In a few days on June 4, 2024, CastForge in Stuttgart will open its doors again. We talk to Cornelia Schlingelhoff (CS), Trade Fair and Event Manager, to give you an update on what you can expect as a visitor at Europe's leading trade fair for castings and forgings with machining.
FP: CastForge is now taking place for the third time. It is an exhibition that has regularly met and exceeded the high expectations of visitors and exhibitors. We are currently in a difficult economic environment in Europe and many companies are in the midst of transformation. How do the stars align for CastForge 2024?
CS: Even 2022 was not an easy year for CastForge and for the industry, as the after-effects of the pandemic were still clearly felt everywhere. Nevertheless, we were able to welcome twice as many exhibiting companies to Stuttgart compared to the first CastForge in 2018. This year, the number has risen again. This shows that the industry is facing up to the difficult conditions and is striving to identify problems in direct discussions with its customers and look for solutions together. The signs are therefore positive that CastForge 2024 will be a place of intensive exchange for three days.
We offer buyers a platform to find the right suppliers
FP: Europe is changing as a business location, companies are struggling with different conditions and buyers are trying to avoid dependencies. How competitive is the European casting and forging industry and how much internationality does the trade fair allow?
CS: Of course, the companies are in global competition with each other and their location conditions are very different. But we are noticing that purchasing is increasingly concerned with issues such as the CO2 footprint of components or the long-term stability of the supply chain, in addition to the requirements for quality, delivery reliability and availability. Price is not always the main focus and with CastForge we offer buyers a platform to find the right supplier for their individual needs, whether European or global. We are very proud that 31 countries will be represented at CastForge, above all Germany, Italy, Turkey, India and France.
495 exhibitors and a broad supporting program
FP: Product complexity and the demands on castings and forgings are increasing and CastForge is known for bringing supply and demand together and showcasing the entire value chain. What can visitors expect and which specialist program should they make a note of?
CS: 495 exhibitors will be on site to inform and advise trade visitors and answer technical questions on how to turn a drawing into a ready-to-install cast or forged part. In addition, the lecture program on all three days of the trade fair offers the opportunity to expand knowledge and gather inspiration for everyday work, for example as part of the BME Buyers' Day on Wednesday or a guided tour on the topic of "Green Forging".
FP: To make the trade fair visit as easy and smooth as possible, what advice would you give visitors in advance regarding travel and tickets?
CS: Getting to CastForge is very easy with any means of transportation. It is only 350 meters from the airport to the East Entrance and rail travelers can reach the trade fair in just under 25 minutes from the main train station. There are also 6,700 parking spaces available for cars and parking spaces for motorhomes. Incidentally, the trade fair ticket also includes free use of the local public transport system on request. To prepare for your visit to the trade fair, we recommend using the exhibitor directory on the CastForge website or in the Messe Stuttgart app. Anyone who does not yet have a trade fair ticket can use the code CASTFORGE24FP to obtain a free admission ticket at castforge.de/ticket-sichern.
FP: Thank you very much - we look forward to seeing you again in Stuttgart for CastForge 2024!
