#OTLeipzig 2024 - How the transformation is driving the industry - Part 1

With 550 participants and 70 exhibitors, this year's Surface Days in Leipzig conveyed an image of stability at first glance. In fact, the event was certainly "world-class" in terms of the quality of the technical presentations, as DGO Chairman Dr. Martin Metzner put it. However, transformation and volatile framework conditions are affecting the mood, as the opening evening showed.

Fragmented mood

ZVO Chairman Jörg Püttbach outlined the current situation in electroplating technology (Photo: Robert Piterek)This year's Surface Technology Days once again demonstrated the deeply rooted character of electroplating and surface technology in society, with its predominantly small and medium-sized companies. Just like society, the industry is currently moving into the future at very different speeds and with very different convictions: while one company in the industry is booming, another is working short-time. While some look to the future with confidence and see hydrogen and renewable energies as the solution to the energy problems of the future, others believe they are on the road to energy collapse and condemn the shutdown of nuclear power plants last year. In between, there are supporters of numerous mixed forms who are more or less confident about their business. One question was heard more often than average at this year's Surface Days: How are we supposed to save the world with our two percent share of global_{CO2 emissions}? So there is no great unanimity on the climate course, even if there is certainly a fundamental willingness to tackle climate change with sustainable and energy-efficient technologies. Even doubters of man-made climate change are currently convinced by the continuing high electricity bill of the need to implement electricity-saving measures in their own companies and to operate sustainably. After all, the promised cheaper electricity from renewable energies is still a long way off and, in view of the lack of power lines and the billions and billions needed to convert the energy infrastructure, is unlikely to be available any time soon. These are the observations on the rather sobering, thoroughly fragmented mood in the industry that emerged from presentations and discussions in Leipzig.

ZVO and DGO criticize framework conditions

The organizers from the German Surface Technology Association (ZVO) also voiced criticism at the opening ceremony of the Surface Technology Days in the Congress Hall at Leipzig Zoo. ZVO Chairman Jörg Püttbach criticized the obstruction of the industry by bureaucracy and regulation. The Chairman of the German Society for Electroplating and Surface Technology (DGO), Dr. Martin Metzner, took the same line when he lamented the tripling of approval periods for research projects due to increasing regulation. He cited a worrying example of research projects in which not a single experiment had been carried out due to reconstruction measures resulting from stricter building regulations.

DGO Chairman Dr. Martin Metzner described obstacles to research and praised the upcoming lecture program (Photo: ZVO/Sven Hobbiesiefken)

In his welcoming speech, Püttbach quickly turned to the more positive topics after the critical introduction. He was confident that the EU elections had changed the wind in parliament with potential benefits for the ZVO. In close cooperation with other associations, whose combined clout could better represent the interests of the industry and SMEs, the association had already achieved successes in Brussels: co-determination in the TA Luft, the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) and the Best Available Technologies (BAT). He also praised the many submissions made to the EU by the European Association for Surface Technology CETS and emphasized that the use of Cr(VI) would no longer have to be authorized in future, but that a (presumably less bureaucratic, limit value-based) restriction procedure would be introduced - merits that go back to the ZVO, he emphasized.

Prizes: Focus on battery technology and whisker formation

The award ceremonies in the magnificent congress hall at Leipzig Zoo, where the industry had already kicked off the most important annual meeting of the electroplating industry two years ago, were a little too short on time. As usual, the event began in the large fresco-lined hall and the higher gallery with the presentation of the DGO Young Talent Award and the Heinz-Leuze Prize. Laudator Dr. Klaus Wojczykowski began with a speech in honor of this year's young talent award winner Philip Scherzl, who received the prize money of 1000 euros for his master's thesis in the dual study program at Schott AG and Aalen University. The title of his thesis was "Contribution to the composite electroforming of aluminum-based cathodes for lithium-ion batteries". A "bread-and-butter" topic, as Wojczykowski emphasized in view of the great importance of this battery variant in electrification. Research into the composite electroforming of cathodes has been going on for some time under the leadership of Prof. Timo Sörgel at Aalen University, whose team included Scherzl. The two scientists and Michael Kaupp also published a two-part article on the electroforming of aluminum foils in Galvanotechnik issues 2+3/2024. The DGO Young Talent Award is presented to graduates with outstanding work on surface technology and is intended to motivate young technicians and scientists to work in the field of surface technology.

This was followed by the award ceremony for the industry's second highest endowed prize of 2,000 euros, which is traditionally awarded at the Surface Days: the Heinz Leuze Prize, which goes to the author of the best article of the past year in a German-language specialist medium. Clarity, didactics and a significant choice of topic are decisive factors for the jury when selecting the winner. In his laudatory speech, Prof. Andreas Bund from TU Ilmenau presented this year's winner, Dr. André Egli from riag Oberflächentechnik AG in Wängi/Switzerland (interview on p. 1334). Dr. Egli won over the members of the jury with his technical paper "Speed matters: Whisker growth of electroplated tin layers". Whisker formation, i.e. the formation of fine, needle-shaped crystal structures on tin surfaces, can cause short circuits, particularly in electronic components, and is therefore a significant problem in electroplating technology. Prof. Bund praised the two-part article from Galvanotechnik issues 9+10/2023, saying it was a pleasure to read. In addition to the certificate and prize money, a plaque made of pure silver is part of the prize. A metal "that also tends to form whiskers", as Prof. Bund jokingly remarked at the end of his laudatory speech.

A jazz combo entertained the guests excellently (Photo: Robert Piterek)

Keynote: Resilience in times of transformation

Dr. Michael Hüther from the IW in Cologne illustrated the nature of change in our time at the opening of the Surface Days Photo (Photo: Robert Piterek)The award ceremonies and welcoming speeches were followed by the eagerly awaited keynote speech by Dr. Michael Hüther, Director of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW), entitled "Social and economic resilience in times of transformation". Dr. Hüther spoke of a multi-layered disruption of economic relationships that is defining our time and of a "politically induced structural change" due to climate policy. Resilience is a good concept, as companies are in a stressful situation due to the circumstances. His economic diagnosis: the current transformation would have to be carried out by industry, an industry which, at 20% of gross value added in Germany, is still much stronger than in France, for example, at 10%, but which currently has two bills on its plate: One for competitiveness, which is currently under particular threat from China, and one for security, as the desire for robustness and steadfastness is particularly strong in developed economies such as Germany. He cited crises such as 9/11, the financial crisis, the sovereign debt crisis, Trump, Covid-19 and finally the war in Ukraine, which have led to massive uncertainty. He used a graphic to show that SMEs are still in a good position when it comes to resilience, but the path to transformation must be right, otherwise it will become increasingly expensive. The crux: "The champagne of the energy transition", hydrogen, would have to be imported, which would lead to dependencies as with other products and raw materials. And the policy of achieving the transformation to climate neutrality through certificate trading will not succeed either, as there will have to be a jump in prices, which will not happen. At the same time, a real estate crisis is looming: properties without insulation are already losing a lot of value._{CO2 certificates} are likely to fuel this crisis, "Habeck's heat pump law is just a gentle breeze", said Dr. Hüther. Conclusion: The restructuring of the energy industry, including with electrolysers, is an opportunity, but is incredibly capital-intensive. Challenges include the repair of 4,000 freeway bridges, the expansion of high-performance railroad lines and national defense. In order to guarantee this, a strong industry is needed, which, however, is at a massive competitive disadvantage due to the high cost of electricity. He pleaded for a transformation electricity price of 6 cents and for targeted immigration in order to break the demographic downward spiral. Interesting: In a graphic, he showed that competitor China was struggling with massive shrinkage and ageing due to its (now abandoned) one-child policy.

The magnificent congress hall at Leipzig Zoo provided the perfect setting for the opening of the Surface Days (Photo: Robert Piterek)

Dr. Hüther's presentation was not very inspiring; it lacked vision. With his neutral presentation of the general conditions, he clearly did not hit the nerve of the entrepreneurs and their difficulties in the companies, as the one or other comment following Hüther's keynote showed. However, a clip of Robert Habeck announcing an electricity price of 2 cents at the end of the official part of the event caused hilarity again. However, the Vice-Chancellor's voice came from a comedian who entertained the participants at the buffet and the subsequent drinks reception. A jazz combo with double bass, harmonium, guitar, singer and drummer also created a good atmosphere in the run-up to the presentations over the next two days.