| Abstract Scope |
In response to market conditions, there has been a reduction in concurrent major projects. As a result, this has led to a perceived slowdown in innovation within the anode sector. To explain why, we will review trends and demonstrate how they have contributed to this change.
Innovation and technological developments were means to both improve the industry and ensure that key players maintained a competitive advantage in an aggressive market. Without an abundance of projects to fuel innovation, a shift was bound to occur. With a focus on capital reductions, industry players have shifted their efforts, and this has led to change in project execution, rather than technology.
Finally, a review of technical step changes shows that they are not favored in comparison with incremental improvements. This, when compounded with a conservative sector, demonstrates that when presented with innovation, the appetite for risk remains low. |