The steel industry, the dominant consumer of refractories, continues to enjoy a strong rebound in demand following the slump of 1998. With other key refractory markets such as cement and glass also benefiting from improving economic growth across much of Europe and Asia, the prospects for the refractories industry are looking better than for some time. However, many challenges and problems remain, not least continuing pressure on price and performance as users consolidate. Industrial Mineral's Refractory Materials & markets Conference (1-2 Nov/2000, Pittsburgh, USA) will bring together key raw material suppliers, producers and consumers to discuss the issues at the heart of the industry, and to examine the trends that will shape future refractories demand.
