After five eventful trade fair days, GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST exceeded expectations: 63,300 visitors from 114 countries traveled to the Bright World of Metals in Düsseldorf, Germany. About 2,200 exhibitors from 56 countries presented the power of the metallurgical industry and set forward-looking vibes with their machines, plants, and solutions. Sustainability and artificial intelligence were much-discussed topics in the 12 exhibition halls of the four world-leading trade fairs.

Investments, spontaneous business deals, as well as lively exchanges between all participants characterized the dynamic atmosphere on the entire fairgrounds. More than two-thirds of the visitors are planning definite investments in the next two years.

“Especially in times of sustainable change it is as important as ever to be present here in Düsseldorf and in direct exchange with industry players in order to demonstrate strength in a forward-looking market environment. With their international appeal and high-quality trade audience GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST provided excellent opportunities to do so,” said Bernd Jablonowski, executive director at Messe Düsseldorf.

Both on the exhibitor and visitor side, GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST 2023 again increased their internationality: 76% of the exhibiting companies came from outside of Germany while 69% of the visitors were from abroad, with a large proportion from Asia and overseas. 

“GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS, and NEWCAST are covering almost the entire international market,” said Malte Seifert, director at Messe Düsseldorf. The demand for European metallurgy and foundry technology is especially high overseas—particularly in India, the U.S., and China. This is also reflected by the international ranking of countries: India and the growth market Turkey rank first in visitors, followed by Italy, China and France. “This high international attendance on both the exhibitors’ and visitors’ part is a key guarantee for the success of the Bright World of Metals, making this trade fair quartet so unique. For metal and foundry professionals from all over the world, GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST are an absolute must.”

Current market developments, enormous challenges such as (skilled) labor shortage, extremely high energy costs that are a particular burden on German companies, but also the opportunities that the energy transition is bringing—these were among the abundant important topics addressed at the Bright World of Metals. Possible solutions, such as the introduction of an internationally competitive electricity price for industry, were discussed on the first day of the trade fair in a top-level talk between the leading minds in the industry and Mona Neubaur, Minister of Economy, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy in North Rhine-Westphalia. These topics also dominated the lecture program of the forums and conferences accompanying the trade fairs. The need for digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence, the goal to achieve sustainability as well as changed manufacturing processes are all indicators of the transformation in the energy-intensive industries.

The strategic focus of the Bright World of Metals on the four key themes of sustainability, digitalization, circular economy, and new production technologies determined activities in the exhibition halls and at the ancillary events, such as the conferences and many ecoMetals formats.

Close to 20 metallurgical industry players participated in Messe Düsseldorf’s ecoMetals campaign. Since 2011, Messe Düsseldorf has actively supported the efforts to change the image of energy-intensive industries towards more sustainability. The fact that the exhibitors at GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST are not only innovative, but also increasingly producing in an energy-efficient and resource-saving manner, could be experienced live at the ecoMetals Trails.

The opportunities and possibilities on the path toward a green transformation were also discussed at the ecoMetals Forum in Hall 9 on two trade fair days. The Forum was organized for the first time by VDMA Metallurgy and Messe Düsseldorf with great success.

In addition to numerous lectures and expert panels on the live stages in the exhibition halls, interviews were broadcast live from the ecoMetals TV studio on all days of the trade fairs, giving the trends additional reach through digital live streams.

The next staging of the Bright World of Metals is scheduled for 2027 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Exact dates will be announced later.