Przegląd Odlewnictwa 1-2/2020

With Number 1–2/2020 of the Foundry Journal we are starting the New Year, as well as ending the previous, 2019, year by recalling events which occurred during that time. These events were very different, good and bad, happy and sad. Two popular rankings: Doing Business and Paying Taxes, published by the World Bank, should be counted as bad events.

The first one was decreased for Poland by 7 positions, while in the second one Poland obtained the same as in the last year, not very impressive,  77-th position.

The level of these rankings, considering the appraisals of our politicians, should be higher.

These rankings will accompany us in the whole 2020 year during which we will face a lot of difficult problems, brightened only by anniversary celebrations on the occasion of 100-years of the independence regained by Poland.

Unfortunately subsequent problems related to increases of electric energy prices are also awaiting us. They will cause increases of prices of all products of general consumption, having significant influence on prices of products exported by our industry and agriculture.

Events of the past year revealed several problems related to – unquestionable already – climate changes effects.

Thus, the Polish economy will need to undertake important operations concerning securing water for the population, industry and agriculture.

Simultaneously, we must have in view the needs related to the implementation of innovations required not only by industry 4.0, but also by challenges of 5G technologies as well as to submitted by the industry needs of highly qualified employees able to manage with the artificial intelligence and e.g. with limitations of water, energy, materials, etc.

These problems will require, already in the current year, several difficult and very costly operations. In majority, they will be realised by engineers and technologists supported by modern, often interdisciplinary, scientific-implementing teams. Thus a lot of responsible and ambitious tasks, the realisation of which will be carried out for several consecutive years, are awaiting us.

We should hope that we are prepared to undertake such operations and that there will be enough means for their realisation, but a question remains: will it be really? Foundry men are planning – already in the current year – to present several important innovatory solutions during domestic and international Fairs and conferences as well as during the 74-th World Foundry Congress, which will take place in South Korea (October 18-22, 2020).

Published: 15.04.2020, Redaktor