Preparations for CastForge, scheduled for June 4th to 6th, 2024, at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre, are in full swing. The product and service offerings of the 485 exhibiting companies will be complemented by a technical framework program. Thus, CastForge not only serves as an efficient procurement platform for those involved in the purchasing, development, and design of cast and forged parts. The trade fair also provides an opportunity to deepen expertise and be inspired by a wide range of topics.
On the first day of the fair, the Industrial Association for Bulk Forming (IMU) will utilize the technical forum in Hall 5. Tobias Hain, Managing Director of IMU, summarizes: "During our technical presentations, we will provide an overview of the economic development in bulk forming and address the focal points of our innovation projects. Additionally, we will delve into the most exciting completed research projects from the past year. It's particularly gratifying that we can once again award several prizes this year. At CastForge, we will honor dedicated young talents in bulk forming. A special highlight will be the presentation of the Otto Kienzle Prize, which recognizes outstanding achievements by young scientists in the field of bulk forming."
On Tuesday, the Austrian Federal Association for Materials Management, Purchasing, and Logistics will also focus on the topic of "Sustainability and CBAM," inviting attendees to receive practical tips for daily procurement practices.
Wednesday kicks off with the theme "Casting - a Sustainable Manufacturing Process with Great Potential." Experts from the Austrian Foundry Institute (ÖGI) will explore the entire spectrum of casting processes and their peculiarities, as well as casting alloys and their properties. The possibilities for lightweight solutions through topology optimization and 3D sand printing, simulation for stable casting processes, and non-destructive testing will also be highlighted.
Following this, the Federal Association for Materials Management, Purchasing, and Logistics (BME) invites participants to its BME Procurement Day. Participants will gain insights into classic topics from procurement practice and competency, as well as current trend topics. From various perspectives, topics such as efficiency measurement of the procurement organization, best practices in the procurement of cast and forged parts, and AI in procurement will be examined. An opportunity for corporate social responsibility in procurement (CSR) will be demonstrated through the best practice example of "Social and Economic Value in Procurement."
"Companies are obliged to employ a certain percentage of disabled people. If this quota is not met, a compensatory levy must be paid. As part of the BME Procurement Day, the benefits of cooperation with workshops for disabled people will be highlighted," explains Dr. Frithjof Kilp, Managing Director of BME.
Together with the Industrial Association for Bulk Forming and the Federal Association of the German Foundry Industry, BME will also offer two guided tours of CastForge on Wednesday, including the theme "Green Forging."
The third day of the fair is dedicated to science and research. Both the Institute for Material Applications in Mechanical Engineering (IWM) at RWTH Aachen University and the TuWAs research project (Transformation Hub for Forming Technological Value Chains in the Powertrain) as well as the Fraunhofer Institutes for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF and Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research IFAM will present current projects and be available for questions.
The lecture program in Hall 5 is freely accessible to all trade visitors of CastForge.
The complete program of CastForge 2024 can be found at castforge.de/program.
About CastForge
As a trade fair, CastForge focuses on cast and forged parts and their processing. The industry meets every two years at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre to showcase its range of services. International manufacturers of cast and forged parts as well as highly specialized processors meet with industrial buyers from mechanical and plant engineering, drive technology, the pump and hydraulic industry, and commercial vehicle construction. Parallel to CastForge, SurfaceTechnology GERMANY takes place at Messe Stuttgart. Trade visitors receive free admission to this fair with their CastForge ticket. More information at www.castforge.de
