EDITORIAL
GIFA’s Metalcasting Playground G
IFA is about the future of metalcasting. The world’s largest metalcasting trade show held last month in Dusseldorf,
Germany, is best known for all the technology and services on display by the 2,000+ exhibi- tors. It is the world’s largest metalcasting mall as attendees can shop ‘til they drop to outfit their casting facility with the latest and greatest equipment and materials. But GIFA also
has always repre- sented more than just the shiny new toys on the exhibit floor. It represents the promise of the industry. It rep- resents what the future might hold for metalcasting. This future can be linked to tech- nology, like additive manufacturing, or process advance- ments, like envi- ronmentally benign raw materials. Or, this future can be linked to a shared vision to reintro- duce metalcasting to the next generation. My experience at
were providing: • Chemistry demonstrations. • A game show. • A race car simulator. • Virtual reality demonstrations of a casting facility and the process.
“My experience at GIFA this year was highlighted by the number of
exhibitors that
dedicated a portion of their exhibition to educating and entertaining the next generation
about metalcasting.”
GIFA this year was highlighted by the number of exhibi- tors who dedicated a portion of their exhibition to educating and entertaining the next genera- tion about metalcasting. This next generation audience isn’t necessarily a new crop of met- alcasters-in-training, but instead the next gener- ation of adults in training who will be our future teachers, doctors, lawyers, regulators, purchasing managers and design engineers. The exhibitors who catered to this group realize their future rests as much in the hands of the metalcasters who will purchase their goods and services as it
• A simulated roller coaster utilizing a robot.
• Live casting demonstrations performed by students. Were all of these experiences 100%
applicable to metalcasting? No. Did they all enhance the entertainment value of a metalcasting experience? Yes. Take a look at our video at
www.metalcastingtv.com to experience some of the metalcasting fun that oc- curred at GIFA. This shared vision expressed by our industry at GIFA will continue to advance in all our markets so seize the opportunity to participate. While you might not be able to affect the technological future of our industry, you can actively participate in educat- ing the next generation and help carry our industry forward.
does in general society’s understanding of the importance of metalcasting and how it must be part of our future. On the GIFA show floor, exhibitors
Alfred T. Spada, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
If you have any comments about this editorial or any other item that appears in Modern Casting, email me at
aspada@afsinc.org.
July 2015 MODERN CASTING | 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68