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Greetings from Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President International Tube Association
Dear Members, dear Readers,
be harnessed to future-proof the
Editorial
sector. Allow me to welcome you to the
first edition of our ITAtube Journal for 2019 – and, if we haven’t already taken the opportunity else- where, wish readers and members a happy and successful new year.
A few months ago, forecasts indi- cated that short- to medium-term growth on world steel markets would continue, but at a slower rate. World Steel News in January reported that the recovery in the global steel market appeared to be “reaching its zenith”, and that all indications were that the global economic upturn is losing momen- tum.
Rising trade tensions and volatile currency movements have a lot to do with this. Escalating use of trade barriers and the prospect of tariff wars affect confidence and discourage investment.
Nonetheless, according to numer- ous studies, even though a slowing down of construction activity worldwide and moderation of the oil and gas exploration sector in the US means the pace of growth will decelerate, demand for steel pipe will continue to grow through 2019.
At the International Tube Associ- ation we take our role as a forum for the promotion of exchange and excellence particularly seriously in this climate. We want to share and promote developments that will allow us to move forward as an industry and encourage innova- tion. That is why our events calen- dar throughout 2019 and well into 2020 shows a strong focus on new technologies and how they can
In early April 2019, the next ITA conference is scheduled to take place under the heading, Trend-setting Technologies and Strategies for Tubes & Pipes. Con- vening in Düsseldorf, the home of Tube, in Germany, it will follow the now familiar format with a list of expert speakers and presentations, a tabletop exhibition and plenty of networking opportunities. Just visit https://www.conference. itatube.org for all further details and booking help.
Consolidation and adaptability in a more high-tech environment form the focus of a series of Tube & Pipe Industry Development Seminars too; these are one-day seminars ITA will be holding at numerous trade fairs, including Tube Russia in May, and Tube Southeast Asia in September 2019.
At all of these forums, colleagues and experts from around the world will share their ideas and insights in a series of presentations which will subsequently be made avail- able to all participants and ITA members. The details of all of these events and others, with links to the event-related websites, can be found on our main website, https://www.itatube.org – under Events.
The ITAtube Journal itself, of course, also offers a platform for the exchange of news and ideas, and the electronic version can be accessed from the website. We look forward to an exciting year and some fascinating discussions.
Enjoy the read!
Dr. Gunther Voswinckel President ITA
ITAtube Journal No1/February 2019
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