The WFO's biannual Technical Forum is a conference supported by the organization and hosted by one of its member countries in conjunction with its national conference. Following the 2023 edition in India, the latest forum was held in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), in connection with CastExpo 2025 and with the valued support and collaboration of the American Foundry Society (AFS). The estimated 6,000 attendees of CastExpo 2025 represented a broad spectrum of professionals from the metalcasting industry, including owners, CEOs, managers, technical personnel, and suppliers from around the world.
A keynote speech delivered by the WFO marked the beginning of its dedicated sessions at the forum. According to WFO Secretary General José Javier González, this address “enabled attendees to identify key factors influencing the current global landscape, helping them navigate this complex time while addressing global uncertainties and emerging, accelerating challenges impacting the metalcasting market.”
Following this introduction and as part of the broader CastExpo agenda, the WFO Forum featured specialized sessions focusing on cast iron, aluminum, molding processes, and engineering topics.
The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta also served as the venue for the WFO Board of Directors meeting and the WFO Annual General Assembly, during which delegates from around the world discussed key issues and approved new plans and the budget for 2026. Both meetings were chaired by WFO President Professor Yanchun Lou from China. Additionally, Bradford D. Muller (Vice President of Corporate Communications at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, USA) was unanimously confirmed by the international delegates as a new member of the WFO Board.
Furthermore, the WFO held meetings in Atlanta with international representatives to advance ongoing agreements, including key preparations for the upcoming World Foundry Summit in France and strategic discussions with Messe Düsseldorf regarding GIFA.
Assessing Future Developments for the Promotion of Young Talent
One of the most pressing issues facing the foundry industry is attracting new talent—an area also addressed through various initiatives at the event. The WFO organized a meeting between representatives from European universities and institutions as well as professors from the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) to examine how national talent development programs can be aligned with WFO’s global initiatives.
“We scheduled this exchange of ideas in Atlanta to enhance our global efforts and shape a WFO response to this critical need. The meeting was highly successful—we now have clear guidelines for the near future and are eager to put them into action,” explained Secretary General González.
International delegates also participated in the final stages of several exciting youth programs, including the IJMC/FEF Student Research Competition, the "Casting Dreams" contest, and the SFSA "Cast in Steel" competition.
