At this year's GDA General Assembly, which was held as a digital event for the first time, the GDA also reorganized its personnel. Leopold Werdich, Managing Director of TUBEX-Holding, was elected as the new Vice President of the GDA. He succeeds Oliver Höll, who stepped down in the spring. Frank Busenbecker, Managing Director of Erbslöh Aluminium GmbH, was elected as the new Chairman of the Aluminum Semi-Finished Products Association. Dieter Höll (Constellium) is his new deputy.
The President of the GDA, Dr. Hinrich Mählmann (OTTO FUCHS KG), emphasized: "Mr. Werdich and Mr. Busenbecker have been heavily involved in the GDA for years. With both gentlemen, the breadth of our industry is also excellently represented in the association's management bodies."
The dominant topic of the meetings was the pandemic and the resulting global crisis. The aluminum industry has already experienced a significant slump in the first half of 2020. The bottom seemed to have been reached at the end of the summer break: call-off figures from key customer industries have at least stabilized compared to the massive slump in the spring. This applies in particular to the automotive industry, which had reduced its production in the second quarter. There has been a sharp decline in aircraft construction.
President Dr. Hinrich Mählmann emphasized: "This crisis is leading to an even more massive recession than the financial crisis of 2008/2009." The President warned: "The German government reacted quickly with its rescue packages, but the industry also needs a forward strategy. The crisis should not be used to politically re-sort the industry into "politically wanted" and "no longer wanted".
President Mählmann warned that the recent slight upturn was no cause for euphoria. The production level of German vehicle manufacturers this year and next will not be sufficient for the entire supply chain. And there is currently still no strong impetus from other user industries.
The President welcomed the European Commission's decision to impose anti-dumping duties on profiles from China: "The German aluminum industry need not fear any competitor. But the rules of the game must be observed worldwide. This is not the case in China."
It is now important to present the solution expertise of the material and our companies for the tasks of the present and future. "Aluminum is and will remain the material of the future."
