Scrap and related industry associations have either canceled or postponed key industry events, or are looking at conducting them virtually amid the COVID-19 virus fears.
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) has canceled its national convention that was to be held in Las Vegas, this April. ISRI is, however, exploring other options, including a different date or venue, and even other ways to deliver information.
The Bureau of International Recyclers (BIR) has also postponed its annual convention in Istanbul to mid-October. BIR noted in a statement that this will be the first event in its 72-year history that will not go on as planned.
The Canadian Association of Recycling Industries has not yet cancelled its 79th annual convention in Halifax this June, but posted a note to its website that was consulting public health authorities to determine the best course of action.
The Original Equipment Suppliers Association has not cancelled all of its events—it postponed an executive breakfast briefing scheduled for March 17—and has instead turned some of its smaller events into webinars. The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association also recently announced that it’s turning its 2020 AASA into a webinar.
However, the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) postponed its Digital Transformation Forum for the Steel Industry event in Pittsburgh scheduled for March 16-18 to June 10-12. CONAC 2020, scheduled for March 23-25 in Mexico has also been postponed with no new date scheduled. AISTech 2020 in Cleveland, scheduled for May 4-7, has not been postponed, but that could change if COVID-19 containment efforts continue falling short.
In addition to other high profile cancellations, including in the world of sports, it is not inconceivable that more industry events will be cancelled in the coming days.