Refractories: Hidden Champions in Their User Industries Market Trends and Innovation Potentials in Europe

摘要

In October 2014, European experts in the refractories sector met for the 9th ceramitec Round Table at the European Centre for Refractories (ECREF) in H6hr-Grenzhausen/DE. The Round Table was organized as usual by Messe Munchen and cfi - ceramic forum international and hosted by ECREF. The goal at Messe Munchen is to keep ceramitec's advantage as a platform for leading technologies; and to further extend its cluster function in refractories. Refractories are essential for many industries: iron and steel, cement and lime, glass, ceramics, chemicals and oil, energy and waste disposal. The refractories sector is generating innovations on the materials side, optimizing processes and refractory installations. Europe accounts for 10 % of the refractories world market, employs 20 000 people and supplies 40 % of its products outside the EU-28, which calls for a global networking structure.