The trade fair for castings and forgings with machining, which took place from June 4 to 6, 2024, created a very positive atmosphere in the Ceratizit Hall (Hall 3) and Hall 5.
Roland Bleinroth, CEO of Messe Stuttgart, draws a positive conclusion: “This year's CastForge was a great success and showed that the industry stands behind the trade fair despite the economic challenges. We are proud that CastForge has established itself in Germany and Europe."
Two fully occupied exhibition halls and high international participation
In 2024, the trade fair for castings and forgings with processing recorded 491 exhibitors, a significant increase of 39% compared to the previous event. The exhibition space also increased to 9,654 square meters. The international trade associations were unanimous about the success of the trade fair.
Marina Giacopinelli, Managing Director of FUNDIGEX, the export association of Spanish foundries, emphasized: “The exponential growth in the number of exhibitors and visitors this year was remarkable. CastForge is undoubtedly one of the most important trade fairs for the foundry and forging industry and offers a great opportunity to attract new customers and strengthen the Spanish sector."
72 percent of exhibitors came from abroad, reflecting the international importance of CastForge.
Wilfrid Boyault, Managing Director of the Fédération Forge Fonderie (French professional association of the metal forming industry), explained: “CastForge gives the French foundry and forging industry great visibility in an important market. Over 20 of our companies took part in CastForge, a fact that speaks for itself. The international nature of the trade fair is very valuable for our organization."
Josef Hlavinka, Managing Director of Svaz sléváren Ceské republiky (Association of Foundries of the Czech Republic), added: “Castings are essential for maintaining industrial development in Europe. CastForge has become a leading European trade fair for the Czech foundry industry and is of great importance for industrial production in Germany and Europe."
Exhibition halls full of life - 4,286 trade visitors
A total of 4,286 trade visitors attended this year's CastForge. This represents an increase of more than 20 percent. A total of 37 percent of visitors came from abroad - from 45 countries, to be precise. The countries with the most visitors were Italy, France, Austria, Turkey and Switzerland.
Aynur Ayhan, Member of the Board of Istanbul Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Exporters Association (IDDMIB), said: “CastForge 2024 was an important milestone for the Turkish foundry and forging industry. The fair enabled Turkish manufacturers to establish new business relationships, exchange ideas and present products to an international audience. For example, we had good discussions with representatives from Germany, Italy, the USA and the United Kingdom."
High level of visitor competence and satisfaction among trade visitors
The trade visitors were characterized by a very high level of decision-making competence. 84 percent of trade visitors stated that they were involved in purchasing and procurement decisions in their company. The overall assessment of the trade visitors was very positive: They gave CastForge a score of 1.9, with 82 percent stating that they would recommend the trade fair to others.
The next CastForge will take place from June 9 to 11, 2026.
Further statements from international partner associations
Rafael Campos Pereira, Executive Vice-President, AIMAPP Metal Portugal
"CastForge is not only the leading trade fair for foundries and forges, it is also anchored in one of the most important export markets for Metal Portugal. The fair attracts a large number of potential customers and we expect the contacts to lead to excellent business opportunities for Metal Portugal companies."
Gábor Zelei, Secretary, General of the Hungarian Foundries (MÖSZ)
The Association of Hungarian Foundries exhibited at CastForge for the first time. We had mixed feelings beforehand due to the economic situation. Our expectations were exceeded and we are confident that other Hungarian foundries will build on the success of the trade fair."
Peter Hofer-Hauser, Deputy Managing Director of the Austrian Foundry Institute (ÖGI)
"This year's supporting program brought great added value. The focus was on current technological trends and the future of the industry in Europe. We intend to take part in CastForge again in 2026 and inform our customers about current projects. For the industry in Austria, CastForge is an important forum for exchanging ideas with customers and suppliers."
Katarzyna Liszka, Secretary General, Polish Foundry Association
"CastForge has become a fixed date in the calendar of forging events in Europe. The trade fair in 2024 was an ideal opportunity for the Polish Foundry Association to promote Polish iron and steel foundries on the European market. We are convinced that the next edition of CastForge will attract an even larger number of Polish exhibitors."
