At the recent council meeting of the European Foundry Association, CAEF, Roberto Ariotti (Italy) was appointed as the new chairman of the executive committee, taking over from Luis Felipe Villas-Boas (Portugal) at the completion of his term of office.
During his tenure as the first chairman of the executive committee, Villas-Boas had successfully commenced a strategic review of the work of CAEF, resulting in additional resources being made available to the association, enabling a revision of the website, an increase in the information supplied to member associations and greater engagement with the European Commission (EC).
The association has been proactive in its engagement with the EC over the industry’s role as a vital supplier during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been active to ensure the industry was fully engaged and represented during the on-going BREF revision.
In thanking those attending the virtual meeting for electing him as the new chairman, Ariotti reflected that as the fourth generation in his family’s iron foundry in northern Italy – a company that supplies the wind energy sector – he was looking forward to continuing the work that Villas-Boas and the secretariat team had started. “It is vital that we confirm our industry’s reputation as a ‘solution provider’ for the green revolution we are about to experience,” he said. “Our industry is an integral part of the circular economy, but we need to increase our visibility and get this message across to policymakers as well as to the general public via the mass media – this should be a win-win situation. Our industry is facing significant change, but castings remain fundamental to the supply chain for e-mobility, renewable energy and sustainability programmes and we know that metals are infinitely recyclable.
“At the same time, we need to ensure the competitiveness of the European foundry industry, through R&D, innovation and embracing digitalisation, and show the industry’s importance for regional employment; this will require continued engagement on environmental and H&S matters”.
During the meeting, which was chaired by CAEF president, Ignacia De La Pena (Spain), Dr Fynn Lohe (BDG, Germany) was also approved as interim CAEF secretary general and the meeting welcomed Tillman van der Sand, who will support as secretary for the economics and statistics commission of CAEF.