New year, new luck, new goals, new ideas?
Dear readers,
The first issue of 2025 of ZKG Cement Lime Gypsum lies ahead of you. And the new year is still relatively new to us. Always a good opportunity to look back on the past year and what lies ahead.
In this issue, the ZKG also reports on many events that took place in the fall. Read a summary (from p. 42) of the 9th International VDZ Congress, which took place in Düsseldorf from 6 to 8 November and was attended by around 650 experts from all over the world. The focus at this conference is of course also on CO2-neutral cement production, which is the declared goal for the not-too-distant future. Christian Knell, President of the German Cement Works Association (VDZ), emphasized: “The cement and concrete industry is probably undergoing the biggest transformation in its history. Step by step, we are decarbonizing our value chain. There is no alternative, we have to achieve a net-zero value chain for cement and concrete, and we will succeed if we get the right framework conditions and the support of politicians and society.”
The international lime industry met in Oslo for the Annual General Assembly & Symposium in Oslo/Norway from October 8-11, 2024. A wide range of topics were on the agenda. The Oslo symposium covered the topics “Health & Safety” with Pernille Thau from Human House as chair, as well as “Climate Energy” with Bruno Gerrits from the Global CCS Institute. 16 lectures, round table discussions and an excursion to the village of Brevik southwest of Oslo completed the program. Read a review from p. 52.
“The ideas of tomorrow are developed in crises,” was the motto under which Holcim (Germany) hosted the Forum Bau at the Zeche Zollverein in Essen. More than 400 participants came on November 27, 2024 to reflect with the speakers on future prospects, especially in the construction sector. “Human catastrophe? How we are changing the Earth” was the title of the presentation by keynote speaker and Terra-X presenter Dirk Steffens. Thorsten Hahn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Strategy, Business Development, concluded “Green transformation is not a sprint, but a marathon.”
And we can already give you an outlook. The European Mortar Summit 2025 will take place in Düsseldorf from November 26 - 27, 2025. Registration is now open. “After a break of almost ten years and with the economical as well as transitional challenges ahead, it is the right time to re-convene the European mortar industry and its supplying partner industries once again for a summit,” explains Bas Huysmans, EMO President. In the coming issues of ZKG, we will report further on this and introduce the speakers.
We wish you an interesting time with this issue of ZKG
