When visiting a large exhibition like GIFA (GMTN) 2023 I always try to get the visitors and suppliers/exhibitors that I meet in Düsseldorf to participate in the report back of the exhibition by offering their observations and opinions rather than have a one-sided viewpoint from myself.
The get-together in June 2023 at the four, linked technology trade fairs always proves to be an absolute highlight of the metal melting and processing industry. On display are brands such as ASK Chemicals, HA Huttenes-Albertus, Foseco, Morgan Advanced Materials, Omega Sinto, Heinrich Wagner Sinto, Laempe, Didion, Calderys, ABP, Spectro Ametek, Saveway, Belec, Allied Mineral, Inductotherm, Magaldi, Norican Group, Loramendi, Oskar Frech, Elkem, Bruker, Durrans Group, Vesuvius, Dihag Holding, Primemetals, SMS group, Heunisch, Kutes Metal, Thoni Alutec and Aichelin. Virtually all well-known companies were represented.
As an individual to take in everything is impossible. Hence asking others for their thoughts and it is very interesting to see what they think.
Below are the observations and opinions made by South African visitors and exhibitors.
Scott Melville – Cerefco
“Inductotherm had a team of 60 salespeople from many of the Group’s 40 manufacturing sites around the world at this year’s GIFA. Inductotherm’s new technologies on display included induction melting, heating, heat treating and welding equipment. These products continue to propel the industry forward in foundries, heat treat shops, and tube mills around the globe through the power of digitalisation, improving efficiency and productivity.”
“As the group CEO Gary Doyon said: “We put our state‐of‐the‐art melting, heating and welding equipment front and centre for our customers to see. It’s essential for everyone to experience our equipment and technologies first-hand. Our advanced induction technology, fused with our commitment to customer success, sets a new benchmark in production and process optimisation.”
Awie Klopper – ASK Chemicals South Africa
“GIFA was an excellent tradeshow, showcasing our new and innovative products to the foundry industry. Solutions for challenges that the industry and we all are facing was a focus point – green transformation, e-mobility, lightweight construction, to name a few. The ability to network and solve customer queries or assist with questions on the stand was phenomenal. All the relevant product managers or technical experts were at GIFA and when required the correct ‘resource’ could be called into a conversation to facilitate a potential solution or future discussion. From ASK South Africa’s point of view it was the perfect event to showcase the underlying global resource structure available to us when and where required.”
Jaco Wiese – PDC
“As a first time GIFA attendee I was completely taken aback by the sheer size of GIFA, which basically indicates how much I underestimated the size of the markets and breadth of technology sets out there. The number of stalls handing out exceptional quality food, beer and coffee also showed me that I am not used to the finer crafts of salesmanship, which has been refined by GIFA exhibitors.”
“In terms of showcased technology, bragging about capability in the burgeoning EV market, and specifically casting of large single castings for this market, was a major focus. The trick of showing bigger castings in an extremely hyped and topical market never fails. The EV market and sustainability (energy efficiency and recycled materials) were two major focal points.”
“The single most positive aspect for me however was that in South Africa we have home-grown very similar solution sets “in-country” to compete against the much pricier Euro denominated technologies. Our solutions might not be as mature or well packaged yet, but I walked away with more confidence in our own capability in solving our problems than with the number of business cards I will be following up on.”
Kulani Mageza – Metal Casting Technology Station
“The participation of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the GIFA (GMTN) 2023 trade exhibition contributes toward the University’s Strategic Objective Three: International profile for global excellence and stature.”
“It is important for the UJ Department of Engineering Metallurgy and Metal Casting Technology Station to participate in GMTN in order to establish and enhance partnerships with international academic institutions, suppliers, source new technologies, attend technical forums and discuss industry trends with industry experts. As a result, five UJ staff members attended GMTN 2023 as visitors.”
“The robotics and digitalisation exhibition was one of our highlights of the trade show. It was truly amazing to see the advancements in this field. Robots with intricate designs and remarkable capabilities were on display, demonstrating how they could revolutionise metal casting. They displayed impressive precision, agility, and intelligence. Considering the potential impact of such innovations on our industry is both exciting and thought-provoking. This was noticeable mainly in halls 15 to 17.”
“We observed that the concept of Foundry 4.0 was gaining traction. There was a significant number of exhibitors demonstrating the integration of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics, into the foundry processes to optimise casting parameters. This digital technology enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and enhanced decision-making capabilities. The advent of Foundry 4.0 represents a significant shift in the direction of a more interconnected and intelligent foundry environment. These are some of the lowest hanging technologies that foundries can adopt quickly and affordably locally.”
“A big topic in Europe was sustainability. It was encouraging to see so many exhibitors focusing on eco-friendly technologies. As an example, the TU Bergakamie Frieberg developed CO2-Free Thermoprocessing technology to replace fossil burner technology with existing furnace aggregates. This technology is an example of how the metal casting industry is taking steps towards a more sustainable future.”
“We also had the opportunity to attend the GIFA/Newcast 2023 technical forum with various programmes from additive manufacturing to digitisation and energy efficiency. It was a great opportunity to learn about the new technologies and how they are being implemented in the industry. We were able to network with other professionals and gain insight into the latest trends in the industry.”
“In conclusion. The GMTN2023 was once again a success for our team and provided us with new academic collaboration contacts, digital technologies to acquire, research topics to align our focus with, global market needs and good networking opportunities at the South African National Foundry Pavilion and not forgetting the Altstadt experience of grilled pork knuckle and beers.”
NFTN report
“In a resounding testament to South Africa’s growing prowess in the metal casting industry, the nation’s finest foundries took centre stage at the prestigious Bright World of Metals 2023 trade fair held in Düsseldorf, Germany.”
“Under the guiding support of the National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN), a national industry support programme funded by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the dtic), together with the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF) and the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (AFSA) as knowledge partners – the South African pavilion drew admiration and awe from global visitors, leaving an indelible mark on the international metal casting landscape.”
“The participation of South African companies and organisations in the trade fair, enabled South Africa to showcase its capabilities and innovations to a global audience,” said the NFTN technology transfer and localisation project manager Isidore Kilongozi.
“By backing the South African pavilion, the NFTN together with the dtic demonstrated its commitment to fostering growth and competitiveness in the country’s foundry sector. The support of the industry associations indicates a collaborative effort to strengthen the industry’s knowledge base. These partnerships contributed expertise and insights to the South African pavilion’s offerings, providing valuable information about the country’s foundry and aluminium sectors to the international audience at the trade fair,” added Kilongozi.
“The pavilion’s presence also saw the launch of the Foundry Value Chain Online Directory, SA-Foundries website. This directory, stood as a testament to NFTN’s commitment to inclusivity and collaboration within the metal casting industry.”
“The website is a digital gold mine for the industry. Building and populating the SA-Foundries website which now hosts more than 190 South African foundries and companies within the metal castings value chain is a digital treasure trove for the industry,” said SA-Foundries and NFTN Communications Manager, Constance Mokhoantle speaking about the directory.
“This platform serves as a bridge between industry players and potential customers worldwide, creating a virtual marketplace for South African expertise to thrive on a global scale,” she explained.
“One of the key motivations behind launching this online directory was to ensure that even the companies unable to attend the trade fair had a robust presence on the international stage. Recognising the immense value each foundry brings to the industry,” said Mokhoantle.
“The NFTN made an effort to represent the entire spectrum of South African capabilities and expertise within the metal casting community. Through SA-Foundries, companies that couldn’t physically make it to GIFA were virtually present, reaching out to the global audience and showcasing their capabilities with pride. This digital outreach became a shining example of South Africa’s spirit of unity and support, where each foundry’s success contributes to the collective growth of the nation’s metal casting industry.”
“With a user-friendly interface and a wealth of information at their fingertips, visitors to SA-Foundries were treated to a showcase of South African foundries’ products and services. The directory’s launch also facilitated meaningful connections and collaborations, ensuring that the industry’s expertise could flourish beyond the boundaries of a single trade fair.”
“South Africa’s shining presence at GIFA was more than just a display of products and technology. It was a testament to the nation’s resilience, collaboration, and determination to embrace the future of metal casting with open arms. The NFTN believes that the South African foundry industry is capable to redefine the global metal casting landscape, painting a bright and promising picture for years to come.”
Mike Techow – Pelagic Resources
“Pelagic Resources made their first showing at GIFA 2023 together with their European Foundry Sand representatives MFG Metall und Ferrolegierunsgesellschaft mbH. It was encouraging to see customers coming back to the fair and having the opportunity to engage face to face once again in meaningful discussions.”
“Customers were keen to get first-hand information on the supply situation and expectations for the months to come. Despite the many problems facing the global economy and the European Foundry and Refractory markets, most customers were still optimistic and focusing on quality.”
“Pelagic Resources has a 35% share in the Bauba Mine in Limpopo Province and has the exclusive marketing rights for the Foundry Sand, Chemical Grade and Metallurgical Grade mined. Pelagic Resources and Bauba focus on high grade ores meeting stringent customer demands for top quality, with a dedicated and competent logistics team capable of handling the challenges facing the South African mining industry.”
Rui Dias – Endeco Omega Sinto
“Quite staggering how time goes by so quickly. It felt like GIFA 2019 had just finished and all of a sudden we were planning our 2023 trip. This was after all going to be my 6th visit. Given what the world has been through since the 2019 GIFA (Covid and the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war amongst others) I was surprised to see how positive the global foundry industry is. This was justified by the huge spend on stands built full of technology and hardware, by many exhibitors.”
“Endeco Omega Sinto, along with our parent company Omega Foundry Machinery Limited UK, and are part of the Sintokogio Group, joined the as “One Sinto” stand in Hall 17. On display was a united group company with all the business units displaying their products covering the fields of chemically bonded sand, green sand and grinding media, under one ‘roof’.”
“This GIFA was different in that the organisers changed the hours from previous exhibitions, to 10h00 to 18h00. The consensus among most exhibitors I got to chat with found that the previous times of 09:00 to 17:00 were more suitable. I have to agree.”
“On my walkabouts through the huge real estate covered by the exhibition halls I pondered on how technology has changed since my 1st visit in 1999. I clearly remember that way back then the exhibitions were all about the vastness of the equipment, i.e. as if the companies that were displaying were trying to out-do each other by showing who could display the largest equipment.”
“The modernisation and digital age has changed the landscape of exhibitions and GIFA has seen its fair share of change. I remember the year when robotics was a huge new innovation – nearly every stand had some sort of robotic display. Even though robotics is still a major factor, slowly the concept of IOT/AI has come to the fore.”
“In 2019 we saw the commencement of the Industry 4.0 revolution. The foundations were already being laid then for what was prominent at this year’s exhibition. The improvements this year were in the development and drive to a ‘Smart Foundry’.”
“As a group Sinto have a drive towards this concept by developing equipment that strives to make foundries safe and environmentally compliant while still striving towards identifying the challenges and generating solutions during the entire casting process. By doing this we achieve better results for the customers, i.e. reduce scrap, create safer working conditions, reduce harm to the environment, and improve efficiency and profitability.”
“There were numerous items of equipment on display at our stand. These included a 320 articulated mixer complete with an auto-blend panel, smart pumps, smart gates, fume extraction and it was linked to our “Omega Connect” cloud-based software that collects data and assists customers with various decisions and solutions.”
“A new product launched was the Foundry-VAC, which is a portable vacuum cleaner that can collect 7 to 10 tons of waste an hour.”
Other equipment on the stand was a 305 P mixer with the patented no waste feature, a chromite sand separator, a robotic sand mill, a 12 ton/hr low level reclamation unit, a Vator 12 that is used to transport sand from the reclamation unit to a cooler, a G12 cooler classifier, a PV12 sand transporter, a secondary attrition unit and a thermal reclamation unit.”
“We also had a table of 3D printed models of our equipment that displayed most of our range. These were printed at our HQ in Peterborough, UK.”
“The stand also displayed various new innovations from Heinrich Wagner Sinto and Sinto Japan as well as from our group shot media company Frohne.”
“What I found interesting and the trend continuing from previous GIFA’s is the quality of the visitors. The majority are senior decision makers and are visiting your stand to get peace of mind that their intention to invest is in technology best suited for their business.”
“GIFA is not only about selling equipment, it is about networking and brain storming different technologies that are available to better equip the customer to improve on their current quality and efficiency and at the same time also assisting with the reduction of the impact on the environment.”
“I also found that the time we had with numerous senior (and I mean in positions in their company and not age) South African visitors was good quality time away from the challenges of everyday work and running of the business. The mutual networking is in a more relaxed atmosphere and where everyone on our stand was there for the same end goal, to find out what was new and also to discuss possible future collaborations.”
“I found it pleasing to see the amount of South African visitors that visited our stand. Most of them had discussions regarding their future requirements and not just visiting socially or for refreshments even if our stand had plenty of that.”
“The world is a small place nowadays and what this year’s GIFA taught me was that as a “One Sinto” exhibit we learned from our fellow group businesses, about challenges within their economies, industry and the political challenges. That made this GIFA especially rewarding. We made more “friends” within our “Sinto” family, and some business friendships that will go a long way in assisting each other long into the future.”
“Of course GIFA is not all work. The after-hours networking is just as valuable. A trip to Dusseldorf is not complete without a visit to the Altstadt for a meal and a visit to the numerous watering holes. And of course never forget the herbal digestive of Killepitsch.”
“If I put my industry hat on and speak as a South African businessman, I believe that we have missed a huge opportunity and have done our industry an injustice by not having a National Pavilion this year and also in 2015. This platform is where we should be exposing our industry not specifically only suppliers, but more importantly the opportunity for foundries that have limited access to international markets to display their products and increase their footprint into the export market.”
“At this year’s GIFA we at least had some national presence with a stand in Hall 13, which was funded by the NFTN and housed the various industry associations. Whilst this kept our national flag there and various discussions were held, I still would like to see a national pavilion where our foundries can display and market themselves. It also allows them to benchmark themselves against the rest of the world.”
“Let us start planning for GIFA 2027 now. We have four years to lobby for a national pavilion where I hope to see a large contingency of South African exhibitors and an increased number of visitors.”
Kumaran Poonan – Spectrum Technical
“For me, three highlights of the GIFA show stood out. Firstly, I saw that we are not immune to the digital revolution and the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies. From cloud-based data analytics to augmented reality-assisted maintenance, foundries are leveraging the power of data to optimise production processes and decision-making.”
“Secondly, was the impressive showcase of additive manufacturing technologies for foundries. 3D printing and metal additive manufacturing have reshaped the landscape of the industry. As a metallurgist, it’s making me relearn my studies to build on traditional casting techniques The potential for intricate designs, material savings, and the exploration of new metal alloys are exciting and South African foundries need to get with the programme.”
“Lastly, the show presented an excellent opportunity to re-connect with my principals, Precimeter and Didion and to allow for meaningful face to face interaction with some of the local customers who visited their stands.”
Brian Clough – Ceramic and Alloy Specialists
“The exhibition was great for networking and meeting up with most of our international suppliers. It was clear that the overall attendance numbers were down, and I don’t think the Monday start helped much.”
“Two of our suppliers that normally have a booth did not exhibit this year, and another supplier joined the exhibition at the last minute when the price was reduced. The cost to exhibit is obviously very high, and I think some suppliers are now choosing which of the many global exhibitions they want to attend and exhibit at.”
“In saying that, all our suppliers that were present had a very positive outlook at the end of the week, and the show was a huge success for them.”
“To me there weren’t many new things to see (same as previous shows). However, I think the technology improvements in most areas was clear to see. There were also a lot of new smaller players present on the suppliers’ side, which creates healthy competition and options. It was also interesting to see some previously separate companies, now working together as part of a group of companies.”
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) also started popping its head out at this year’s show, which I hadn’t seen before. I think we will see more and more of this in the future. Decarbonisation and clean energy / energy efficiency was also a strong thread throughout the exhibition.”
“It was good to see a number of local foundries present, although I still think we need more of them to attend. It seems like the cost and time away from work is hard to justify, and many foundries are still struggling to keep the doors open. From all reports, there was still a lot of interest in South Africa which was great to hear.”
“One of the major concerns is still “load shedding”, this was mentioned a number of times during various discussions.”
“The Turkish Foundry Association section was very impressive with many foundries exhibiting. This country is seriously on the map now as far as metal casting is concerned.”
“It would have been be nice to see some South African foundries exhibiting on the South African Pavilion.”
“All in all, it was a great week and always nice to spend some quality time with our suppliers in the Altstadt. The beer, the people and the vibe are always a huge attraction!!”
Wessel Watt – Watt Industries
“GIFA 2023 was the first year that Watt Industries exhibited at the trade show. To be able to do this, besides the costs, you need a product / service offering and to be confident that it is something worth taking to the show.”
“As we launched our second-generation system in 2020, we were excited to showcase our Watt Demand System and the electricity demand and monitoring capabilities of our software. As far as I know, we were the only service provider marketing this offering at GIFA.”
“The international interest shown in our systems and offering was inspiring. It was interesting to see that foundry representatives from countries like India, who in the past weren’t much interested in load demand management due to relatively cheaper energy costs, showed a keen interest in our technologies and have raised their concerns regarding increases in the cost of electricity together with demand restraints in future. Turkey was another country that was noticeably well represented during the show.”
“Overall, having the opportunity to exhibit and form part of GIFA 2023 was a privilege and to see how the international foundry sector has expanded across the globe in recent years is encouraging, amid the “recession” experienced in Germany. We are looking forward to what GIFA 2027 will bring!”
Ernest Mberi – IMD
“At the previous GIFA exhibitions, we used to see a peak in visitor traffic at our booth on the 2nd to 4th day. Surprisingly this year, we had a massive turnout right from the first day. We had face-to-face engagements with over 20 existing customers and potential customers on the first day. Others were queuing to have a brief chat with us. This continued until Thursday lunchtime and thereafter the volume of visitors to the booth started to slow down.”
“We noticed an unusually large number of visitors from South and Latin America, mostly from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Columbia, and Mexico. Even though there were many Chinese exhibitors, we didn’t see a lot of Chinese visitors, as was the case at previous exhibitions. Perhaps the delays in the lifting of Covid restrictions in China had an impact on this.”
“The excitement of being able to have face-to-face meetings at this scale was visible. I also noticed that we met more decision-makers at this year’s fair compared to previous editions. We were meeting with company CEOs/Presidents and others at the executive level.”
“I also picked up a sentiment from several participants an uneasiness on continued dependency on China. This could be because of the first strict 2020 lockdown in China, which affected many supply chains all over the world. Another issue that kept coming up in conversations was the Russian-Ukraine war and its impact on businesses. Most businesses seem to have quickly looked for alternatives to Russian customers or suppliers for fear of possible sanctions.”
“It was interesting to note that participants from the East and in particular from the subcontinent were very keen to resume doing business with Russia when the logistics options allow. Many Indian foundries were indicating a lot of growth potential as businesses scramble to create alternatives to China and also replace business that was being done with Russia. I’m not sure if local South African companies can also take advantage of this considering the many challenges we have, chief of which is the electricity shortage.”
Foseco looks back at GIFA 2023
“After two years of preparation and five non-stop days of tradeshow action, Foseco wrapped-up GIFA 2023 on a high. Visitors to its 900m2 stand were treated to a display of the company’s latest technology, with 29 new product and service innovations showcased, including 11 new market-leading sustainability offerings. In total, 51 products were highlighted through 37 customer case studies, 47 new videos and animations, and two hourly live shows.”
“The breadth of solutions on display – both at Foseco and throughout the show – are what makes this quadrennial meeting of the global foundry industry unique and highly valued by foundrymen and women around the world. As Çağri Yamanturk, CTO of Güris Industrial Group, which operates the largest iron foundry in Turkey, told Foseco as he visited the stand, there is always ‘something new and interesting’ at the show. ‘It’s never a wasted trip!’”
“It is a great opportunity to gain a broader picture of what is available, and how we could implement it to improve our operations and product quality,” agreed Darren Preece, Foundry Technical Manager at Weir Minerals’ Artarmon foundry in Sydney, Australia, and another visitor to the Foseco booth.
“There can be no denying that attendees came to Düsseldorf after some particularly challenging years for the global foundry industry. The global pandemic was followed by substantial rises in raw material and distribution costs and topped with a global energy crisis the likes of which hasn’t been seen in a generation. The industry has also been hit by structural issues, including a chip shortage in the auto industry, and a shortage of both skilled and unskilled labour.”
“At the same time, the industry is evolving in response to sustainability and environmentally-related issues. For example, the electrification of transport will have a deep impact on the sorts of castings required by the auto sector. The environmental impact of foundry operations is also in focus as never before.”
“I see an industry going through a period of profound change,” said Karena Cancilleri, Business President of Foseco, as she visited the show.
“This will bring new opportunities and new challenges, even as the traditional issues of quality, yield, and cost control remain.”
“For the 2023 tradeshow, Foseco developed its stand around three key themes that it believes will be crucial to the future ability of the foundry industry to meet these challenges. These three themes were sustainability, innovation and technology and knowledge and partnership.”
“On to GIFA 2027? There is no doubt that putting on an event like GIFA is demanding work. More than 166 Foseco people attended the show from 26 different countries. GIFA is the meeting point for everybody in the foundry industry. It is where the industry comes to find answers; it is where the industry comes to glimpse the future. And we are proud to be a part of that. I’m excited to see what the next four years will bring – and what will be on the Foseco stand at GIFA 2027.”
Hayden Johns – Foseco South Africa
“The journey to GIFA 2023 initiated with an extensive 24-hour travel period from South Africa, which was, fortunately, seamless. My colleague, Warren Zandberg, the South African Commercial Manager, was my travel companion, making the transit enjoyable as we discussed the promising prospects of the upcoming event.”
“Upon arrival at the GIFA 2023 venue, the impressive scale of the event stood as a testament to the tremendous growth of the industry. The sophistication of the venue left a strong first impression, underscoring the significance of our representation as Foseco team members.”
“A major highlight of the event was the direct engagement with our clients. The opportunity to reconnect with longstanding customers and introduce them to our technological advancements in an immersive environment was indeed a rewarding experience. Their enthusiasm and the feedback we received was insightful, shaping a robust understanding of our customer’s evolving needs.”
“One standout exhibit at our stand was the new Coating ICU Unit, an embodiment of Foseco’s commitment to advancing industry standards and innovation. The exhibit attracted substantial interest, showcasing our team’s ability to lead in technological development and contribute valuable solutions to the industry.”
“Throughout the event, I was pleased to encounter no major challenges while representing Foseco. This allowed me to concentrate fully on engaging with our customers and industry professionals, which I found extremely valuable. This smooth process is a reflection of our preparedness and ability to manage complex events effectively.”
“Engaging with attendees contributed significantly to my understanding of the event. Every conversation added a new dimension to my perception of the industry’s growth and potential. The feedback and interactions confirmed that our offerings resonate well with our clientele and industry peers, making GIFA 2023 a successful event for me.”
“In summary, my experience at GIFA 2023 can be encapsulated by the term ‘Extraordinarily Enlightening’. The wide array of technology on display, the high-quality interactions, and the overall organisation of the event exceeded my expectations. This experience has affirmed our strong position in the industry and heightened my anticipation for the opportunities that lie ahead for Foseco.”
Philip van der Merwe – KCS Foundry
“To attend the GIFA/GMTN 2023 exhibition was a lifelong dream of our founder and Director of Operations Ernest Suluma. And as a young man with much to learn I could not have asked for a better travelling tutor especially as the exhibition proved to be a crash course on the foundry and related industries for me.”
“The wide spectrum of knowledge and technology that is available proved to us we have a long way to go but also that we have much room to grow into. To be able to engage with many different nations on supply chain solutions and technological improvements to fit our modern requirements, has opened our eyes to opportunities to have us grow from our humble roots into an innovative supplier of good quality South African goods not only in our country but in supply chains across the continent and the world.”
“It was a welcome reprieve to attend the South African pavilion for a taste of home so far from it. We hope to be blessed enough to attend the exhibition in the future and hope to see many more South African foundrymen and industry stakeholders learning from the exhibition in the future.”
