Worldwide foundry industry exhibits its latest advances at GIFA

Once again, Düsseldorf has been the center of world foundry industry along the intense five working days of the last edition of GIFA. One of the most important foundry trade fairs of the world, where IK4-AZTERLAN has showcased to the sector some of its recent developments through an exhibition stand and the presence of a remarkable group of technicians and researchers.

The official summary delivered by Messe Düsseldorf, organizers of this “Bright World of Metals”, is very positive. They emphasize especially the good marks on the exhibitors’ and the visitors’ side, as well as the increase in the fair internationalization, which now amounts to 56 percent at the visitors and 51 percent at the exhibitors.

Final figures of 78.000 participants from 120 countries mark the success of the joint proposal of the metallurgical trade fairs GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST. The 2.214 exhibiting companies reported on numerous business transactions with customers from all over the world, confirming so they were in high spirits to invest. Two third of the visitors are directly involved in investment decisions in the top and middle management of their companies, so they attended the event with the necessary decision-making capacity regarding this issue.

In terms of country of origin, Asian region is the one which especially demands for European metallurgy and foundry technology in accordance with current requirements of the industry regarding the saving of energy and resources. On top of the international visitor ranking there are also experts from India, Italy, Turkey, France and China.

In the words of Joachim Schäfer, Messe Düsseldorf Managing Director: “The ‘Bright World of Metals’ shines brighter than ever. The atmosphere in the fair halls was excellent every day. The trade visitors really appreciated that complete machines and systems are presented here in Düsseldorf. Accordingly, the sales talks run extremely positive.” This sensation from organizers is also perceived so by professional visitors, from global market leaders to companies specialized in niche technologies, who evaluated their participation at the fair as very satisfactory. All of them evaluated best marks for these fairs: up to 98 percent regarded their trade fair visit as good.

IK4-Azterlan had the possibility to showcase its latest developments to attending companies, both in improvements in materials and processes, as well as in artificial intelligence and predictive control tools for the Industry 4.0. There were presented pieces reflecting recent advances in reduction / elimination of finishing operations, arousing great curiosity and interest in the engineers and technicians from companies of the sector, as well as tools like Thermolan (Control and Metallurgical Prediction System), Eidocalc (Optimization of Filling System) and Salomon (Advanced Prediction System), all of them focused on intelligent management of processes in foundry (Industry 4. 0 and the “Smart Process”).

IK4-Azterlan stand at GIFA and information about DISA Foundry Cockpit project, where IK4-Azterlan is taking part actively

In addition to the numerous international business meetings accomplished, IK4-AZTERLAN took part actively in the activities of the World Foundry Organization (WFO). An international working network that promotes initiatives for the development of knowledge and technology in the field of metallic materials transformation, and with which IK4-AZTERLAN has a close relationship and commitment.

Opening Conference of the WFO Technical Forum at GIFA, by Mr. Jorge Fesch (Sakthi Group Portugal)

Thanks to ecoMetals campaign, the topics of energy efficiency and saving of resources were clearly in the focus of visitor’s interest. According to Director Friedrich-Georg Kehrer: “For the customer industries the recent technologies for the saving of resources and energy efficiency play a considerable role in placing investments. Companies distinguishing themselves in these aspects were in great demand as a visitors’ target on the four fairs.” Thus, the companies presented their innovative technologies and got in direct contact with potential customers from all over the world.

The on-site informal assessment of exhibitors, confirmed by posterior evaluations from spokesmen of the exhibiting companies, allows confirming that these exactly met their target groups at the fairs. At the GIFA these were precisely the experts of ferric, steel and non-ferrous metal castings as well as of engineering. At the METEC the major visitor group traditionally came from iron and steel production together with plant engineering and construction, apparatus engineering and tool making. This is also valid for THERMPROCESS. Especially experts of automotive and gear manufacturing as well as of the ancillary industry came to NEWCAST but also visitors from engineering, apparatus engineering and tool making played a decisive role.

Proposed frameworks had a great attending success in this edition of GIFA, facilitating so a great deal of trade agreements

In words of the spokesman of the general executive board of the federal association of the German casting industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Gießerei-Industrie): “The GIFA again demonstrated that it is the principal trade fair and the international venue of the casting industry.”

An extraordinary framework and a worldwide technological reference, where IK4-AZTERLAN has participated actively with a very positive final assessment of the achieved results.