Directors of companies in the aluminium sector are to meet at a biennial event in Oxford this year.

The Aluminium Federation, based in West Bromwich, is organising the ESTAL (European Surface Treatment of Aluminium) Congress, which will be held between September 20 and 22.

ESTAL is the main European association representing the interests of the architectural aluminium powder coating and anodising sectors.

The ESTAL Congress, which will take place at St. Catherine’s College, in the University of Oxford, is held every two years and attracts over 100 industry representatives from all over Europe. It is more than 25 years since the event was last held in the UK.

The congress will start on Sunday September 20 with a social programme for delegates and their partners.

The Congress programme itself will begin on September 21 with various meetings, a plant tour and a banquet at the college.

On September 22 there will be a full, one-day technical conference, followed by a gala dinner at Oxford Town Hall.

The ESTAL Congress is being hosted by the UK Aluminium Finishing Association and ESTAL, and organised and underwritten by the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), which represents the UK aluminium industry.

The event will be hosted by ALFED council member Carl Tomlinson, who is chairman of ESTAL and chairman of the UK Aluminium Finishing Association.

Mr Tomlinson, who is also operations director of metal finishing firm Tomburn, said: “The ESTAL Congress is a unique opportunity for all the major players in the European aluminium surface treatment industry to meet under one roof.

“It is an invaluable event for delegates to update themselves on technical and commercial developments.”

The congress programme will include speakers for all sectors of the industry, as well as academics from Oxford University.

Registration forms and programme details are available from the Aluminium Finishing Association, c/o Aluminium Federation, National Metalforming Centre, 47 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 6PY (Tel: 0121 601 6363).