, “Transport” and “Aluminium Markets”. The conference will start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4.30 p.m. every day. The individual sessions with six lectures each will take up half a day. The conference will be held in English.

With its new Recruiting Area, Aluminium is launching an initiative for young people in the industry. In cooperation with Kaiser Stähler Rekrutierungsberatung GmbH, the trade fair will bring together companies and students, graduates and young professionals. In the forum exhibitors advertise for qualified specialists, and jobseekers can have their application dossiers checked by experienced personnel consultants and get valuable tips for their career planning in a personal interview.