The final quarter of the year has been an exceedingly busy period for IMFORMED.

In mid-October we ran our successful Fluorine Forum 2024 and China Refractory Minerals Forum 2024 in Ulaanbaatar and Dalian, respectively (full reports coming soon), but also attended two important refractory market events: Refra Asia Symposium, Dalian and IREFCON 2024, Goa.

Refra Symposium Asia – China minerals focus

Refra Symposium Asia, 22-24 October, recognised “a landmark of cooperation and progress” for Refratechnik Group’s role and activities in Asia, celebrating 20 years of successful operations in China.

More than 220 industry professionals from across Asia, united by a vision of progress and sustainability, attended the event, themed as “Sustainability by innovative refractories”.

The event included insightful sessions, dynamic panels, and a plant tour. Paper topics covered China‘s refractories industry, improvement of energy efficiency, alternative fuels, redefining excellence in refractories, and a drone demonstration.

For REFRA summary video clip of the symposium click here 

IMFORMED was both honoured and delighted to be invited to participate in Refra Symposium Asia, especially as in a nice coincidence that week we were “Dalian neighbours” in running our own China Refractory Minerals Forum 2024 (full report coming later).

Mike O’Driscoll presented “Raw materials in China’s refractories market: Status & Trends”, a review of China’s primary refractory raw materials, and their latest trends and developments in supply and demand.

For free PDF download of Mike O’Driscoll’s presentation “Raw materials in China’s refractories market: Status & Trends” please click here.

Refractories market spiced up in Goa – IREFCON 2024

The following month in Goa, India, IMFORMED enjoyed excellent networking, presentations, and discussion with industry players at IREFCON 2024, 12-15 November – many thanks to organisers Team IRMA.

It was so good to catch up with so many friends and make new contacts. IMFORMED is especially thankful for the many condolences received on Ismene’s recent passing. Her spirit remains this us – and she would of approved of the Bollywood dancing!

Across the many topics under discussion following the theme of “Powering a greener future together”, there was a clear clarion call from leaders for industry to step up sustainability initiatives.

In his Plenary Talk, Stefan Borgas, CEO, RHI Magnesita, described the current global market situation as the “biggest industrial downturn since World War Two…even the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 was a cakewalk!”

On China, Borgas considered that there has been a shift of economic structure in China from a supply-based to a demand-based economy. “Change must happen in partnership with China” he said.

Recent reports on IREFCON in the Indian press

There were many interesting presentations covering topics on the future of the refractories industry, green steelmaking, sustainable concepts, and recycling refractories, the latter of which was the topic of Mike O’Driscoll’s Theme Lecture: “Refractory recycling: Present practices & future trends”.

The presentation was followed by an impassioned Q&A session where issues raised included the ongoing dilemma of consumers still lured to primary raw material (as opposed to recycled materials) owing to its lower cost in certain cases, and also on the perceived lack of enthusiasm from the steel industry in “buying into” the recycling concept of refractories.

For free PDF download of Mike O’Driscoll’s presentation “Refractory recycling: Present practices & future trends” please click here.

IMFORMED will also be attending and presenting at the upcoming ALAFAR 2024 Congress, Lima, 9-12 December.

All the latest trends & developments in refractory recycling to be discussed at

Presentations already confirmed from Refratechnik, REF Minerals, Korea Material, RHI Magnesita, MIRECO

Early Bird Rates for a limited period saving US$400 – Register now!