On 15 August 2023, Jens Spahn, former federal minister, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU party in the Bundestag responsible for the economy, climate, energy, SMEs and tourism and CDU steering committee member, visited the galvanising business Heek GmbH & Co. KG.
Among other topics, the former federal minister discussed the fields of application of hot-galvanising, decarbonisation and energy policy with the company representatives and the attending members of the hot-galvanising industry association “Industrieverband Feuerverzinken”.
Heiko Abendroth, Managing Director and CFO of the group of companies operating internationally under the parent Lichtgitter GmbH, emphasised that the association and the entire industry are prepared to act as contacts for the topic of decarbonisation, and above all that a transformation outlook is needed as soon as possible for industrial SMEs.
He said, “We are pursuing a common goal in climate neutrality. Lichtgitter GmbH and Industrieverband Feuerverzinken are ready to act as sparring partners and look forward to contributing to the development of these goals. We can already convert our processes to liquid gas today. However, we also need a transformation outlook as a company. Green energy or other climate-neutral energy sources should be available at a competitive price and in sufficient quantity. Once this is ensured, it will be easier to make investments and we will have an outlook for the future.”
Abendroth also pointed out that the numbers of specialist staff and workers are declining and that other types of qualification are necessary.
He continued, “We face the challenge, as do other industries, of finding suitable workers and specialist staff. Legislators should make modern, custom-fit qualifications possible in this case. Purely vocational training that takes three years is no longer enough and is subdivided into too many areas. At this point, we need bold policies in order to break new ground.”
During the discussion, Alexander Terhörst, Plant Manager and officer with general commercial power of representation at Verzinkerei Heek GmbH & Co. KG, noted that it would be necessary to reduce the amount of red tape and accelerate approval processes.
Terhörst explained, “As a medium-sized company, we are experiencing a clear increase in bureaucratic obstacles. At the same time, approval processes are very lengthy and hamper our transformation process. We call for the approval processes to be simplified and for legislation that benefits small and medium-sized companies.”
Sebastian Schiweck, CEO of Industrieverband Feuerverzinken, points to the excellent qualities of hot-galvanised steel and would like different tender specifications.
Schiweck explains, “Hot-galvanised steel is used in almost all wind turbines, up to 19,000 screws are inserted. The material is used in solar panels and for e-mobility, is incorporated into LNG terminals and is needed for many other products that are crucial for achieving climate targets. Hot-galvanised steel can be reused without a loss of quality and is durable and robust. That is why it is the ideal material for conserving resources. We would like circular parameters to be given more weight, especially in public calls for tender.”
Jens Spahn also commented on competitiveness: “Hot-galvanised steel is used in many climate technologies, which is why we need a powerful and competitive hot-galvanising industry in Germany in order to reach our climate targets. Our companies need a transformation outlook and good framework conditions, and that includes affordable energy prices. This is what I am campaigning for in Berlin.”
