EUROGUSS 2024 has its finger on the pulse: A stage and a home for the international die casting industry

EUROGUSS has once again lived up to its reputation as the preferred stage for the international die casting industry. At the trade fair in Nuremberg from 16 to 18 January 2024, 643 exhibitors from 33 countries presented their product innovations and used the platform for networking and as a starting point for a successful year. The number of trade visitors increased significantly. As usual, EUROGUSS provided the perfect setting for the Die Casting Conference at the same time, where speakers from foundries, the automobile industry, universities and companies presented the latest developments and ideas.

“EUROGUSS was once again an outstanding success,” says Christopher Boss, Executive Director of EUROGUSS. “That’s clear from the volume of satisfied and enthusiastic feedback from our exhibitors. We were able to give the die casting industry a home and a direction in difficult times. At the same time, the event was a totally successful start to NürnbergMesse GmbH’s anniversary year. The company was founded 50 years ago and has developed from small beginnings into one of the world’s leading trade fair organizers.”

Satisfied exhibitors

Many of the exhibitors are now “regular guests” at EUROGUSS, such as the family-run foundry company Handtmann from Biberach, the US company Godfrey & Wing with its impregnation solutions and the Swiss machine manufacturer Bühler Group. “EUROGUSS is an important networking event for us – it’s a pleasure to be there every time,” says Marco Tobler, Director Global Product Management & Marketing at Bühler, explaining the reasons for their loyalty. It was the second time Grob-Werke from Mindelheim took part: “We see EUROGUSS as the trade fair of all trade fairs for us in the aluminium die casting sector,” reports Carsten König, the company’s Senior Manager Key Account Management Machining. “We are glad that we have the opportunity to present our products and expertise on a global platform. We have already reserved our stand for the next trade fair in 2026.”

One quality feature of EUROGUSS is its international character: 60 percent of exhibitors come from abroad, once again primarily from Europe. Numerous exhibitors travelled from Italy, Turkey, Spain, Austria and Switzerland in particular. At the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg they demonstrated everything that die casting has to offer, from the smallest zinc die castings to huge castings (“giga-castings”) made of aluminium. Despite the capricious weather – meteorologists had warned well in advance against travelling on Wednesday, the second day of the trade fair – the number of trade visitors in the four exhibition halls was 14,341, well above the figure of 10,700 for the last EUROGUSS.

The trending topic of giga-casting

During the tour of the trade fair, it became abundantly clear that giga-casting is the trend topic in the industry. In giga or mega casting, companies along the entire die casting value chain are currently developing and perfecting innovative processes that make it possible to produce ever larger structural parts from cast aluminium. This goes hand in hand with an increase in efficiency and sustainability. Many giga-casting parts, ranging from complete rear assemblies to battery trays for electric cars, attracted the attention of visitors at the trade fair. “Giga-casting is currently triggering a revolution in automobile construction – made possible by the expertise of the die casting industry. Our decision to make it one of our main topics has proved to be right on target,” Boss notes with satisfaction.

The extremely well received guided tours gave visitors to the trade fair the opportunity to see where giga-casting is heading. Presentations by practitioners on implementing the new technology were fully booked. For example, Volvo Cars, which is currently in the process of taking giga-casting to mass-production level in plants in Sweden and Slovakia, reported on “Lessons Learned” at the Die Casting Conference. And the largest machine ever seen on the exhibition grounds in Nuremberg, a giant deburring press, was one of the crowd-pullers.

Focus on SMEs

Despite a high level of innovation, the die casting industry finds itself in a tough situation characterized by high energy costs, which distort competition in Germany in particular, excessive bureaucracy and an uncertain economic outlook. The industry, which is strongly characterized by small and medium-sized enterprises, sees a need for action in politics and society, but also within itself.

Sarna Röser, former national chair of DIE JUNGEN UNTERNEHMER and known as an active advocate for the positions of family businesses, comes from a medium-sized family business, albeit one outside this industry. In her keynote speech at the start of the trade fair, she appealed to the business operators in attendance: “We must fight for our convictions. Political commitment is no longer an optional extra, but a duty. Only those who are visible can help shape the agenda.”

Together with business operators from the foundry industry and Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Röser discussed the issues facing small and medium-sized enterprises in this country under the title of “The future of SMEs: Are we casting the future in Germany?”. Gotthardt took the opportunity to clarify the position of the state government: “It is the task of policy-makers to listen carefully and develop solutions together” so that a “culture of making things possible” can prevail “from the ministry to district office level”.

Sustainability in supply chains

Because the question of how foundry companies can produce and operate sustainably has become even more pressing due to extended legal regulation – in the context of the Supply Chain Act (LkSG) in particular – events on this topic were an integral part of EUROGUSS. Under the title “Sustainability in the casting industry – Quo Vadis?”, representatives from science and business spoke with Professor Matthias Fifka from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg about the best ways to decarbonize the die casting industry. It became clear that it will be crucial to understand the implementation of the requirements of the LkSG as a team task between the companies involved so that suppliers are not overburdened

23rd Die Casting Conference

The Die Casting Conference, opened by Hartmut Fischer, Chair of the Association of German Die Casting Foundries (VDD), was held for the 23rd time. Twenty-six presentations provided a platform for presenting and discussing new technologies, process and material developments and new areas of application with the experts in the packed plenary session. Digitalization, lightweight construction and sustainability were key topics alongside giga-casting. Following its successful premiere two years ago, the European Die Casting Competition was held for the second time, with an expert jury awarding prizes for cast components in the three categories of magnesium, zinc and aluminium. The winners are BMW AG, Landshut (aluminium), HDO Druckguss- und Oberflächentechnik GmbH (zinc) and TCG UNITECH GmbH from Kirchdorf/Krems in Austria (magnesium).

Talent Award

An innovative and future-oriented industry constantly needs well trained young talents for which it can compete with other industries. At the first Student Day, students were offered an extensive programme with keynotes, lectures and tours. Young scientists are also honoured at EUROGUSS with the Talent Award. The award honours graduates and outstanding theses in the field of die casting. This year’s winner was Danny Rohde from the University of Kassel.

Next EUROGUSS

The next EUROGUSS will be held in Nuremberg from 13 to 15 January 2026.

About the EUROGUSS trade fair family:
THE LEADING DIE CASTING SHOWS

In all even years, the European die casting sector comes together at the EUROGUSS trade fair held at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in Germany. The three-day event puts the latest technology, processes and products centre stage. EUROGUSS is the only event that covers the entire die casting process chain, from high-tech machines to new materials and casting products through to efficient services. With regard to die casting, the NürnbergMesse Group is also represented at CHINA DIECASTING (annually in Shanghai), ALUCAST, which takes place at various locations in India in all even years, and EUROGUSS Mexico, which is held in Guadalajara.