METAL – coming of age

The official opening ceremony of the 18th International Fair of Technologies for Foundry METAL, the 11th International Fair of Aluminium & Technology, Materials and Non-Ferrous Metal Products ALUMINIUM & NONFERMET and the 16th Fair of Industrial Measuring Technology and Non-Destructive Testing CONTROL-TECH was held in Targi Kielce Conference Centre. The function was attended by numerous guests of honour including such personalities as Professor Józef Szczepan Suchy – the Board Member of World Foundry Organisation, the Dean the Faculty of Foundry Engineering of the AGH University of Technology, Honorary President of Polish Foundymen Association, Deputy President of Polish Federation of Engineering Associations, the Chairman of the Metal Trade Fair Programme Council, Tadeusz Franaszek; the President of Technical Association of Polish Foundrymen, Professor Jerzy Józef Sobczak PhD Hab. Eng. Foundry Research Institute Director, Deputy President of Technical Association of Polish Foundrymen, Professor Stanisław Adamczak PhD Eng; the Rector of the Kielce University of Technology, Mr Zhang Libo; Deputy President of China Foundry Association and Tadeusz Sayor, Deputy Mayor of Kielce.

Poland’s foundry business sector is characterised with a great sense of unity when they advocate for their own interest; also in turbulent times – said Professor Sobczak – members of Polish organisations are open for frank discussions and help one another. The Kielce’s trade fair is a perfect integration platform which can be used for experience and opinion exchange.

Mr Zhang Libo, the Deputy President of China Foundry Association welcomed the guests on behalf of 10 directors of Chinese foundry organisations. Mr Libo highlighted extensive potentials of foundry engineering business sector in China as there is 30,000 coasting houses. – We employ two million people in the whole sector; there are 100 workmen’s clusters and in 2012 alone we have produced over 21 million casts. However; we still wish to learn from our colleagues in Europe. The Targi Kielce meeting gives us a chance to open the dialogue and enter into new relations

The Kielce foundry engineering holiday brings together almost 400 companies from 26 countries; this is Poland’s largest event of this kind in addition to being one of Europe’s largest. The trade fair continues until Thursday.