Shopping GIFA, the Casting Technology Supermarket
Electric equipment, progress in inorganic binders and the scope of exhibitors impressed GIFA attendees this year. SHANNON WETZEL, SENIOR EDITOR
for GIFA, the international metal- casting trade fair held in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 28-July 2. The show, held once every four years, occurred just as his company was looking at ways to invest in its green sand casting facility and he would be examining potential purchases up close and in person. By many accounts, Lodge’s
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experience was typical of this year’s show, which also included NEW- CAST—a trade fair for metalcasters to exhibit to casting buyers, Metec and Thermprocess. The quartet of fairs brought in a record 79,000 visitors from 83 countries and 1,958 exhibitors. According to GIFA officials, 80% of visitors planned to make a capital
36 | MODERN CASTING August 2011
enry Lodge, president of Lodge Manufactur- ing Co., South Pitts- burg, Tenn., had a plan
expenditure over the next two years. “I wanted to meet with [specific exhibitors] because we are looking at investing in thermal reclama- tion,” said Eric Hasselmann, general manager at Century Pacific Foundry Ltd., Surrey, B.C., Canada. “The equipment manufacturers show- cased their biggest machines, so in terms of my shop (a fewer than 100-employee iron and steel facility) they were not necessarily relevant. However, they had equipment there you could touch and see, and from that point of view, it was great.” According to GIFA officials,
the international presence at the show increased from previous fairs, signaling a growing global interest in expansion and modernization. More than 54% of attendees were from abroad, particularly India, Italy, France, Austria and the U.S., according to a GIFA press release.
“The timing for GIFA was
perfect,” Lodge said. “It seems that foundries worldwide are looking for options to improve operations and/ or increase production.” Products and equipment inno-
vations went beyond improved productivity and efficiency. Several technologies offered improved envi- ronmental benefits, as well. For the first time, GIFA reserved an exhibi- tion section, ecoMetals, for advance- ments in green initiatives. “I found the ecoMetals por-
tion very impressive,” said Matt Grilz, president of Pier Foundry & Machine, St. Paul, Minn. “It high- lighted innovative products used around the world to accomplish energy efficiency.” On the following pages, a snap- shot of the innovative products and equipment showcased at GIFA are reviewed.
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