Assembly 2025 Dublin

The EGGA - Galvanizing Europe Assembly in Dublin was a timely reminder of the strength of our industry’s collaborative approach to the challenges that we face and the benefits of working together. Our 200+ delegates from across our member associations, included galvanizing company representatives, association staff and suppliers to the industry.

We learned a lot and discussed plenty:

Panel debates on communicating the benefits of galvanizing in circular design and our industry’s progress in decarbonisation gave valuable insights. New developments in zinc recycling of our by-products showcased the circularity of zinc.

Our thanks to:

The dinner in the Guinness Storehouse and Rezinal Welcome Reception were enjoyed by all!

Could you be our new Director - EU Policy?

Could you be our new Director - EU Policy? Want to lead the expansion of the galvanizing industry’s policy networks? We are looking for someone to join our team to assess policy developments, draft strategies and campaigns to shape EU policy and the surrounding debate. We offer an inspiring working environment and a competitive package. See our advertisement at Euractiv or in the PDF below. Apply by 9 May.

Job Profile - Director-EU PolicyDownload

Register before 11 April for an early booking discount

For full details, visit the event web pages. Join the European galvanizing industry in Dublin.

Conference Programme - Hot topics:

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

The Galvanizing Industry in Ireland

Ed Byrne, Galco Steel Ltd (Ireland)

Corrosion Protection in the Renewable Energy Sector

Birit Buhr, Chief Corrosion Engineer, European Energy A/S (Denmark)

Understanding Additive Manufacturing of Steel Components and Future Implications for Galvanizing

Barbara Rossi, University of Oxford (UK)

Comparative experimental analysis of local buckling in mild and high-strength steel CHS subjected to various galvanizing techniques

Drilon Gubetini, Research Associate at the Chair of Metal Structures, Technical University of Munich (Germany)

Declaring Environmental Sustainability Performance under the Construction Products Regulation: the new role and responsibilities of the Notified Bodies

Katja Vahtikari , Manager, Construction Certification , Eurofins Expert Services (Finland)

The new Construction Products Regulation – what it means for galvanizers

Murray Cook, EGGA

The EU Clean Industrial Deal and Other Developments in Brussels

Valerio Mazzone, EGGA

Serving the galvanizing industry in UK and Ireland

William Smith, Galvanizers Association

Zinc recycling for a Responsible & Sustainable Future

Dieter Stulens, Rezinal BV (Belgium)

Primary proposal for the semi-operational implementation of bottom dross recycling

Ing. Katarína Pauerová, Institute of recycling and environmental technologies, Faculty of materials, metallurgy and recycling, Technical University of Košice (Slovakia)

Stakeholder Briefing Seminar in Brussels

This morning, we hosted a Stakeholder Briefing Seminar in Brussels, focusing on the role of galvanizing in sustainable construction. The discussions highlighted the importance of circularity, durability, and life cycle performance in steel construction.

Key presentations included:

✅ Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Materials in Hall Construction – Prof. Carl-Otto Gensch (Öko-Institut e.V. ) presented insights from a recent study on the environmental impact of materials, reinforcing the importance of long-term durability and resource efficiency.

✅ Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) – Bunthan IEA (European Commission , DG ENER) provided updates on the latest EU policies driving energy efficiency and carbon reduction in the built environment.

✅ Meeting Climate Challenges in the Steel Construction Supply Chain – Norbert Beljaars (EGGA President & Zinkinfo Benelux - InfoZinc Benelux ) shared perspectives on sustainability in the Netherlands, emphasizing how galvanized steel supports climate ambitions.

A big thank you to our speakers and attendees for their valuable contributions!

Lunch Exchange with DG GROW in Brussels

Today we had an insightful exchange over lunch with Director Joaquim Nunes de Almeida European Commission DG GROW

We welcome the Commission’s engagement with the industry and its commitment to action through the Clean Industrial Deal, Steel Metals Action, and Omnibus Simplification Package.

However, industrial SMEs in the steel product value chain—such as the galvanizing sector—must have a seat at the table when key initiatives like CBAM and NZIA are being finalized.

European Parliament Tour with our Members in Brussels

We received great insights from the Parliamentary Visitors Staff and Cecil Mennicken.

Assembly 2025 - Registration now open!

We are pleased to announce that registration for Assembly 2025 is now open! Join us from 10-13 June 2025 at the iconic Aviva Stadium in Dublin for an unmissable gathering of galvanizing industry professionals.

Key conference themes include:

Registration Details:

Click the link below to register today, we look forward to welcoming you to Dublin.

Register Here

ECCS - European Convention for Constructional Steelwork Webinar

If you are a bridge engineer, designer, architect or steel constructor with an interest in short/medium span bridges – do not miss this ECCS - European Convention for Constructional Steelwork Webinar on 3 March at 14.00 CET: “Galvanized steel short and medium span bridges: Achieving optimal service life”. It is free to register here: https://lnkd.in/exqZWGTh

EGGA Committee and Board Meets in Copenhagen

EGGA - Galvanizing Europe held its committee sessions and Board of Directors meeting in Copenhagen last week. Our Technical & Research Committee brings together experts from the National Associations to manage our extensive participation in CEN and ISO standards. The Marketing Committee is focused on actions to ensure the contribution of galvanizing to the durability and sustainability of steel structures are well-documented and communicated. The evolution of environmental permitting of galvanizing plants under the new BAT Conclusions and IED 2.0 are the main focus of the Environmental and Safety Committee. Along with our various working groups, these committees ensure that EGGA activities meet the ever-changing demands of Europe’s galvanizing industry.

The EGGA Board of Directors recognised the outstanding contribution of Carola Hermoso (ATEG Spanish Galvanizers Association, Spain) who will be stepping down as Chair of the Environmental and Safety Committee, as she moves to a new position at the Spanish steel producers association, Unión de Empresas Siderúrgicas (UNESID), at the end of this year. Carola was awarded the prestigious ‘EGGA Pin’ by EGGA President, Norbert Beljaars during the Board meeting.

Galvanizing Europe and ECCS launch Galvanized Steel Bridge Interest Group

EGGA-Galvanizing Europe, the trade body for the after-fabrication batch hot dip galvanizing sector, has launched a new cross-sector collaboration to advance the use of galvanized steel bridges across Europe. The ‘Short-Medium Span Galvanized Steel Bridge Interest Group’ is established through an exciting collaboration with the Bridge Committee of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS). The initiative will examine:

• Best practice in design and modular concepts

• Sustainability information and approaches

• Durability estimation and corrosion specifications

• Future research needs

Galvanized steel bridges are ideal solutions for short-medium spans that require innovative or bespoke solutions, modular installation and optimal durability. Iqbal Johal, chair of the EGGA Marketing Committee said “We are convinced that the future use of galvanized steel bridges is important to create a circular, sustainable, climate-resilient and cost-effective infrastructure”

When launching the initiative at the exhibition within the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork’s ‘Steel Bridges 2024’ held in Prague on 12-13 September, examples of modularity, circular design and high levels of durability were highlighted to bring reality to these concepts:

The Comenius Footbridge in Jaromer, Czech Republic was designed by baum & baros architekten and installed by Excon AS with a high level of modularity for ease of installation and to take advantage of the extensive maintenance-free durability of galvanizing to EN ISO 1461.

The Riviere Cochon Gras Bridge helps the community of Perches in Haiti and is adapted from a reused 25 metre section of the temporary Fore River Bridge which carried people over the river between North Weymouth and Quincy Point, Massachusetts, USA for 15 years.

Having started life as a temporary galvanized steel bridge, the Callender Hamiliton bridge at Lydlinch, UK is still in good condition 82 years after it was erected in 1942 in preparation for transporting military equipment for D Day and demonstrates the high levels of durability that can be achieved with a galvanized bridge.

The European General Galvanizers Association is the federation of the national galvanizers associations within Europe. EGGA monitors and responds to issues affecting the general galvanizing industry in Europe, in particular environmental, technical and regulatory matters. EGGA also provides a platform for coordination of marketing and other initiatives for the industry.

ECCS is the only organisation which brings together the steel industry, the fabricators and contracting specialists, and the academic world through an international network of construction representatives, steel producers and technical centres.

The Short-Medium Span Galvanized Steel Bridge Interest Group will examine best design practice, sustainability, circular design, performance monitoring, specification and research needs. Membership is free to those with a genuine interest in the objectives of the group.

Interested? Click here to join!

Registration Now Open - EGGA Assembly 2025 | Dublin

Click here to register now!

Mark your calendar for an unmissable industry gathering - EGGA Assembly 2025 is coming to Dublin's iconic Aviva Stadium from 10-13 June 2025. 

Join fellow galvanizing professionals for valuable insights, connections, and experiences:

Save the date and join us in Dublin!


EGGA Welcomes Tobias Schäfer

EGGA - Galvanizing Europe welcomes Tobias Schäfer to our staff team. As our new Director – EU Policy, Tobias will bring extensive experience of working alongside the EU Institutions and on industrial policies to ensure the voice of Europe’s batch galvanizing industry is heard even more effectively in Brussels. Galvanizing of steel products helps build circular and low carbon solutions in construction, infrastructure and other sectors and is a vital enabler in many net zero technologies…all key facts to bring into EU policy making.

EGGA-Galvanizing Europe Meets in Copenhagen

EGGA - Galvanizing Europe held its committee sessions and Board of Directors meeting in Copenhagen on 6 and 7 November 2024. Our Technical & Research Committee brings together experts from the National Associations to manage our extensive participation in CEN and ISO standards. The Marketing Committee is focused on actions to ensure the contribution of galvanizing to the durability and sustainability of steel structures are well-documented and communicated. The evolution of environmental permitting of galvanizing plants under the new BAT Conclusions and IED 2.0 are the main focus of the Environmental and Safety Committee. Along with our various working groups, these committees ensure that EGGA activities meet the ever-changing demands of Europe’s galvanizing industry.

The EGGA Environmental and Safety Committee


The EGGA Board of Directors recognised the outstanding contribution of Carola Hermoso (ATEG - Asociación Técnica Española de Galvanización, Spain) who will be stepping down as Chair of the Environmental and Safety Committee, as she moves to a new position at the Spanish steel producers association, Unión de Empresas Siderúrgicas (UNESID), at the end of this year. Carola was awarded the prestigious ‘EGGA Pin’ by EGGA President, Norbert Beljaars during the Board meeting.

Norbert Beljaars awarded the EGGA Pin to Carola Hermoso

CEN and EGGA-Galvanizing Europe Sign a Partnership Agreement

On Tuesday 26 March 2024, the CEN and CENELEC European Committee for Standardization and the European General Galvanizers Association (EGGA-Galvanizing Europe) signed a partnership agreement that will foster collaboration and align the interests of the galvanizing industry in Europe with the standardization ecosystem.

Speaking at the ceremony in Brussels, Mr Norbert Beljaars, President of EGGA, said: “EGGA-Galvanizing Europe places standardization at the heart of its activities – with the aim to ensure optimal durability of steel products across a wide range of applications – from renewable energy to construction. Standardization is vital to the implementation of circularity and to deliver enhanced product sustainability, in particular within the EU Construction Products Regulation. We are delighted to raise our collaboration with CEN to a new level.”

Mrs Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN -CENELEC, added: “We eagerly welcome the strengthening of our collaboration with EGGA. Together, we are committed to advancing the principles of a circular economy, minimizing waste, advocating for recycling, fostering responsible resource utilization. This agreement serves as a cornerstone for Europe’s economic well-being and sustainability. Our joint efforts resonate with CEN’s mission to foster cooperation with all stakeholders in crafting standards that foster trust and enhance the Single Market, benefiting both European businesses and citizens.”

Attending the signing ceremony for EGGA-Galvanizing Europe were: Norbert Beljaars (Benelux), EGGA President; Mark Huckshold (Germany), Chair of the EGGA Technical & Research Committee; Carola Hermoso (Spain), Chair of the EGGA Environmental & Safety Committee; Murray Cook, Executive Director; and Vasile Rus, Manager-Technical and Standardization. CEN was represented by: Elena Santiago Cid, CEN and CENELEC Director General; Andreea Gulacsi, Director Policy & External Affairs; Alessia Gaetani, Project Manager Manufacturing; and Raíssa Soares, Project Manager Stakeholders Engagement.

Intergalva 2024 - Bruges

If you were one of the 691 delegates and exhibition personnel from 56 countries who participated in Intergalva 2024 in Bruges from 10-14 June, EGGA and Zink Info Benelux hope that you had an enjoyable time, learned new things and extended your personal network in the international galvanizing community.

The conference programme demonstrated the value of galvanizing steel to the objectives of a circular economy and achieving net zero. The industry’s own efforts to decarbonise and improve efficiency were also in focus.

The inherent durability, recyclability and potential for reuse of galvanized steel within the circular economy was at the forefront of the conference programme – highlighted perfectly by Marjan Poortinga, Senior Advisor Circular Economy, Rijkswaterstaat – Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Netherlands who explained the Dutch authorities’ commitment to ensure the reuse and galvanizing of highway guard rails.

Keynote speakers, including Rene Branders (President of the Belgian industry body, VBO-FEB); Michel Vermaerke (Chairman, Advisory Board, Impact Finance Belgium) and Olivier Vassart (World Steel) set the scene with excellent perspectives on policy and financial frameworks decarbonisation strategies for the industry. The progress of the galvanizing industry’s decarbonisation challenge was extensively reported by the leading suppliers of furnaces and other process technologies. These, and other, topics were also explored in small masterclasses running alongside the plenary sessions.

The remarkable uses of galvanizing in architecture and engineering applications were recognised in the 2024 Global Galvanizing Awards, held in conjunction with the conference and presented during the Intergalva 2024 Conference Dinner at nearby Lauretum, sponsored by Ani Metal and Atunkimya.

Participants very much enjoyed the kick-off Welcome Party, sponsored by Rezinal, that had a real party atmosphere created by the Belgian group Domino and held around the Pilling Bar in the Intergalva 2024 exhibition area.

The Intergalva Exhibition was again a centre-piece of the event – hosting all event catering and acting as a networking hub. 41 exhibiting companies invested in some highly innovative and informative displays of equipment, process technology and materials – mixed with the usual fun and hospitality at the stands and around the traditional ‘W Pilling Bar’.

A big Intergalva thank you goes out to the member companies of Zink Info Benelux who opened the doors of the galvanizing plants at the end of the week to allow over 300 delegates to visit the plants. The organisation of the visits and the explanations given was much appreciated.

Intergalva 2024 recognises the valuable support of its sponsors. Platinum sponsors were W Pilling GmbH & Co KG and Rezinal nv. Gold sponsors were ANI METAL; ATUN KIMYA SAN.TIC.LTD.STI.; TIB Chemicals AG; Kingfield Equipment PTE LTD; Scheffer Krantechnik GmbH; Koerner Chemieanlagenbau GmbH; Western Technologies.

The EGGA-Galvanizing Europe team were delighted to work closely with Zink Info Benelux to deliver Intergalva 2024 for the worldwide galvanizing industry. A big thanks also to our PCO partner Worldspan, the excellent staff at the BMCC venue, True Bruges, Deldycke Catering, XPO.World and all our other partners that made the event so enjoyable for all.

We look forward to working with Asociación Técnica Española de Galvanización (ATEG) for the Intergalva 2027 in Spain!

Collaboration with SolarPower Europe

A team from EGGA – Galvanizing Europe – has held a very constructive meeting with the SolarPower Europe staff, at their Brussels HQ, to explore common policy positions and map our future cooperation. EGGA has joined SolarPower Europe to strengthen collaboration with a vital net zero technology where batch galvanized steel provides long-term durability of the mounting structures for solar PV systems. We have many dossiers to work on together – most notably the Commission proposal for the Net Zero Industry Act. It is important that the entire supply chain for the complete solar PV system is considered as a net zero technology under this proposed Act. The supply chain for the mounting structures is increasingly threatened by ‘carbon leakage’ through import of structures from third countries. We have an experienced and quality-driven steel fabrication and galvanizing sector in the EU that is ready to support the wider deployment of solar PV technology…but our connected supply chain also needs to be considered as strategically important alongside modules and other parts of the system.

We will make a strong contribution to the workstreams of SolarPower Europe and the vital sector that it represents! Thanks to the SolarPower Europe team – Dries Acke, Daniela Blažejová, Emma Dominici, Carmen Correas López for the excellent discussions and Carola Hermoso (Chair – EGGA Environmental & Safety Committee) for her support (and bringing the perspectives of the Spanish galvanizing sector to the meeting!)

The EGGA and SolarPower Europe team met on 29 August to explore shared policy objectives and future collaboration

Assembly 2023

186 delegates gathered for the EGGA Assembly 2023 in Salzburg. The event was held in collaboration with the Austrian Association of Metal Technology Industries who opened the conference programme with a keynote speech from their Managing Director - Sabine Hesse - who gave an insight to the Austrian industry. Georg Matzner (Österreichischer Stahlbauverband) and Martin Kopf (EGGA Vice-President) then set the scene for a detailed review of ‘net zero’ plans for the industry, including perspectives from Germany, the Benelux and Spain. The conference programme of 15 excellent presentations covered decarbonisation, energy efficiency, environmental communication and innovative technical solutions in processing. A special session highlighted the importance of the correct specification of metallic coatings for steel to ensure that batch galvanized coatings are not confused with lower-performance solutions.

The event was originally planned for summer 2020 and was our first EGGA Assembly since COVID restrictions were lifted. The refreshed enthusiasm shown by the companies that engage in the network of national associations within the European General Galvanizers Association for collaboration and exchange of ideas was very much in evidence in Salzburg. Displays by suppliers to the industry kept participants informed of new developments in process technology and the Gala Dinner at the beautiful Salzburg Residenz provided a more relaxed opportunity for discussion.  There were also visits to galvanizing plants operated by Zinkpower, OTN and Collini.

During Assembly 2023, EGGA recognised the extensive contribution, over five decades, of Mr Jeremy Woolridge to the industry - with the award of the prestigious Bablik Medal.

Thanks to Martin Kopf (EGGA Vice-President & representative for Austria), all our Austrian hosts, the delegates and our sponsors for making this one of our most special events.

Intergalva 2022

The worldwide galvanizing industry eventually came together at the Rome Marriott Park Hotel during June for the long-awaited Intergalva 2022 conference and exhibition. Following postponement from 2021, over 500 delegates and exhibitors from 51 countries met to hear 36 conference presentations and participate in masterclasses on priority topics. Read more here: Intergalva 2022 - Intergalva

EGGA is very grateful to the members and staff of Associazione Italian Zincatura (AIZ) for their commitment to make Intergalva 2022 a success despite the very challenging organisational situation. We look forward to working with Zinc Info Benelux on the next Intergalva event – planned for 2024 in Belgium or The Netherlands!

Galvanized Steel and Sustainable Construction: Solutions for a Circular Economy

EGGA has launched a new publication - ‘Galvanized Steel and Sustainable Construction: Solutions for a Circular Economy’. A webinar to explain the purpose of the guide and some of its highlights was held on 9 April and has created strong interest in the contribution that galvanized steel can make to achieving the goals of circular construction – combining durability, robustness, reuse and recycling to ensure that steel structures can be designed for multiple life cycles without need for maintenance.

Many thanks to our hardworking committee members and colleagues in steel and zinc industry that made this publication possible.

As the EGGA President, Martin Kopf, explained when opening the webinar, this is only the beginning of a new initiative to bring this information to a wider audience, whilst also placing the highest priority at reducing our operational footprint.

Construction 2050 Alliance

EGGA is a member of the Construction 2050 Alliance - the recently established business network of more than 40 European organisations in the construction sector with the aim to cooperate on needs and priorities of common interest and bring them on a EU level. The Alliance has a common position on the role of the construction industry within the European Recovery Plans and the Renovation Wave.

Construction 2050 Alliance has organised a webinar to emphasise the importance of construction and infrastructure in the national COVID-19 Recovery Plans.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1184661517490466317

Construction 2050 Alliance has been established on the principle that a sustainable Europe cannot be achieved without the involvement of all actors of the construction process. In order to bring the EU construction industry’s needs and priorities at the EU level, the Construction 2050 Alliance aims at coordinating common political messages of the construction value chain and raise the political importance of the sector at the European level.

Construction 2050 Alliance is confident that enhancing the way construction operates will lead to an improvement in the lives of European citizens, higher value with fewer natural resources, and higher quality assets for owners and users. It is on the basis of these considerations that the Construction 2050 Alliance’s framework follows these principles:

Postponement of Intergalva 2021 to 2022

We hope that you are all keeping safe and well at this difficult time. The personal health of our worldwide galvanizing community is on our minds. Intergalva is widely known as an excellent business networking event and we value very much our personal contacts with everyone.

Knowing that our valued international delegates and exhibitors need time to plan their participation and with much uncertainty on the future situation, we have already made the decision to postpone Intergalva 2021 until 2022.

To clarify the situation at the moment:

Finally, the organisers of Intergalva are very grateful to the organisers of the Asia Pacific General Galvanizing Conference series for adjusting their schedule to accommodate an Intergalva in 2022. The next APGGC will now be held in April 2023 in Yokohama, Japan.

EGGA and the Assoziazione Italiana Zincatura (AIZ) are looking forward to hosting their worldwide colleagues in 2022!

Rescheduling EGGA Events in Response to Covid-19

We hope that you are all keeping safe and well at this difficult time. The personal health of all our worldwide galvanizing community is very much on our minds.

EGGA conferences - the Intergalva and Assembly series - are well-known as excellent business networking events and we value very much our personal contacts with everyone. Unfortunately (and quite correctly) these close personal interactions are not what the world needs at the moment.

Unsurprisingly, we have adjusted our events schedule in response to the COVID-19 situation:

 

Intergalva

Intergalva 2021 (Italy) is postponed to 2022. We have not yet fixed a precise date for Intergalva 2022. We feel this is the right decision for our delegates and exhibitors who would normally be committing to set-up costs and travel in mid-2020.

 

EGGA Assembly

EGGA Assembly 2021 will be held in Salzburg in June 2021. This event was postponed from June 2020 and we have decided not to try to hold the event in November 2020. More details of the 2021 dates will be available soon. The features of the Assembly including plant visits, tours and key speakers will, we hope, be as originally planned for this year.

 

Virtual Events for the Galvanizing Industry

Of course, information exchange and continuous learning remain vital to our industry. So, we will be launching some online virtual events to compensate for the postponement of the physical events. Check back for more details!

 

Stay safe and well and let’s look forward to meeting when everyone is ready for that!

EGGA Assembly 2020: Postponement

Inevitably, and in support of the worldwide effort to contain the Coronavirus situation, we must postpone the EGGA Assembly 2020 that was planned for 8-10 June in Salzburg.

We are working with our venue and other suppliers in Salzburg to establish a new date for the event.

We will monitor the evolving situation and will confirm the new arrangements during May 2020. Registration for the event is now suspended until the new dates are confirmed.

Delegates that have already registered will be contacted in the next few days to arrange refunds or to transfer your registration fees to the rescheduled event. Your hotel rooms are fully refundable.

EGGA committee and Board members should hold the original June Assembly dates for interim web meetings to be held during that period.

Galvanizing Industry Launches Book on The Silo

The European General Galvanizers Association (EGGA) has published a book detailing Copenhagen’s stunning example of the architectural use of galvanized steel for over-cladding an existing building sustainably, effectively and rather cleverly.

Written by award-winning architectural journalist, Isabelle Priest, the book tells the story of Copenhagen’s industrial area, where the original building’s construction began in 1958. The historical architecture of the city’s North Harbour is depicted with original pictures of the site. The reader is then taken through COBE’s journey from planning stages to the construction of the façade including the rationale for using batch galvanized steel. The production and installation chapters explain the process of ‘bringing The Silo to life’.

The Silo is the Award Winner of the Global Galvanizing Awards 2018 which are held every 3 years. Details about the project and other entries can be found on www.intergalva.com.

‘The Silo: A New Façade for North Copenhagen’ is available upon request for architects and specifiers by contacting Marina Hofmann at marina@egga.com.