Historical signature at the foundation of EICF AISBL in Brussels 14 of March 2019. Balance of Chairmanship


the german ZOLLERN Investment casting plant in Portugal. As Sales and Purchasing were managed by the headquarter, I hadn’t much contact to the “outside” world being primarily focused on running and improving the local activities, very much focused on production and process control, satisfying customer needs, achieving this by investing my time in organization, training and wellbeing of our people. The first time I attended a conference was in Rome 1998 and this experience showed me a little bit of the “outside” world and I remember well the satisfaction I felt of meeting people of the same Investment Casting world I was living in. In fact, a big family.


I When Neville Swanson from


Ransom and Randolph, back in 2002 asked me to join the EICF as board member, I felt honored and accepted it with gratitude. Being part of the EICF Board made me participate more in its activities. Visiting conferences has given me the chance to learn more about the process and the business, to visit various foundries and cities in the world and in especially, to meet people and make friendships.


The International Conference 2018 was for me a historical mark. Not only


’ve entered the Investment Casting industry back in 1991. Two years later I became plant manager of


did we organize the conference in my hometown Porto, it also represented the handover of the EICF chairmanship from Steve Irwin (Rolls Royce) to me. Those of you who were there certainly remember the


fantastic venue. The


reception in the Palacio da Bolsa with tribute to former chairmen, the lectures and Exposition in Santa Maria da Feira and the Gala Dinner in the cruise terminal, with the singing waiters, the lifetime achievement Award given to Stephen Pilbury and my first speech as Chairman, obviously nervous and with the commitment to continue the excellent work of the federation and message that happiness should be one of our goals in life.


Since then we have given continuation on our European Heritage – Passion, Talent, Skill and Innovation and along with that, we have managed some


important changes for the


Federation. The new website went online and in July we were pleased to announce the partnership between the ICI and EICF… making INCAST, the official magazine of both organizations and the only magazine dedicated solely to the investment casting industry.


We started the transfer of the EICF - UK based private limited company to an International Non Profit Association (AISBL) in Belgium and concluded the process in March 2019.


The preparation and realization of the EICF Euro Seminar in Helsinki in 2019 was another remarkable event, where I met again Antii Zitting from Sacotec with whom I participated in several CAEF meetings and Conferences. He was so kind and arranged the industry visit at SACOTEC and SAKO.


November 2019 was a sad month. Bob Smart passed away and also did our friend and colleague of the board Jean François Donchery.


I met Bob Smart in the beginning


of my career at various CAEF meetings and EICF conferences. Bob Smart was the first Company Secretary of the EICF and was also in charge for many years of the BICTA (British Investment Casting Trade Association). Without the vision of Bob Smart, the EICF will not be today where it is and there will not be either the long trail of European and International Conferences helping to build this community of professionals committed with the IC technology. To that purpose and to maintain a reminder of his name, the EICF has instituted the Dr. Robert Smart award. This award is established to recognize for services and outstanding work in connection with the European Investment Casting Foundry metallurgy and should be presented every two years at the EICF Conferences or Seminars.


Continued on pg 12 May 2022 ❘ 11 ®


Virgílio Oliveira, EICF, Chairman


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