Page 73 from: May 2013
73May 2013
growth estimate lower to 3.3% year-on-year
from 3.5% previously. The IMF also lowered
its outlook on China’s economic growth to
8.0% from 8.1%.
‘China, China and China’
During a Spotlight on the Economy session,
experts provided some insights into where they
think the economy is heading over the coming
months. ‘It’s probably going to get a bit uglier,
at least in the short term,’ said Bart Melek of TD
Securities. ‘With China – whose economy has a
direct impact on many commodity prices and
much of the world’s economic activity – trying
to slow down its overheated housing market,
the global metals trade has not kept pace with
analysts’ projections, and it’s occurring at a time
when the European zone is weakening as well.’
He went on to say that China is growing at an
annual rate of 8% with a significant downside
risk, and that metals prices have three main
drivers: ‘China, China and China.’
Timothy Kneen of US Institutional Consulting
agreed that China has an enormous impact on
the global economic outlook. ‘If we see the
economy right now, it basically looks like a tri-
cycle to us,’ he explained. ‘The front wheel, the
engine that is driving the world right now, is
the United States. It’s the engine that will pull
everything along behind it. We would argue the
back two wheels of the tricycle are China and
Europe, and they’re looking awfully wobbly to
us right now.’
Aircraft recycling
Martin Todd, communications manager for the
Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA),
provided an update in Orlando on the organisa-
tion’s development. AFRA (www.AFRAasso-
ciation.org) is the leading global industry asso-
ciation dedicated to pursuing and promoting
environmental best practice, regulatory excel-
lence and sustainable developments in aircraft
disassembly, as well as the salvaging and recy-
cling of aircraft parts and materials. It was
formed in 2005 by 11 organisations from vari-
ous sections of the aircraft industry with the aim
of driving and motivating industry towards
solutions for the safe and environmentally most
responsible way of managing end-of-life air-
craft. These founding members were: Air Sal-
vage International; Adherent Technologies;
Bartin Group; Boeing Commercial Aircraft;
Chateauroux Air Centre; Europe Aviation;
Huron Valley; Fritz; Milled Carbon; Rolls Royce;
and WINGNet. Now, AFRA has 71 members
from 11 countries, including many key players
in the aircraft end-of-life community.
‘In 2012, we launched the latest Best Manage-
ment Practice (BMP) Guide on aircraft materi-
als recycling at the ISRI Convention in Las
Vegas,’ Todd said. ‘Since then, six companies in
the aircraft materials recycling sector have been
accredited by AFRA: Aircraft End-of-Life Solu-
tions (AELS), Aircraft Demolition, ELG Metals,
HVF West, Robert Gibbs Company and Uni-
versal Recycling Company of South Africa.’
AFRA members recycle more than 650 air-
planes a year, which together yield more than
30 000 tonnes of aluminium and 600 tonnes of
used aircraft parts. Since AFRA’s formation, its
members have dismantled more than 7000 air-
craft, comprising 6000 from the commercial
sector and 1000 from the military. It has been
calculated that the market for aircraft parts is
worth approximately US$ 2 billion per year but
AFRA’s belief is that even greater financial value
can be extracted from end-of-life activity.
According to the association’s estimates, 12 000
to 15 000 aircraft will reach their end-of-life
phase in the next 20 years. Disposal of these
aircraft is a major problem, which is why many
companies have launched environmental pro-
grammes to address the matter. AFRA – with
companies from Africa, Europe and North
America – provides an international perspective
to assist the industry on the legal, regulatory
and technical aspects of aircraft recycling, while
also promoting greater co-operation among
governments and industries.
ISRI returns to Las Vegas
In 2014, the ISRI Convention and Expo will return
to ‘Sin City’, taking place on April 6-10 at the Man-
dalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Recyclers meet in the Fun Capital of the World
To the left, Adri-
ano Assi, publis-
her of the Brazi-
lian recycling
magazine Reci-
clagem Moderna
and managing
director of Brazils
recycling exhibi-
tion Exposucata,
which will be
held this year
from 8-10 Octo-
ber in Sao Paulo.
To his right,
Leandro and
Carlos Alberto
Azevedo of
metals recycling
company TR
Brasil.
Martin Todd of for the Aircraft
Fleet Recycling Association
(AFRA).
Many ISRI delegates enjoyed
a drink at the open bar of
the Tung Tai Group.
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