One of the most important objectives of the IRE is to connect people with application knowledge, and to share industry insights and best practice for the benefit of members, their companies and the wider refractories industry. We are continuing to do this through the pages of The Refractories Engineer and through our range of in-person events, held throughout the year in the UK and Australasia to encourage networking with peers and to broaden all our horizons.

In addition to the highly successful annual UK conference and training day, IRE is also now hosting an annual Spring Technical Day (see page 8) and a highly competitive golf day to provide more opportunities to meet face to face and really connect with each other for the advancement of the whole industry and the individuals working in it.

Our Australasian colleagues are also helping with this endeavour by organising a much respected biennial conference in Australia, with the same aim – to share innovations and to future proof our sector as we tackle the ongoing need to improve efficiency and meet stringent environmental commitments on a global scale. See page 9 for more details.

One such future option for industrial facilities is the possibility of hydrogen as a renewable energy source. It is imperative that as we reduce carbon emissions, process efficiency remains a fundamental priority and for many people hydrogen is seen as a way of achieving this in heavy industrial manufacturing. In this issue we highlight the EU’s support of industrial hydrogen projects as part of its drive to accelerate the clean energy transition.

We also look at several existing options for the adoption of green technology to help industry decarbonise. I am sure these subjects will be central at the upcoming IRE events being held this year in the UK and Australia and I urge readers to get involved and support your local branch. Together we can make a difference to inspire the future.

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