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Smart foundries and 3D printing: the future of the Italian foundry industry
The Italian foundry industry has developed into a driving force in Europe in recent decades. Major companies in the Italian die casting industry, such as FBL Pressofusioni S.r.l, Ghial S.p.A. and ItalPresseGauss S.p.A. will be represented at EUROGUSS. Sustainability and digitalization are important topics that will continue to drive the industry's growth in the coming years.
The automotive industry is also a key customer in Italy. Around 37 percent of the castings produced in Italy are destined for the automotive industry. The demand for lightweight yet robust components for electric vehicles will have a significant impact on the industry in the coming years.
Technological advances in the foundry industry
An important reason for the success of Italian foundries is their focus on technological innovation. The use of digital technologies, particularly in smart foundries, has enabled companies to reduce their production costs and improve product quality.
Smart foundries are based on the networking of machines and sensors that allow the production process to be monitored and adjusted in real time. According to a study by PwC, companies using such technologies have reduced their production costs by up to 20 percent and increased productivity by up to 25 percent.
3D printing has also shortened the production time for complex castings and opens up new possibilities for customizing products. By using 3D printing, foundries can produce prototypes faster and more cost-effectively, reducing the time to market for new products.
Sustainability as the key to the future
Sustainability is a key issue in the Italian foundry industry. The use of recycled aluminum and the implementation of energy-efficient processes are just some of the measures that many companies are taking to produce in a more environmentally friendly way. Italian foundries have set themselves the target of covering 40 percent of their CO2 emissions with renewable energy by 2030. By comparison, this figure was 19.9 percent in 2023.
At the same time, digitalization and automation are helping to optimize energy consumption and minimize waste, leading to a more sustainable and efficient production process. In addition, many Italian foundries are working closely with research institutes to develop new environmentally friendly materials and production methods.
Weak demand from the automotive industry
Current data from the first quarter of 2024 shows that the foundry industry in Italy is also unable to escape the negative trend in the automotive industry. Despite the economic growth of the Italian economy as a whole, there is a trend decline of around 10 percent compared to the same quarter in 2023. The ACT index, i.e. the assessment of how a company spent the reference quarter, has also fallen further and stood at 43.1 points in March.
“The first three months of the year confirm the weakness in demand that was already evident at the end of last year”, explains Fabio Zanardi, President of Assofond – the Italian foundry association. He emphasizes: “We are dealing with a weak market overall”. The decline in the ACT index signals falling activity in the automotive industry, which is being further impacted by weaker demand and global supply chain problems.
