What is the EFC?

The EFC is a federation of over 30 societies with interests in corrosion based in twenty-five different countries within Europe and beyond. Taken together, its member societies represent the corrosion interests of more than 25,000 engineers and scientists. Founded in 1955, its aim is to advance the science of the corrosion and protection of materials by promoting cooperation in Europe and collaboration internationally. The EFC is registered in Belgium and has secretariats in France, Germany and the UK .

EUROCORR , the EFC’s annual conference is the flagship event of the European corrosion calendar. Attracting upwards of six hundred delegates, it is held in a different European country in September of each year. To date 26 of these conferences have been held in 11 different countries and they have become noted for their high technical quality as well as the very enjoyable social programme.

The EFC accomplishes its most important activities through eighteen active working parties devoted to various aspects of corrosion and its prevention. The first working party, WP1 on Corrosion and Scale Inhibition was established in 1965 while the most recent, working party on Corrosion and Corrosion Protection of Drinking Water Systems was formed in 2007. The working parties help to organise, singly or jointly with other working parties, strong technical sessions at EUROCORR. Other valuable activities include participation in collaborative research and testing programmes, the organisation of courses and workshops, and the preparation of reports, guidelines and proceedings for publication in the highly regarded EFC Series of ‘green books’ of which there are now over fifty. The working parties are overseen by the Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) , to which all of the working party chairmen and six other elected members belong. This is served by a Scientific Secretary, the Federation’s only paid employee. Anyone with related interests is free to participate in working party meetings, which usually take place in conjunction with EUROCORR.

Important benefits available to EFC member societies include the opportunity to nominate candidates for the EFC Awards , which include the European Corrosion Medal, the Cavallaro Medal, and the Kurt Schwabe Prize. They can also appoint two voting members to each EFC Working Party and nominate candidates for election to the EFC Board of Administrators , and the STAC . Member societies can also submit bids to host EUROCORR conferences and can influence the direction taken by the EFC by voting at the annual EFC General Assembly. What is more, everyone who belongs to an EFC Member Society qualifies for reduced registration fees at EUROCORR and a 30% discount on the prices of the EFC publications.

The EFC has recently expanded its horizons beyond the confines of Europe by admitting International Members, the first two of which are from Israel. It has also become a founder member of the World Corrosion Organisation, a prime aim of which is to increase public and political awareness of corrosion and to advise governments, industries and communities about corrosion and its mitigation.

Everyone with interests in the EFC’s activities is welcome to apply for membership of an EFC Member Society.
In addition, everyone interested in coorosion can become a Friend of the EFC . Friends of the EFC regularly receive information about EUROCORR and other events of importance to the community, publications, scinetific activities of the EFC Working Parties, as well as the EFC Newsletter free of charge.