GIFA 2015 Overview

Is this a football game?

No—it’s a metal fair. With enough attendants to occupy Denver’s Sports Authority Field at Mile High, close to 80,000 visitors traveled to Dusseldorf to partake in the 2015 Bright World of Metals events.

Comprised of four separate metal fairs—GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS, and NEWCAST—the international presence increased, yet again. Now, 56 percent of visitors and 51 percent of exhibitors from more than 120 different countries represent the community. And, the opportunities for investment are high: Two-thirds of the visitors directly orchestrate decisions from the top and middle management levels in their company.

     “The expectations were exceeded. In particular, we were very pleased about the internationality of the visitors. Also from our participating companies we received a very good feedback,” said VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.) Managing Director Dr. Timo Würz. Representing companies in the engineering industry the VDMA is one of the largest industrial associations in Europe.

    “GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST again have given proof of their outstanding position as leading trade fairs for our branches,” said Timo.

Specifically, the Asian region reflected a high demand for European metallurgy and foundry technology, especially with regards to energy-and-resource-saving industry requirements. Of the international visitors, the highest numbers were from India, Italy, Turkey, France and China.

Exhibiting companies at GIFA wanted to meet with experts of ferric, steel and non-ferrous metal castings as well as of engineering—and reports found that they shared success.

In entirety, 98 percent of all visitors marked their trade fair experience as a good one:

    “The GIFA again demonstrated that it is the principal trade fair and the international venue of the casting industry,” – Max Schumacher, Secretary General of the Committee of Associations of European Foundries.

Fresh concepts and business exchanges are hatched across waters and partnerships are planted all over the world. Experts and investors wrap up GIFA and the other metal conventions full of invigoration. GIFA was certainly worth every second, every sound, and every handshake for General Kinematics. We eagerly anticipate the GIFA announcement for its next calendar date!