Deutscher Druckgießereien (Association of German Die Casting Foundries), spoke about the economic situation in the diecasting industry today, upcoming challenges for the sector and its history.


Over the past several years, the financial crisis nega- tively affected the car and diecasting industry. How is the German diecasting industry doing today?


Eder: Te diecasting sector has recovered again. Follow-


ing a boom year in 2007, with a total turnover of more than $4 billion, it went pretty much downhill in 2008 and 2009. During the crisis, many diecasting facilities opted for short- term programs and did not have to announce any layoffs. Diecasting has since gained momentum. Te car industry is doing splendidly, so we are too. Our latest industry survey shows that 23,000 people


were employed in our sector in 2010, 5,000 more than at the peak period three years earlier. Total sales also increased again, amounting to more than $4.5 billion by the end of the year, a new record. On the other hand, the medium-sized sector is being


pressured by the rise in energy and raw material costs. We cannot just pass these on to our customers.


German politicians are currently discussing whether energy-intensive companies need to reduce energy consumption, maybe by 30%. What effects would that have on diecasters?


Eder: To cast metal, it must be melted. You need energy


for this. Sometimes we can refine physics, but we cannot outsmart it. What the casting industry has been doing for years, and has to intensify in the future, is energy management. Te potential for energy savings must be exploited. Tis means sealing compressed air pipes, adjusting lighting to proper brightness and time of day and paying attention to a needs- based electricity supply. If we do not get rising energy costs under control,


we will be at a disadvantage in global competition. In the worst case, this can lead to company relocations and closures. And this is something we must avoid under all circumstances.


Globalization has not spared diecast parts. Produc- tion is carried out abroad at considerably lower prices. Is the German diecasting industry well posi- tioned? Or should it fear worldwide competition?


Eder: Fear makes one tense up, and that hinders


decision-making. We are not afraid. Instead, we fight every day for Germany as a business location and against laws and regulations from Brussels and Berlin. For example, we have had to deal with competition- distorting activities such as the rushed withdrawal from nuclear energy, extension of the Machinery Directive, introduction of the REACH chemical substance regu- lations and a water levy raised in some regions. Such measures contribute to the increase in global competi- tive pressures.


今压铸业的经济环境，以及面临的挑战和过去的历史。


过去的几年中，金融危机对汽车业和压铸业造成了 负面影响，德国压铸业现在如何？


Eder:压铸业已经恢复。2007年营业额达到40亿高 峰，随后的2008和2009年大幅下滑。在金融危机中， 很多压铸厂选择了短期项目而并没有休假，因此，压铸 业获得了动力。现在汽车业表现很好，我们也随之收 益。


最新调研显示，2010年压铸业从业人员23,000人， 比三年前最高峰时还多出了5，000人。截至年底，总销 售额也增长了45亿美元，创下了新的记录。 另一方面，中等规模的企业由于能源和原材料价格的 上涨面临很大压力，我们不能将这些压力转嫁给我们的 客户。


现在，德国政府正在讨论能源密集型公司是否需要 降低能耗，比如降低30%。这会对压铸厂商造成 什么影响？


Eder:要铸造，必须先把金属熔化，这就需要能源。 人可以完善物理规律，但是不能违背。


铸造界过去几年在做的并且将来还需要加强的事情， 就是能源管理。要发掘节能的潜力。这意味着密封压缩 空气管道，调整照明亮度和时间，并且关注其它的必需 供电。


如果能耗的增长得不到控制，我们在全球竞争中就会 处于劣势。最坏的情况，可能导致工厂迁移甚至倒闭。 任何情况下我们都不允许这种事情发生。


压铸业也没能逃脱全球化的影响。国外可以以很低 的成本完成生产。德国的压铸业是否找到了合适的 位置？或者是否害怕全球竞争？


Eder:恐惧使人紧张，并且阻碍人们做出正确的决 定。我们不害怕，相反，我们正为德国的商业定位 而和来自布鲁塞尔与柏林的法律法规斗争。我们必须 应对一些扭曲竞争的行为，比如，来自核能源的撤 出，Machinery Directive的扩张，REACH的引入和一 些地区的用水税增加，这还只是其中一些。有些措施增 加了国际竞争中的压力。


中小型企业受损尤其大，因为保住底线之后几乎没 有用于投资新设备和研究的资金。这对我们来说很重


Winter 2012 FOUNDRY-PLANET.COM | MODERN CASTING | CHINA FOUNDRY ASSOCIATION | 35


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