EUROMETAL participated in the 19th conference of the French Federation of Metal Distribution and Processing (FFDM), which was held in Dunkirk on September 24-25, 2026. The Federation was represented at the event by Ricardo Silva, Managing Director of EUROMETAL.
The conference was attended by representatives of the French steel distribution, processing and manufacturing community. The topic of the meeting was the work of the industry in conditions of increasing uncertainty, from geopolitics and energy to pressure on industry and the labor market.
The program began on September 24 with a visit to the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Dunkirk and the processing site in Mardik. The delegates were able to see two key links of the European value chain in the steel sector.
The integrated Dunkirk plant is located on the North Sea coast and has direct access to marine supplies of raw materials, as well as to road, rail and inland waterways. The Mardik site processes rolled sheets for the automotive and industrial sectors, performing etching, cold rolling and galvanizing.
Dunkirk relies on industry as the basis of regional development
On September 25, the conference continued at the Kursaal Convention Center in Dunkirk. The participants were greeted by Julien Gokel, Vice President of the Dunkirk Urban Community, who spoke about measures to support the industrial development of the region.
He highlighted Dunkirk's maritime position, access to imported raw materials, and the city's growing role in new energy infrastructure, including offshore wind power. According to him, ports, energy systems, transport and industrial investments must develop in a coordinated manner if European regions want to attract new projects and maintain existing production.
FFDM announced unprecedented pressure on the supply chain
Opening the conference, FFDM President Laurent Noirclerc spoke about the serious pressure faced by steel distribution and processing companies. He noted that this was his final speech as head of the federation after several years of work.
Noirclerc also spoke about FFDM's role in EUROMETAL's initiatives in 2026. French companies supported EUROMETAL's call for urgent measures aimed at preserving the entire European value chain in metallurgy, including manufacturers, distributor customers and processors.
He also recalled the participation of FFDM and a number of its members in the European Convention for Industrial Competitiveness, which was held in Brussels on September 7. As part of the campaign, more than 200 industry representatives, 15 trucks and ten symbolic industrial coffins arrived in the European Quarter under the slogan "Continue manufacturing in Europe."
Participants
