Corrosion Prevention Takes Center Stage at PAINTEXPO EURASIA 2019 and SURTECH EURASIA 2019

Leading figures in the surface coating industry discussed the sector's position, current state and future at a panel held during PAINTEXPO EURASIA 2019 and SURTECH EURASIA 2019. The panel emphasized that combating corrosion should be treated as a national priority and called for mobilization. The panel, moderated by Hakan Güldağ from Dünya Gazetesi, featured speakers including Alim Kınoğlu, Vice Chairman of GALDER, H. Yener Gür'eş, Chairman of TUCSA, and Vedat Güngören, Chairman of the Board of VIG Makine. Alim Kınoğlu, Vice Chairman of GALDER, stressed that while corrosion cannot be prevented, protection from corrosion is possible. He stated: "Research estimates that 3.1% of GDP is lost to corrosion. This figure represents losses equivalent to 2-3 times the budget of Turkey's largest ministry. Corrosion should be treated as a state matter requiring a campaign like 'no smoking indoors.' We must prevent the losses corrosion inflicts on our treasury." Kınoğlu noted the many advantages of galvanized materials, pointing out that products can last 70 years thanks to galvanizing. He stressed the importance of including the corrosion factor in public tender specifications, saying that once this receives priority attention, the private sector will quickly adapt to the issue. H. Yener Gür'eş, Chairman of TUCSA, underlined that corrosion is a national issue. "The world loses USD 2.5 trillion annually due to corrosion. 95% of corrosion is steel-related. By our estimates, Turkey's losses amount to USD 50 billion. It is possible to recover 15-35% of this loss. If we recover 15%, that equals USD 7.5 billion annually. Even if the state spent USD 1 billion per year for this purpose, we would still come out ahead. Last year we pursued a very successful steel export policy. We closed the year without major losses. We rank 8th globally in steel production. We have approximately 38 million tonnes of steel production capacity. In exports, we rank 6th globally with USD 14 billion. Our imports are also declining," he said.

VIG Makine Chairman Vedat Güngören, noting that surface coating is undergoing transformation, stated: "Systems are beginning to transform with robots or robotic applications.

We designed our latest project this way. Going forward, due to the difficulty of finding mid-level and direct production workers and the need to ensure repeatable quality, surface coating is moving completely into the lights-out factory model," he said. Güngören noted that the surface coating sector currently has a market size exceeding EUR 250 million, and he believes this figure will reach EUR 500 million in the near future with economic momentum. PAINTEXPO EURASIA (5th International Industrial Coating Technologies Fair) and SURTECH EURASIA (4th International Surface Treatment, Galvanizing Chemicals and Technologies Fair), held in November, brought together participants and visitors from many different parts of the world at Istanbul Exhibition Centre. The fairs attracted over 100 international-scale companies shaping the sector from more than 20 countries, as well as numerous domestic and foreign visitors from Turkey, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Turkic republics. PAINTEXPO EURASIA 2019 was supported by AYİD and the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while SURTECH EURASIA 2019 was organized with the support of GALDER.