A Note from the IWCC Team:
As we embark on the new year, the IWCC Team looks forward to the exciting and important opportunities, projects and events which lie ahead in 2026. After a successful year in 2025, with strong and encouraging development on some key projects for the sector, the team look to continue this momentum going forward, focusing on fostering new collaborations with both upstream and downstream partners within the Copper Industry for the benefit of our members.
Recent Events at the IWCC:
Autumn Committee Week – Amsterdam:
In November the IWCC held its first Autumn Committee Week, which combined the meetings of the Copper Tube, Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy and Brass Rod Committees into three days of interesting and insightful meetings, complimented by networking dinners. The week began with a dinner for the Copper Tube committee, held at the Restaurant van Puffelen, before a meeting covering the following topics.
An update from Pauline Roger and Remy Mistretta, Hopscotch Europe, on the ‘Copper for Sustainable Plumbing’ campaign. Members were shown a comprehensive presentation emphasising the success of the campaign in the first 12 months across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and a timeline for the next few months of the campaign.
Members were then shown the latest copper tube production and demand statistics, presented by Luke Freeland, outlining production, imports, exports and demand across all major European and global markets, with breakdowns of water tube and industrial tube demand.
Members then heard an interesting and insightful presentation from Daan De Jong and Anya Hurd, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, on copper tube demand growth for use in cooling applications in AI datacenters.
Finally, members heard an update on the EU Electrification plan by Robert Pinter, ICA Europe.
The Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Committee then met for a networking dinner at de Kop van Oost, before a meeting covering the following topics:
An Update on CBAM from Rob Van Der Meer, Cement Europe.
Copper Mark Update from Mike Smith, Copper Mark.
Discussion on Health and Safety, with an insight into the work KME Group have done over the past 10 years to instill a safety culture at their sites.
A presentation on circular economy by Kamila Slupek and Laura Fazio Bellachio, Eurometaux.
The Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Committee saw record attendance, emphasising the importance of this group and its work to navigate EU trade legislation and compliance. If you would like to join the Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Committee, or receive more information about the ongoing advocacy work the IWCC is doing in Europe, please email iwcc@coppercouncil.org.
The week concluded with the Brass Rod committee, where a dinner was held at Roest, before a meeting which covered the following topics:
An update on CLP, Seveso and ADR compliance.
An update from Luke Freeland, IWCC, on market statistics for production and demand of brass and alloy rod across Europe, China and USA.
The meeting concluded with updates on the ongoing work being done in Europe on the Drinking Water Directive from the Drinking Water Alliance and Eurometaux, with presentations from Lars Neveling and Volker Meyer, and Lara Van De Merckt respectively.
We would like to thank our members of each committee for attending the meetings and engaging in positive, productive discussions. We look forward to engaging with members again during the Spring committee meetings next year.
IWCC engagement with ZVEI:
In October, Ian Scarlett, President, and Miette Dechelle, Vice-President, met with representatives from ZVEI, the German Electrical and Electronics Manufacturing Association. As global challenges with regards to Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliance for the EEE industry, sustainability, and supply chain resilience intensify, collaboration with these Associations becomes increasingly important. Furthermore with almost 1,000,000 employees and a turnover of almost $250BN annually, the EEE industry is the second largest industrial sector in Germany, and thus the IWCC will look to establish a strong symbiotic relationship with the Association going forward.
IWCC joins the European Drinking Water Alliance:
The IWCC is pleased to announce that it has joined as a member of the European Drinking Water Alliance on behalf of the Brass Rod Committee. This partnership reinforces the IWCC’s strong commitment to work and advocate on behalf of the European brass rod producers on this important topic. The IWCC team look forward to working with the Alliance going forward. For more information about the ongoing work the IWCC is doing regarding the Drinking Water Directive and other important EU regulation, please email iwcc@coppercouncil.org.
IWCC visit to the Kupferverband:
In October, the Kupferverband welcomed Miette Dechelle, Vice President, for an exchange in Düsseldorf. The discussion focused on regulatory challenges that manufacturers and users of copper alloys are currently facing, primarily over lead free brass compliance and the Drinking Water Directive.
The open dialogue provided valuable impulses for cooperation in support of the semi-finished copper products industry.
The IWCC is currently meeting and exchanging with national associations, including the Beryllium Association, to discuss future cooperation and workstreams. Miette Dechelle was also invited to present on Brass Rod Regulation in Europe at the CDA Winter Meeting. The IWCC looks forward to exploring and developing partnerships with other associations in 2026.
Forthcoming IWCC Events:
IWCC Technical Seminar 2026 – Vietnam:
Registration for the IWCC Technical Seminar 2026 is still open. This annual event, held between the 1st and 5th of March, is the only global seminar covering the latest technological developments in the copper semis industry, and will bring together engineers, equipment suppliers and academics for a seminar focusing on ‘Innovation in the Copper Fabricating Industry,’ and include two plant visits to the Jintian copper tube plant in Ho Chi Minh City and the Boway Bedra factory in Hanoi. Please see below a full breakdown of the program:
Sunday 1st March 2026: Delegates will explore Ho Chi Minh City with an ‘Experience Saigon’ city tour, before a welcome dinner at the Duong Dong restaurant.
Monday 2nd March: Delegates will tour the Jintian copper tube factory, before travelling to Hanoi.
Tuesday 3rd March: The two-day seminar focusing on ‘Innovation in the Copper Fabricating Industry’ will begin, before a visit to the Temple of Literature and a dinner held at the Ngon Garden restaurant.
Wednesday 4th March: The seminar will continue for day two of high-level presentations and networking opportunities, before a dinner at the Soft Water restaurant.
Thursday 5th March: Finally, the event will conclude with a plant visit to the Boway Bedra plant.
If you wish to attend this event, please email iwcc@coppercouncil.org for more information. A working list of the papers for the seminar is currently available on the IWCC website.
IWCC Product Committee Spring Meetings:
Copper Tube Committee Meeting – 26th and 27th of May 2026 – Ljubljana, Slovenia
Wire Rod Committee Meeting – 2nd and 3rd of June 2026 – Brussels, Belgium
Brass Rod Committee Meeting – 18th and 19th of June 2026 – Budapest, Hungary
Flat Rolled Product Committee Meeting – 23rd and 24th of June 2026 – Hemer, Germany.
IWCC Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Committee
The Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Committee will meet on the 27th and 28th of May 2026 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. If you would like to join the IWCC Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy Committee and participate in the ongoing work on topics such as the Drinking Water Directive, CLP and RoHS compliance, please email iwcc@coppercouncil.org for more information.
IWCC Joint Meeting 2026 – Amsterdam:
The next IWCC Joint Meeting will be held between the 11th and 13th of May 2026 in Amsterdam, at the Hotel Okura. Please see below a full breakdown of the program:
Monday 11th May 2026: The event will begin with the IWCC Joint Statistical Committee and Copper Committee meetings before our Industry Dinner for all delegates and partners at The National Maritime Museum.
Tuesday 12th May: The morning will begin with a run or cycle around the city before the first day of the main Joint Meeting.
Wednesday 13th May: Following another day of Joint Meeting panels and presentations, the event will conclude with a dinner at Van Puffelen.
The event also offers a partners programme, which will include a visit to the House of Gassan, a guided tour of the historic village of De Zaanse Schans, a trip to the Anne Frank Museum and an insight into Amsterdam’s street art and graffiti at the STRAAT art museum. Registration for this event is now open on the IWCC website. If you wish to register for this event, please email iwcc@coppercouncil.org for more information.
The purpose of this Newsletter is to strengthen the relationship between the IWCC and our members through updates on recent news and forthcoming events. We want to hear from you and encourage any of our members who would like more information or have any questions about future events, to send us an email or a message on our website and we can arrange a call together.
