The CIA Hydrofluoric Acid Users Annual Conference brings together organisations from across the HF supply chain for a practical, member-led day of technical learning, peer exchange, networking and Responsible Care.

The 2026 conference attracted 97 delegates and strong exhibitor participation, demonstrating the value of this annual forum for practical learning and responsible collaboration across the HF sector.

Who should attend?

The Conference programme is developed to reflect topical learning opportunities and current developments within the HF sector and provides direct benefit to all levels of operational organisations including managers, supervisors, operators, maintenance teams and engineers, as well as laboratory staff, technical and safety teams, medical and occupational health staff and emergency responders.  

It is also relevant to organisations across the wider HF supply chain, including producers, users, distributors, refineries, nuclear and chemical manufacturing sites, specialist suppliers, PPE providers, service companies, consultants and technical experts.

Previous attendance has included HF producers and users, distributors, specialist engineering and valve suppliers, gasket and sealing specialists, PPE manufacturers, occupational health and medical-response providers, emergency-response contractors, consultants, CIA colleagues and regulatory stakeholders. The conference is therefore relevant to site-based operational teams and the wider technical supply chain supporting safe HF management.

Why attend?

Hydrofluoric acid requires careful control because of its particular hazards and the potential severity of exposure or loss-of-containment events. The conference focuses on practical learning for safe HF handling, emergency preparedness, first aid, PPE, asset integrity, transport, maintenance, operational discipline, incident learning and continual improvement.

Post-conference networking dinner
There will be a post-conference dinner at the nearby Restaurant Bar & Grill following the event. The dinner is an important part of the networking value of the conference and is included for registered delegates, subject to availability. Please let events@cia.org.uk know if you wish to attend, as places are limited.

Programme

The 2027 programme is being developed with the CIA HF Sector Network and will be published once speakers and session details are confirmed. Likely themes include safe HF handling, operational learning, emergency response, PPE, asset integrity, transport, first aid, ISOtank and supply-chain assurance, plastic plant inspection and practical learning from members and specialist contributors. A programme link will be added once available.

Please note: As with all CIA meetings and events, delegates are asked to avoid discussion of commercially sensitive matters.

Costs and booking

All attendees must pre-register. Please contact events@cia.org.uk for booking support. Withdrawals with less than five working days’ notice may incur a £50 administration charge.

• CIA full member companies and HF Network member companies – three complimentary places per member company; £190 + VAT for the fourth delegate onwards.- Please email events@cia.org.uk to book the first 3 x free of charge places.
• Non-member companies and non-full CIA member companies – £220 + VAT per delegate.
• Exhibitors – £500 + VAT, including one exhibitor table and one delegate place. Additional exhibitor delegates are £200 + VAT each.
• Sponsors – £1,500 + VAT, including event recognition, one exhibitor table and two delegate places. Additional sponsor delegates are £200 + VAT each. Sponsorship helps support delivery of the conference and provides appropriate visibility to a specialist HF audience. Sponsors are invited to provide a technical presentation. It does not imply CIA endorsement of any product or service, preferential access to commercially sensitive discussion, or influence over the member-led technical programme.