Home » Communication » News » What comes next?

What comes next?

12/12/2016

ewji_what_comes_next_460x300

An open letter to the water jetting industry from the EWJI Board of Directors.

Back in late 2014, a group of European professionals related to the water jetting applications started to talk about the possibility of creating a network of knowledge, related to the industry.

As the first step from that exchange of e-mails, some small meetings started to take place, to explore and define the road map for this network of knowledge.

It was agreed to start a new organization, with European scope, which should complement the existing role of the National associations already in place.

With this idea in mind, the European Water Jetting Institute, EWJI, was created and started to work on a first public activity to explore the possibilities of the European Water Jetting Industry working together.

Just to clarify, EWJI is legally a non-profit association, established as Institute, to allow National Authorities (for instance the Health and Safety organizations from the Public Administration) to become involved as partners.

It is also very relevant to point out that EWJI addresses four key areas of application:

  • Construction applications
  • Surface preparation
  • Industrial cleaning and maintenance
  • Municipal cleaning and sanitation

EWJI_Forum_image_460x300

The first public activity of EWJI and its official launch was the European Water Jetting Forum, held in Brussels on October 14th, 2015.

The key topic for this meeting was: Towards European Standards.

And the result from this Forum was the agreement of all the professionals and actors present on the opportunity to have an umbrella organization, such as EWJI, to develop the common topics of the industry together.

EWJI started to receive the support of some individual companies, and the membership base started to grow.

EWJI_meeting_room_photo

At the same time, this first activity of EWJI created a wave across the industry in Europe, raising questions and new encounters with the traditional actors.

As an example, EWJI was actively involved on the creation of the new German High Pressure association (DFIV).

The delegates of the Institute were also present in several trade fairs and events during 2016, to promote the next meeting of EWJI.

 

ewji_convention2016_460x300_

In October 2016, EWJI held together with DFIV in Cologne, Germany, the first convention of the European Water Jetting Industry, a two-day event full of contents, debate, and networking.

It was a small event on the numbers, but a great meeting in the quality of the conversations, presentations, and professional exchange.

The meeting held in Cologne served to achieve major milestones:

  • Formation of the EWJI Board of Directors, with delegates from different countries and diverse profiles (both on the company they represent and their relation with the industry)
  • Define the key topics of the industry at European level and link them to working groups within EWJI to foster the debate and the work related with them

ewji_annual_convention_2016_10

And we come to the question that opens this article, what comes next?

In Cologne, the industry agreed to work towards deliverables which could help on the daily operations related to water jetting.

To do so, EWJI will now launch several working groups engaging all the related actors to share the knowledge of the industry.

Even more, it was also agreed to have an annual meeting of the industry (Annual convention), as an opportunity to debate, launch projects and meet at least once a year with other professionals related with the water jetting applications.

The EWJI Annual Convention intends to be the annual meeting of the European Water Jetting Industry, and it will be held once a year, most probably on the same time of the year.

ewji_convention2017_460x300

The next event of the industry will be the EWJI Annual Convention, to be held on February 9-11, 2017, in Madrid.

It is important to point out the early dates, even though the previous event was in October, but it was agreed among the industry that early February will be a better period for contractors to come, as it should not collide with other activities or events.

Finally, this letter from the EWJI Board of Directors in an open invitation to all the organizations and professionals related to water jetting.

We kindly ask you to get involved and take part in this initiative, so we create a better future for the industry together.

 

The EWJI Board of Directors

Useful links: