The current EICF 2024 conference took place in Naples this time with participants from 23 countries and 40 exhibitors.
Carlos Olabe (Executive Director EICF AISBL) and his team had organised a brilliant program that included interesting presentations, glamorous evening events and a site visit to the Italian company Europea Microfusioni Aerospazili (EMA).
During the event, there were honours, a change in the Executive Board and plenty of opportunities for networking.
Investment casting on the road to sustainability
José Antonio Calvo Maguregui's opening keynote speech on "Sustainability as a Key Competitive Factor" set the tone for the event.
It quickly became clear to all participants that the investment casting sector must also achieve climate neutrality by 2050, as this is expected not only by politicians, but also by customers, banks and shareholders. In his brilliant speech, the Basque business expert made an impressive plea to the participants to recognise sustainability as a key factor in competitiveness and to urgently incorporate it into the DNA of their companies. It is not about appearing as an angel with moral integrity or as a "good man", but about the attractiveness of the industry, investments, people, politics, quality and employees.
This is summarised in the principles of the so-called ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, Governance) and the investment casting sector worldwide will ultimately also benefit from this.
New EICF Chairman and honours