Asked by... Dr. Martina Hafner

We are talking about the city of the future. How will we live in 2080?

I hope with the same level of prosperity that we have now. I also hope that we will be a bit smarter than we are now and more conscious of the resources we have at our disposal.

Here at the 3-country corrosion conference, the focus is on corrosion issues in the city of the future. What brings you here?

My job brings me here. I work for AMAG rolling GmbH, based in Ranshofen, where I am responsible for the Chemistry and Surface Technology department. This includes all the corrosion tests that we offer as part of quality inspections, as well as research. Corrosion issues are therefore very important and valuable to us, because our products should have a long life so that they can remain in the cycle for a long time and thus offer the greatest added value for everyone. At first glance, corrosion in the city may seem to have little to do with AMAG as an aluminum producer, but our products accompany consumers in their daily lives. Aluminum is present from morning to night because it is used in many everyday objects. I think it's very valuable to attend this conference because it allows us to think outside the box and offers many opportunities for interaction with other specialist areas - from fasteners and tools to corrosion on bridges.

Which presentation did you like best?

I have found all the lectures very good so far. The knowledge is conveyed very broadly with the aim of appealing to a large number of people and encouraging creativity in people's minds. This is a good contrast to the scientific conferences, which we of course also attend and where we make contributions. What I liked best was the tour of the modular research and innovation building NEST, where sustainable living concepts are being tested. The concept is innovative and superbly implemented.

Which coatings does AMAG rolling work with?

We are primarily interested in coatings for the automotive sector. They are applied wet-chemically using a rollcoater system, which we believe is more sustainable than the spraying process. We also functionalize the surfaces at the Ranshofen site with various pickling treatments. Surface treatment is also carried out by our partners and customers, who come from many different sectors. From automotive and aviation to tread plates or soldering applications, i.e. battery cooling plates, a very wide range of surface treatments is required, which is why cooperation with our partners is also important. There we anodize or work with other coating systems.