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!

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!)