Engineer MSc. Tadeusz Franaszek - the president of the Technical Association of Polish
Foundrymen STOP has supported the Targi Kielce's METAL ever since its first edition
- Mr. President, what is your view over the foundry situation in 2016?
- 2016's situation in Polish foundry business sector is in line with the European Union countries' situation. Many business sectors have stagnated; this is mainly attributed to the limited progress in large revitalization plans for particular industries. The list of reasons is long. Engineers have practically no influence to ameliorate the situation.
The weak progress in EU economies revitalization programmes has practically no impact on automotive industry. Automotive sector has increased production. Thus aluminium and ferrous alloys producers have seen increased demand for castings. Foundries that produce castings for the household appliances cannot complain either.
Generally speaking, foundries which offer innovative and creative castings as well as those which engage in wide-scale marketing and promotional activities such as trade fairs, conferences, professional publications will continue to be in great demand. At the same time, however they need to pay careful attention to materials and energy economisation, respect the market demand.
Why joining Metal Expo - Targi Kielce's foundry expo? What benefit may companies gain if participate the expo? What is this event's significance for the industry?
- As I said before. The market situation has been constantly evolving, regardless our efforts. This require manufacturers to mark their presence, promote their products. Hence METAL expo presentations correspond with this philosophy. Expo presentations and presence are the most important elements of modern marketing. However participants cannot expect that expo participation instantly translates into economic results. What is more. Market players participate in many different exhibitions, prosper for the most favourable trading conditions.
Thus, this is the the participants' feedback that shows the real value of expo participation. The expo quality is expressed in the number of exhibitors, technical level and prices of products on offer as well as the number of visitors and their professional profiles - this is a real yardstick to assess a trade show.
Polish foundries and related companies really appreciate the opportunity to promote their products in Poland. Therefore Polish exhibition centres are expected to promote their events in other countries and effectively attract managers and logistics-specialist. Not only foreign companies join expo as visitors, they should also become exhibitors.
The Technical Association of Polish Foundrymen has been one of initiators and originators of the METAL expo. The trade show has developed thanks to a substantial contribution of casting houses and related enterprises. Thus the expo is nicely embedded in a broad context of Polish casting traditions and Polish exhibitions industry. The expo programme abounds with conferences are fringe-events; these have become an indispensable part of Kielce's METAL. The International Conference on Solidification and Crystallization of Metals has been highly valued by the business-insiders. On numerous occasions we have cooperated with the expo centre and jointly organised various meetings of our Association. The expo centre has hosted participants of the "Foundry Presidents and Directors Forum" as well as co-organized meetings of foundry-related magazines editors. Metal has also developed to become a traditional meeting place for the business-sector management. The event has become a permanent fixture in foundry-engineering calendars of events.
- What direction should METAL expo follow? What should it focus on in order to respond to Polish foundry sector's needs?
- The answer to this question is by no means easy.Poland has seen a rapid increase in the number of exhibition centres. They probably want to play down the role of the centres which boast many-year traditions, significant achievements and have already developed a globally recognised. These are the "market rights", though we bemoan the fact. Over the years our Association has been fully committed to supports the 95-year tradition of Poznan International Fair as well as Targi Kielce. Though Targi Kielce's history is shorter, the centre has become a indispensable part of exhibition landscape. We would not want to see our long-term commitment squandered. Therefore I offer my personal suggestion for both the above-mentioned centres - concentrate efforts on listening to the exhibitors' feedback, use their advice, develop perspectives without compromising on the achievements and trust you have gained. This is not a revelation. You known that your exhibitors the reason and the objective of your business. Exhibitors are most important in shaping development directions and exhibitions' profiles. Foundry business-insiders would like to use METAL and other similar expos as the place to become familiar and eventually purchase innovative materials and technologies, top-quality machines and equipment at reasonable prices.
- The 2016's METAL, ALUMINIUM&NONFERMET and RECYKLING are also an introduction to the World Foundry Congress, this time held in Krakow in 2018. What can you tell us about the event foundry-sector finds so important?
The World Foundry Congress organizers have always wanted to make it an absorbing event; the objective is to promoted the organising country, presented the whole business sector as well as research and development activities so that the events is granted the World Foundry Organisation (WFO) highest score. Every consecutive congress is a subject to WFO assessment. Poland-staged Congress is organised by Technical Association of Polish Foundrymen; we would like to stand to the challenge. The 73rd World Foundry Congress is held in Krakow in September 2018. We are kind of a novice when it comes to congress organisation. - Poland has hosted the World Foundry Congress in 1938 and then in 1963 and 1991.
The Framework Programme of this very important event, in addition to the science-focussed part, encompasses a series of other events. There is a day when Congress participants pay visits to selected casting houses, scientific & research institutes, universities and exhibitions. One of our ideas is to make Congress participants familiar with the METAL expo. Unfortunately, now it is difficult to talk about details. We are only at the stage of detailed plans draft, the decision is up to the Executive Council and the Organizing Committee. However we can assure you that we will invest every possible effort to make the 73rd World Foundry Congress a memorable event which deserves top-scoring from the World Foundry Organisation (WFO). We count on support from Polish foundries and related companies; tradition holds it that such companies become sponsors of the World Foundry Congress. We also hope to be assisted by Polish expo and exhibition industry.
I hope that this year's as well as 2018's International METAL Expo receive the top scores from exhibitors and visitors as well as Congress participants who will come to make a tour over the exhibition.
Thank you for the conversation.
(KK)
