简介：Ananalysisofthepresentandofthefutureoftherefractoriesindustryisbeingpresented,consideringsomeimportanttechnical,economical,humaandenvironmentalissues,onaworldwidebasis.Refractoriesarestillneededasconfinementmaterialstopreventheatandmasstransferlossesinmanydiversemanufacturingindustries,andwillremainso,butthemainchallenges,thisindustrydoneedtomeet,aretoadjusttoanovercapacityproduction,tocopewithnewneedsofthecustomers,inparticularthe"outsourcing",whichisanewcustomer/supplierrelationshipbeingadoptedbymanyofthem,andtokeeptheresearchanddevelopmentaliveinamoreandmorecompetitivearena.Amongthedirectconsequences,aretheneedtokeeptheeducationworldinrefractoryengineeringtrainingaliveandtocopewithmacroandmicroprojectstochangetheimageoftheRefractories,fromacommoditymaterialtoasophisticated"high-tech"compositematenal.Somesuggestionsareprovidedinthetext.