The event’s report, the Italian presence, the driving role of the Amafond association and exhibitors’ comments

The 14th edition of GIFA was held in Düsseldorf on June 25th-29th; this very important trade appointment organized by Messe Düsseldorf is dedicated to metallurgical technologies and machining, especially in the field of foundry. With about 2,360 exhibitors from all over the world, the four shows, GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST practically covered the entire international market. The event was attended by 220 Italian companies in all, and the AMAFOND association, which was very active with its president Maurizio Sala and director Fabrizio Carmagnini, in partnership with the ICE (Foreign Trade Institute) Agency, created a very representative collective Italian exhibition in Halls 11 and 16, grouping 41 companies. Italian foundry companies were concentrated in Hall 16, sporting both green and no-bake moulding techniques, core blowers and collateral products: Sogemi Engineering, Induction, R.N.G. Raffineria Metalli Guizzi, Sider Technology, O.M.LER, O.M.L.E.R. 2000, Officine Meccaniche Belloi&Romagnoli, TVT Termoventiltecnica, O.M.A.R., Bianchi, Protec-Fond, Prometal, Primafond, Progelta, Cime Crescenzi Induction Melting, Eurofilter, Vibroprocess, Mec Master, Gilardoni, Euromac, Laviosa Chimica Mineraria, Foundequip, Duedi, Tecno Vibrazioni Venanzetti and Ecochimica System. The other Italian area, located in Hall 11, hosted companies operating in the die casting machine and product segment: F.lli Fossati, Agrati A.E.E., Diesse Presse, Ieci, Brondolin, Albertini Macchine, Gi-Zeta Impianti, Mecc-Lan, O.M.C., Vito Rimoldi, Botta Forni Industriali, FoundryEcocer, Meccanica Pi.Erre, Sib, Metef and NDT Italiana.

Amafond brings Italian art to Gifa 2019
An important leading player of the Italian presence was the thematic cultural program set up by Amafond, a refined blend of science, art and history: in Hall 16, the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death was commemorated by a video screening (courtesy of Florence’s Museo Galileo) with the simulation of the casting of the Sforza Horse with a single bronze casting, following the project, which never came into being, conceived by Leonardo. There was also a very interesting exhibition of eight cast iron artefacts from the Italian Cast Iron Museum of the Neri Foundation in Longiano (near Cesena, www.museoitalianoghisa.org), manufactured in the 1880-1920 period, a precious and unique piece of the history of metallurgy. Also in Hall 16 were four artistic bronze castings by multiple award-winning contemporary artist Giacinto Bosco (www.giacintobosco.com). Hall 11, on the other hand hosted seven contemporary art works in aluminium created by 7 different artists who have in common their participation to the Comel Prize (www.premiocomel.it). The original coupling of metallurgical technologies and artistic creativity, together with the accurate organization by Amafond, provided great visibility and participation to the Italian Hall, with an extraordinary flow of visitors and delegations from all overt the world. It should be said that the entire GIFA 2019 functioned perfectly, with over 72,500 visitors from 118 countries. Data regarding the event’s international standing were particularly significant: the presence of foreign companies increased from 65% in 2015 to 70% as regards exhibitors and from 62% to 66% as regards visitors.