From 25 June to 29 June 2019, the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Center will play host to the trade fair quartet comprising GIFA 2019, International Foundry Trade Fair with WFO Technical Forum, METEC 2019, 10th International Exhibition for Metallurgical Technology with Congress, THERMPROCESS 2019, 12th International Trade Fair and Symposium for Thermic Production Processes, and NEWCAST 2019, the 5th International Trade Fair for cast products.
Planners of GIFA and its companion trade shows acknowledge that the global industrial marketplace has changed in the four years since the last staging of the International Foundry Trade Fair, but they’re counting on that fact to heighten interest. Exhibitors have ideas and information to convey, and metal casters have a pent-up need to invest in and improve their operations.
Early data suggests this may be true. Bookings for GIFA 2019, the 14th International Foundry Trade Fair, along with Metec, Thermprocess, and Newcast 2019, are on track to set new records.
The four metallurgy trade fairs with the motto “The Bright World of Metals” will once again be providing a complete picture of the international market.
Registration has been excellent, so far the number of exhibitors and space bookings are at a similarly high level to four years ago – in spite of a number of mergers in the industry. GIFA will be covering almost 43 000m², Metec will also be its usual large size at 20 800m² and Thermprocess has grown somewhat to a size of 10 100m². Newcast is still slightly below the level reached at the previous event.
The main players within the industry as well as smaller, innovative companies will be returning to Düsseldorf in 2019.
“This scope, providing near total market coverage in terms of both supply and demand, is GMTN’s secret to success. Over half of the 78 000 visitors to the GMTN 2015 were top executives and decision makers. In addition, over half of our visitors came from outside Germany. The top 10 countries in terms of foreign visitors included Brazil, China, Iran, India, the USA, France, Italy, Austria and the UK,” explains Friedrich Kehrer, Global Portfolio Director Metals and Flow Technology at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.
The quartet of trade fairs also addresses and focuses on current and significant topics, such as Industry 4.0, e-commerce within the steel and aluminium industries, lightweight construction for the automotive industry and additive manufacturing. These topics provide important stimuli and require additional investment.
The second significant factor in the success of the “Bright World of Metals” is the supporting programme, which includes international congresses and industry meetings such as the GIFA Conference, the European Steel Technology and Application Days/ESTAD, the European Metallurgical Conference/EMC, the THERMOPRESS Symposium and the NEWSCAST FORUM. Awards ceremonies will take place such as the NEWCAST Awards and special shows, like the one that the Research Association of Industrial Furnace Manufacturers in the VDMA/FOGI puts on for the various industries.
Special show for additive manufacturing
The special show for additive manufacturing will make its premier at GIFA in Hall 13. Whether you work in pattern and die making, in core making or in direct metal printing, additive manufacturing provides foundries and their suppliers with great potential for growth/business.
“We wanted our special show to provide a platform to unlock this potential. GIFA will provide a powerful boost for the industry, particularly in e-mobility and lightweight construction in the automotive industry. This was recently proved in a study on the influence of electromobility on the foundry industry and its products initiated by the Confederation of German Foundry Industry (BDG). According to the study, alternative drive concepts such as hybrid and electric drives require increasingly high casting quantities in comparison to those for single drives on a combustion motor, and this will continue to be the case up until to 2030,” explains Gerrit Nawracala, Deputy Director for Metals and Flow Technology at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.
It is probable that the peak in demand for casting will only be reached in 2030, according to the study from the BDG, thus providing optimal conditions for GIFA 2019.
GIFA: A hotspot for technological highlights
GIFA has been a hotspot for technological highlights and innovations for the entire value-added chain in casting technology for decades, and will prove itself once more in 2019. Over 900 exhibitors, from all over the world, will be present in Halls 10 to 13 and 15 to 17. World market leaders have already confirmed their presence, notably Bühler AG (Switzerland), Kuka Deutschland GmbH (Germany), Loramendi S. Coop (Spain), the Sinto Group (HWS – Heinrich Wagner Sinto/Germany) and Vesuvius GmbH (Germany). As was the case in 2015, a great number of industrial players from China and Italy have also already registered for this trade fair.
“We are currently conducting intense agreement talks with the companies. They are all certain that they will be present at GIFA, so the questions that need to be answered now are how big will their presence be, and where do they want to present,” says Janike Rotthoff, Senior Project Manager.
“I’d recommend that companies who are interested to participate in GIFA register as soon as possible, so that they can still get a good stand location.”
METEC 2019: The 10th edition is set for success
In its 10th edition, the International Metallurgical Trade Fair with Congresses will continue to build on its success from 2015. In concrete terms, this means that over 500 exhibitors from around the world will present systems for manufacturing iron ore, steel and non-ferrous metals, or for casting or moulding steel and equipment and components for metallurgical plants, rolling mills and steelworks in Halls 3, 4, and 5.
“The industry’s interest in METEC is very positive. Many of the international market leaders have already confirmed their attendance, and we’re currently discussing the details with others,” explains Senior Project Manager Marcus Müllers.
The following companies have already confirmed that they’ll be exhibiting: Inteco (Austria), Primetals Technologies Ltd. (UK), RHI Magnesita (Austria), SMS Group (Germany), Tenova S.P.A. (Italy) and Sinosteel (China). Forged components will be displayed at METEC for the first time ever. Up until now, these had been part of NEWCAST, but they now fit in better with the themes of the metallurgy trade fair as they have grown in significance and popularity.
Industry greats at THERMPROCESS
“With around 50% of our participants coming from outside Germany, THERMPROCESS is also one of the world’s leading trade fairs and is a must-attend event for international suppliers,” states Jennifer Dübelt, Senior Project Manager, confirming that the trade fair is on track for success.
This also reflects the current registration levels, with many industry greats on the list: Ajax Tocco Magnethermic GmbH (Germany), Andritz März GmbH (Germany), Electrotherm (India), Honeywell Thermal Solutions – Elster GmbH (Germany), Inductotherm Europe Ltd (UK), ITG Induktionslanlagen GmbH (Germany) and Seco/Warwick Europe (Poland) will display technological trends for manufacturing and usage of industrial furnaces and heat generation plants.
“Our indications show that trade visitors can expect to see products from around 300 exhibitors,” states Dübelt.
NEWCAST: The most international trade fair
“NEWCAST has matured into an internationally significant trade fair,” says Caroline Schmidt, Junior Project Manager for NEWCAST. The whippersnapper in the metal trade fair quartet was brought to life in 2003 and its popularity has been growing ever since. Producing cast parts has really developed on an international scale over the last decade, and that is reflected at NEWCAST.”
In 2019, over 400 exhibitors are due to present their latest products in Halls 13 and 14. NEWCAST is also studded with the shining stars of the international market, including Bosch Rexroth AG (Germany), GF Casting Solutions AG (Switzerland), GOM GmbH (Germany), Kimura Foundry Co., Ltd. (Japan), Kutes Metal Inc. (Turkey) and Finoba Automotive GmbH (Germany). Another striking factor in this trade fair are the large amounts of participants hailing from China, India and Turkey.
No South African National Pavilion
For the last six occasions of the GIFA (GMTN) exhibition there has been a South African National Pavilion where South African companies have collectively exhibited. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, there will not be a South African National Pavilion at this year’s exhibition.
For whatever reason that the dti deems it not necessary to promote the South African foundry industry on an international stage, there will nonetheless be many South Africans that will still visit the exhibition, as they have done so over the years. This year is no exception.
