Changes in refractories consumption worldwide and Consequences for the raw material availability, production and supply chain seen from the point of view of the leading refractories manufacturer

摘要

Ilndustrial manufacturing processes with higher temperatures (> 600 deg C) are not possible without ceramical refractory products. Thus, the production of refractory material is linked right from the beginning with the development of key industries such as iron, steel, non-ferrous metals, cement, lime, glass, chemistry, energy and environmental technology. Production took place next to the buying industries resp. next to available raw materials and transportation routes. Depending on changes, progress within the production technology of the buying resp. the refractory industry, adjustments due to production factors, such as availability of raw material, lifetimes, energy and transport costs, manpower etc. the production of refractory material was and will continue being subject to a constant change. Technical progress will increase the impact on e.g. the specific usage per tonne of produced steel, cement etc. Key industries using refractory material add, withdraw or shift capacities. This paper describes the influence of these changes on the supply chain and how the leading refractories manufacturer is dealing with it.