CastForge 2026: Record participation figures and inspirational European input

Published the 12/03/2026

530 exhibitors from 30 countries presenting their latest innovative products and services – CastForge providing the perfect platform for networking, industry expertise

Three months before the event is set to start and CastForge 2026 is already fully booked out. There will be around 530 international exhibitors coming to Messe Stuttgart from 9 to 11 June 2026, ready to present everything this industry has to offer – from cast and forged parts to assembly-ready components and processing techniques. CastForge is sending a clear message and confirming its position as an established industry platform, in what are currently economically challenging times.

CastForge provides a unique overview of the market, with a programme perfectly designed to coordinate supply and demand. Exhibitors present their products and services to a highly qualified industry audience comprising designers, developers and decision-makers from mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, industry and energy technology. This is where innovative solutions meet concrete project enquiries, resulting in valuable connections with real business potential. The trade fair provides visitors with information about the latest industry developments, the chance to explore tomorrow’s technological trends, as well as directly engage with leading players on the European casting and forging scene.

Major international appeal and European focus

Two thirds of the exhibiting companies are coming from Germany and elsewhere in Europe, such as the French association “Village Forge & Fonderie”, which represents around twenty foundries and forges. Wilfrid Boyault, Managing Director of the Fédération Forge Fonderie, explains: “The joint presence in the French “Village Forge & Fonderie” is sending a strong and clear message to the European and broader global market. It is showcasing the key strengths of our companies – industry capacity, technical excellence, quality, innovation and competitiveness.”

The Italian foundry and forging industry is also well represented: trade association UNISA will be taking part with around 25 companies, eleven of which will be at the joint stand. Andrea Redaelli, President of UNISA, emphasises: “CastForge 2026 provides a concrete opportunity for our members to develop new business strengthen their own visibility and engage in professional networking. Altogether, there will be around 70 Italian companies represented – a significant contribution from Italy within the sector on a European stage.”

Portugal will be represented for the second time by a strong group of METAL PORTUGAL companies specialising in a variety of areas covering casting, forging and metal processing. Mafalda Gramaxo, General Director, explains: “CastForge has established itself as one of the most relevant European trade fairs for the casting and forging industry. For the Portuguese companies, it provides a valuable opportunity to directly connect with highly qualified buyers and to strengthen our international presence.”

Growth, internationality and innovative strength

CastForge 2026 stands for growth, internationality and innovative strength. Despite a challenging economic climate, the professionals are looking forward to what is now an established industry event and the opportunity to explore new business opportunities and concrete projects.

Hub for high achievers: Direct access to industry experts

CastForge 2026 will be providing trade visitors with unique opportunities, such as direct access to national and international exhibitors from 30 countries and the chance to benefit from their extensive expertise. The trade fair not only provides a comprehensive market overview, but also specific information about the latest market trends and technological developments in casting and forging. Technical presentations, networking events and expert talks create the ideal platform for a comprehensive exchange of information, transfer of knowledge and initiation of new projects. Resulting in top-quality connections and new business opportunities that go far beyond the actual trade fair visit.

Despite this year’s record number of exhibitors, CastForge remains a trade fair of accessible scale. Halls 8 and 10 are located directly at Entrance West, only a train stop away from Stuttgart Airport. This international airport offers a number of direct connections which operate daily to all key European cities, enabling CastForge visitors to make the most of this business opportunity – and often involving just one day of travel.

Ticket sales and new Make-to-Order Days event.

Tickets are now available to purchase and also grant visitors access to the new “Make-to-Order Days” event, the trade fair for buyers of precision parts, custom manufacturing and machining, on 9 and 10 June 2026 in Hall 9. Buyers involved in precision parts and machining are set to benefit twofold from just one ticket to CastForge!

For more information: Castforge 2026

Other articles that may interest you

Ucimu: orders index for the second quarter of 2026 still down (-25.8%); foreign orders (-15.3%); dom

Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU: "We'll have to wait until the next few months to see the full effects of the hyper-depreciation, but we're very confident this measure will last until September 2028." In the second quarter of 2026, the machine tool orders index compiled by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Centre recorded a decline of -25.8% compared to the April-June 2025 period . In absolute value, the index stood at 47.8 (base 100 in 2021). The result expresses the difficulties that Italian machine tool manufacturers have encountered both on the domestic and foreign markets. In particular, orders collected from abroad decreased by -15.3% compared to the second quarter of 2025, for an absolute value of 63.2. Order intake in Italy also declined , falling 38.7% compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index stood at 33.1. Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: “The uncertainty of the geopolitical context—shaken by wars, the Hormuz crisis, and the decidedly worrying attitude of the President of the United States toward international politics—has profoundly undermined the already precarious balance in which the industry found itself operating.” "The decline in international deliveries, given the current situation, is understandable, and we expected it. Business has slowed, but, as is our custom, we've tried to focus our offerings on those areas less directly affected by conflicts and critical issues, diversifying our product offerings wherever possible." "It is certain ," continued President Riccardo Rosa , " that the investment figures and values once ensured by the automotive industry cannot be replaced by the demand expressed by other sectors, however dynamic, such as defense, aerospace, and energy. For this reason, once again, we ask our representatives in Europe to reconsider their decision and adopt the principle of technological neutrality when defining automotive development plans. This approach would allow the industry, and its entire supply chain, to properly manage the ongoing transition, not only respecting the environment but also safeguarding, where possible, employment." Domestically, businesses awaited clarifications on the hyper-depreciation program to confirm their purchasing intentions. Since June 12th, the day all the operational steps were completed, the hyper-depreciation program has been bearing fruit. We immediately noticed a change in attitude among Italian users: orders are starting to arrive. "We'll have to wait a few more months, however, for the effect to be fully reflected in our data, but we're definitely confident. This is also because, in the meantime, we have data from the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, which, as of July 9th, reported the submission of 7,000 communications on the GSE platform, worth €2.5 billion." MIMIT deserves great credit for having established a multi-year term for this incentive. Its effectiveness until September 2028 should ensure thoughtful planning of investments in new machine tools and production technologies by Italian customers, also allowing us manufacturers to plan our production activities over the medium term. "The hope ," concluded Riccardo Rosa , " is to soon see the Italian market return to the levels it experienced in 2021-2022, when it was worth over €6 billion. This is also because our manufacturing industry needs to innovate to remain competitive in an international context where digital and AI are completely reshaping the rules of the game."

16/07/2026 Read more

15/07/2026 Read more

Amb 2026: collaborative processes drive automation

Central topic: Automation: Patrick Schwarzkopf (VDMA) discusses collaborative processes, artificial intelligence, and automation for SMEs using no-code solutions. As manufacturing companies strive to make their processes more efficient and flexible, automation solutions play a key role, especially in areas where people and machines are increasingly collaborating. AMB 2026 addresses this key topic with a practical approach and demonstrates how collaborative processes are evolving across the entire metal cutting process chain. In this interview, Patrick Schwarzkopf, Director General of the VDMA Robotics and Automation Association, analyzes the key factors driving this evolution and provides an overview of the developments companies should keep an eye on. Automation as one of the three central themes: Collaborative processes are gaining increasing importance AMB : The robotics and automation industry is forecasting a 5% decline in revenue by 2026; nevertheless, pressure on manufacturing companies to automate their processes continues to grow. Why is now the right time to focus on collaborative processes, and what factors are driving companies to take this step? Patrick Schwarzkopf : It's true, we're still observing a marked caution in investments, due to several reasons: from geopolitical tensions to the well-known challenges related to the competitiveness of production sites. However, the trend toward automation remains unchanged. Demographic change will become even more evident in the coming years; this will make it necessary to automate an increasing number of activities to support the remaining qualified personnel. Only in this way can we remain competitive. The interaction between humans and machines will be crucial. The extremely rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI and so-called physical AI, opens up new possibilities, for example through agent AI (Agentic AI) and through the much simpler use and programming of automation solutions. AMB : For a long time, automation was primarily designed for large-scale production. Today, however, robotic solutions are a viable option even for small series. How far has this evolution come, and what does a small business actually need to introduce automation into its production process? Patrick Schwarzkopf : Automation for SMEs is making enormous strides. Technological developments in recent years have been extraordinary and have significantly reduced the barriers to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises. Typical scenarios are "low volume, high mix," characterized by low production volumes and a high degree of product diversity. In these contexts, it is crucial that programming can be performed quickly, easily, and without significant staff effort. Numerous no-code solutions exist today for this purpose, requiring no programming knowledge. Automation workflows can be configured via graphical interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality, while robot trajectories can be taught through manual guidance (hand-guiding) and memorized at the push of a button. Major manufacturers have long been offering solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of SMEs. Pragmatic configurations, such as a robot working overnight, are often sufficient, thus enabling a significant increase in productivity. The obstacle is often less technological than cultural: many companies continue to believe that automation is inevitably too complex or too expensive. This belief is now obsolete, because solutions already exist and are easily observed at specialized trade shows like AMB. A useful reference point, for example, is Go4Robotics, the online platform of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). AMB : As programming and operation become easier, direct collaboration between humans and robots is also becoming increasingly practical. Today, the two increasingly work side by side, without the need for protective barriers: it was precisely the development of AI-supported sensor systems that made this approach truly feasible. What concrete changes does all this mean for the shop floor, and how should companies rethink processes and the role of people? Patrick Schwarzkopf : Collaborative robots (cobots) are now well established. In many applications, however, the term "coexistence" is more accurately used: humans and robots operate without barriers, enabling direct and safe interaction. We are now seeing a further level of even closer collaboration with humanoid robotics. AI is making extraordinary progress in this area: robots are increasingly capable of interpreting their surroundings and acting autonomously and appropriately. Although significant pioneering work is still needed, humanoid robots are gradually emerging from research laboratories and are already finding their first experimental applications in industrial settings. It will still be some time before this technology reaches full maturity for widespread use. At the same time, however, humanoid robotics is accelerating the evolution of close human-machine interaction, for example through the ability to communicate verbally with robots. AMB : Many of these developments are best appreciated by observing them live. In September, AMB will bring together the entire metalworking ecosystem in Stuttgart: manufacturers, users, and researchers under one roof. What contribution can this unique combination make to the wider adoption of collaborative automation? And why is a visit to the trade fair essential for all metalworking companies considering the introduction of automation solutions? Patrick Schwarzkopf : A look at the data clearly highlights its significance: according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), machine tending—the automatic loading and unloading of workpieces on machine tools—is one of the main applications of robotics. Over the past decade, new annual installations of robots for handling tasks on machine tools have increased from 14,500 in 2015 to 19,000 in 2024. Preliminary data from the IFR indicate that the trend will continue with significant, double-digit growth in 2025. The use of collaborative robots (cobots) has also increased significantly in recent years: in 2024, approximately 65,000 cobots were installed worldwide, representing 12% of all industrial robots. The most significant increases are being seen in mobile robotics, which enables the flexibly connecting different production machines, for example through mobile manipulators, i.e., mobile platforms equipped with a robotic arm. It's hard to find such a comprehensive, focused, and industry-specific overview as that offered by a specialized trade fair. At AMB, you can see and experience firsthand the automation solutions for metalworking by chip removal. AMB : Thank you for the interview, Mr. Schwarzkopf. Focus on automation at AMB 2026 in the Oskar-Lapp-Halle (Hall 6) Automation will be a key focus at AMB 2026 in nearly every exhibition hall: from machine tool manufacturers with automation systems to solutions for tools and clamping technology, such as automatic setup. A special highlight will be the Oskar-Lapp-Halle (Hall 6), which will house the "Automation and Handling Technologies" area. Numerous exhibiting companies—including FANUC, KUKA, Cellro, RoboJob, Wassermann Technologie, and many others—will present their latest solutions for production and process management. It's worth checking out the exhibitor list, as here, trade visitors can experience firsthand how robotics, collaborative automation, Industry 4.0 approaches, and the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) are evolving metal-cutting processes, introducing new solutions and driving innovation in the industry. About AMB Since 1982, AMB has presented the highlights of the international metalworking industry. "Where Metal Comes Alive" will once again be a fixture on the industry's agenda in 2026, this year from September 15 to 19. It is the international marketplace and meeting place for metalworking, showcasing the latest products, technologies, innovations, services, and concepts in all their facets. AMB is supported by the VDMA Präzisionswerkzeuge (Precision Tools), VDMA Software and Digitalization (Software and Digitalization), and the VDW Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken e.V. (German Machine Tool Builders' Association).

09/07/2026 Read more

CastForge 2026: Record participation figures and inspirational European input

Other articles that may interest you

Ucimu: orders index for the second quarter of 2026 still down (-25.8%); foreign orders (-15.3%); dom

Amb 2026: collaborative processes drive automation

Dati Legali

Sede Legale

Registro Imprese

Contatti