Messe Stuttgart presented the concept of CastForge, the new trade fair for castings and forgings as well as their machining, to interested companies within the framework of several rounds of talks. There was good feedback from the participants who unanimously welcomed the concept, date and venue. Since its launch in the summer of this year CastForge has developed positively with around 60 registrations and over 30 more commitments. The trade fair takes place from 5 to 7 June 2018 at the Stuttgart trade fair centre.

Interested parties obtained comprehensive information about CastForge and the Stuttgart trade fair grounds in the rounds of talks. Gunnar Mey, Department Director for Industrial Solutions at Messe Stuttgart, is impressed with the high level of acceptance from the participants: "After the presentations each time there was a dialogue which gave us, the event organisers, lots of valuable ideas. However, what we found most encouraging: The concept, date and venue of CastForge were unanimously accepted." 

One participant at the third get-together of interested parties was Timo Richter, Head of Sales & Marketing at Richter Formteile GmbH. His conclusion after the event: "In our opinion, to date there has not been such a specific trade fair which addresses our products and services precisely – especially not in our catchment area. For us it is a must-attend event in order to be present on the market. We expect to meet a customer base which is specifically looking for our services and wants to establish new contacts in the industry." 

Hermann Bayer from RILE Management und Vertriebs GmbH also spoke in favour of the new trade fair: "As subcontractors we serve diverse industries, making it very difficult to find a suitable trade fair at which we can permanently exhibit. Several good contacts and requests from interested parties who we do not yet know help us on our way forward." 

Bernard Hauffmann from ArcelorMittal Ringmill S.A. adds: "As far as we know, CastForge is the first trade fair which specifically addresses this industry. First and foremost, we want to meet potential customers and partners here who are interested in our product as the trade fair is aimed at cast and forged products." 

Axel Wollermann, Key Account Manager at the foundry Heunisch GmbH, also sees the need for a trade fair with this portfolio and provides another argument for CastForge: "We really can't complain about the current order situation. In order for the situation to remain that way and because the processing of new orders always requires a certain start-up time, we are constantly acquiring new clients. This way we secure orders for the future". 

Ulrich König, President of KÖNIG industrial representations (Böhmer Gusstechnik GmbH & Co. KG and Ferrum AG) expects new contacts with interesting customers who want to expand their supplier base. He is also expecting the sustainable implementation of a long overdue trade fair in his opinion with the key areas selected by the event organiser in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). He also supports the concept and says: "I think it is good that CastForge was not only designed as a pure casting trade fair, but a partly substitutional manufacturing process is also presented with forgings and the visitors have the opportunity to obtain information about both processes." 

In addition to the current registrations and commitments, mainly manufacturers from Germany and Italy, international industrial associations have already confirmed their support for CastForge. The Czech Foundry Association Svaz Sléváren is also planning a joint stand for its members as is the Italian industrial association Confartigianato Imprese Varese. In addition, Messe Stuttgart is in talks with ASMET (Austrian Society for Metallurgy and Materials) about an involvement in the presentation programme. 

With CastForge Messe Stuttgart gives the industry for castings and forgings as well as their machining its own platform. It showcases the entire value-added chain from the cast or forging blank to machining through to the final component and for the first time offers manufacturers an opportunity to present their range of cast iron, grey cast iron and spheroidal graphite iron as well as non-ferrous castings and forgings to a wide audience. The Stuttgart venue also convinces: Southern Germany is one of the most important industrial locations in Europe and with its excellent innovation and economic power offers optimal conditions for a successful trade fair première. Many customer industries such as vehicle, machine and plant construction are located here. Andreas Zweifel from Grohmann Aluworks GmbH & Co. KG, Sales & Marketing Department, who summarises his decision to participate in CastForge as follows: "To date there has been no trade fair for the manufacturing processes aluminium-sand and gravity die casting. But there is a massive buyer market. The Stuttgart trade fair grounds is predestined for this event." Ulrich König is also impressed by the location of CastForge: "The decision that the trade fair should be held in southern Germany, more specifically in Stuttgart, is spot on in our view as hopefully the one or two visitors will come who would have shied away from the long journey to Hanover or Düsseldorf." 

For Ulrich Kromer von Baerle, President of Messe Stuttgart, the validation from the industry is not surprising: "With CastForge we have launched a trade fair topic at the right time which strikes a chord with companies. Up to now for many companies there was only the opportunity to showcase products and services within the framework of industry and user trade fairs. Now for the first time their castings and forgings as well as their skills as processors take centre stage at a trade fair." 

About CastForge As a trade fair, CastForge places its focus on castings and forgings and their machining. The industry will meet for the first time in Stuttgart from 5 to 7 June 2018 to present its unique range of products and services. International exhibitors will present their products to a wide range of visitors from mechanical engineering and plant construction, automotive and drive technology, construction machinery, pumps and hydraulic engineering and also the supply industry. The information provided to CastForge visitors is rounded off by other concurrent industry trade fairs: Global Automotive Components and Suppliers Expo, Engine Expo, Automotive Interiors Expo, Automotive Testing Expo, Surface Technology Germany and LASYS, the international trade fair for laser material processing. Messe Stuttgart is located right next to the international Stuttgart Airport and has a direct junction onto the A8 motorway.