President's Address: The future of the European electroplating industry

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honour for me to take over from Keith Dennis as President of the Institute of Metal Finishing. However, the next few years will be difficult for the Institute and for the metal finishing industry in general. There are many changes in process, both in terms of legislative issues and in the way the global market for surface finishing processes is developing. It is of vital importance to the industry that we adapt to these changes and take the long-term decisions required to ensure the survival of the European industry. The aim of this presentation is to examine the current status of the European metal finishing industry and to discuss the likely influences of the legislative and economic drivers on future market trends.