The refractory Industry will have to face new challenges to meet the targets of a ‘’blue-sky-green future’’. Hence some of the following issues will be considered at three levels.
At first level the refractory manufacturing of more non-shaped and non-fired refractories, for more energy savings, will need to focus more on the materials recycling issue. The second level, at the users ‘end, a revision of the chain of values and the economical margins will be required. To implement the new solutions, at a third level, it will be necessary to sustain the refractory research and education groups, locally and internationally. This presentation will offer suggestions to sustain such an evolution, based on more coopetition among the members of the refractory constituency networks.