At the beginning of the year, the podcast takes a look at the current situation in the die casting and light metal industry and ahead to the upcoming EUROGUSS 2026 trade fair in Nuremberg. At the center of the discussion is an interview with Andrea Todeschini, President of the Italian industry association AMAFOND. He describes 2025 as a year of consolidation, marked by low volumes, margin pressure and ongoing uncertainty in the automotive sector. At the same time, he sees leading trade fairs such as EUROGUSS as important drivers of optimism, innovation and strategic realignment.
140 Italian companies in Nuremberg
Despite challenging market conditions, Todeschini emphasizes the key strengths of the Italian supplier industry: strong process engineering expertise, resilience, and the ability to deliver complete technological solutions — ranging from gigapresses and digital control systems to hybrid furnaces and advanced forming technologies. The Italian Pavilion will feature around 140 companies, showcasing the entire value chain and positioning itself as an international engineering hub.
With regard to sustainability and decarbonization, Todeschini speaks of a structural transformation. Sustainability is no longer an additional cost factor, but a lever to reduce operating costs and a central driver of future competitiveness. Overall, the industry is undergoing rapid development toward complex structural castings, integrated systems, and increased use of digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence.
“Do not wait for political guidance”
In view of the uncertain development of the automotive industry and the transition to e-mobility, Todeschini calls for technological neutrality and maximum production flexibility. Companies should not wait for political decisions to define the future, but instead invest proactively in future-ready, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies — independent of the final powertrain concept. Only in this way can uncertainty be turned into a sustainable industrial advantage.
