At their annual general meeting in Athens on September 23 members of the Hot Briquetted Iron Association (HBIA) and the International Pig Iron Association (IPIA) voted in favor of establishing a new combined trade association known as the International Iron Metallics Association (IIMA) effective beginning January 1, 2011.
The IIMA and its membership will comprise of producers and traders of merchant pig iron, hot briquetted iron and direct reduced iron as well as consumers and companies associated with the ore-based metallics trade, such as: technology and equipment suppliers, raw material suppliers, shipping and logistics providers and consultants.
One of the principal objectives of IIMA will be to promote and enhance the use of iron metallics as value-adding raw materials for iron and steel and ferrous casting production for the benefit of all industry stakeholders.
“We recognized that our associations have excellent fit with their similar goals and membership structures and the desire to continue creating value for our members,”said Alberto Hassan, HBIA President. “Bringing together HBIA and IPIA makes good strategic sense,” said Christian Hempel, IPIA President. “Together we will be a stronger force for promoting the interests of our industries.”