VOA publishes Annual Report 2022/2023

The Verband für die Oberflächenveredelung von Aluminium e. V. (VOA) presents its Annual Report 2022/2023, providing information on the numerous fields of activity and projects as well as the practice-oriented services of the VOA.

In its Annual Report 2022/2023, the Verband für die Oberflächenveredelung von Aluminium e. V. (VOA) provides information about the numerous fields of activity and projects as well as the practice-oriented services of the VOA. Once again, the association thus illustrates its strength and its great commitment to the member companies - especially in view of the current crisis cocktail of exploding costs for energy and raw materials as well as the shortage of labor and skilled workers, the climate-neutral and sustainable transformation of the economy, and the consequences of the Corona pandemic that can still be felt today.

In particular, the effects of the energy crisis determine the actions of VOA members. Therefore, the VOA reactivated the project group "Energy" in 2022 to support the member companies in a meaningful way and to offer valuable benefits. Numerous digital information events, for example on energy procurement strategies, the gas and electricity price brake or the current state of energy policy, followed and were very well received. Further events are planned. In addition, the VOA provided its members with a wealth of information, such as the "Possibilities for Energy Saving" action guide and many other practice-oriented tips, and facilitated intensive, professional discussions among members.

The shortage of skilled workers is the second major challenge facing the surface finishing industry. In view of the upheaval in the world of work, it is important how companies position themselves to secure the skilled workforce of tomorrow. The VOA supports its members with its diverse range of services, especially free webinars, useful links, documents as well as flyers, and puts the topic on the agenda vis-à-vis politicians. Constructive, up-to-date exchange is part of the association's DNA. At the interface of politics, associations and industry, the VOA provides important impulses for the surface finishing industry for the professional representation of interests on a national and international level.

Technical progress for practical work: The VOA is dedicated to varied topics and tasks from the fields of anodizing, coating and paint stripping. Every day, the association deals with the latest findings from science and research for the surface finishing industry. Forward-looking topics are dealt with in project groups set up for a limited period of time, with the aim of offering member companies technical know-how at the cutting edge of technology. In addition, the VOA as general licensee of the international quality marks QUALANOD and QUALICOAT as well as holder of the quality mark QUALISTRIP informs in the annual report about the further development of the far-reaching quality standards, the extensive testing system and the new quality mark QUALICOAT 3.0 for sustainable construction projects.

Parallel to the challenging topics, the focus last year was on the 60th anniversary of the VOA. In an image-rich, expressive review of this special event, the association once again enchants the readers of the annual report with its sensational collection "stories of surfaces - 60 years of surface finishing of aluminum in fashionable pictures". (OM-3/23)