New Productions to Launch in Russian Foundry Industry

Metallurgy.Russia’2023, Litmash.Russia’2023, a complex of international industrial exhibitions, as well as SteelStructures’2023, a forum for steel structure manufacturers and end-users were held on June 6-8, 2023 at Expocentre Fairgrounds, Moscow, Russia. The events bringing together more than 300 exhibitors and more than 8k visitors aroused a keen interest among industry professionals. A big number of trade visitors established numerous business contacts at the forum.   

The number of expositions and trade visitors, as well as the size of delegations of Russian and Asian producers has grown a lot in 2023 as compared to the last year’s edition. Emerging of new market players proves the fact that the Russian heavy industry no longer depends on international brands gone from the market, it chooses the path of intensive development. The need in high-quality equipment and materials makes already existing and new producers seek new suppliers. Hence a growing demand for the most state-of-the-art foundry and steel processing equipment and solutions has been registered in Russia. 

A wide range of solutions and machinery for the steel industry, heavy-engineering and foundry including productions of iron, steel, rolled stock, as well as non-ferrous metals was exhibited at the fairground in Moscow. Trade visitors could get details on technology innovations and trends covering the whole range of steels, foundry solutions, accessories and castings. Expositions of Russian, Chinese and Turkish suppliers of the most state-of-the-art engineering solutions and accessories exhibiting the latest foundry processes helped trade visitors strengthen already existing business contacts and establish new ones. 

“In fact, for the first time in ten years the Russian foundry industry has received an incentive to develop,” openly stated A. Dibrov, President of the Russian Foundry Men Association at the conference Role of Public Organizations in Development of Russian Foundry Industry. “Due to the special military operation and the need in machinery and harvesters we have been observing an upward economic trend since last autumn.” According to the Association statistics, Russian foundry men manufactured 4.3Mt of products in 2022. A. Dibrov noted that one of the main problems of the industry was the lack of its representation at the state authorities. However, he expressed hope for establishing a competence or scientific center since the foundry industry accounted for more than 60% of billets used in heavy engineering, the automotive industry, aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding.  

The exhibitions have clearly shown a current revival of the foundry industry: new productions and foundry plants are set up by the market demand. A high demand for foundry products is caused by heavy engineering and the steel industry. Europe has stopped machinery supplies to Russia causing the revival of Russian heavy engineering. Industry professionals note a high demand for foundry products and a high workload of existing foundry capacities. The Russian foundry industry is currently on the verge of capacities upgrade and a new investments inflow. The demand for die and lost-wax casting equipment has considerably grown in the domestic market as well. European solutions are replaced by Chinese ones. Even though rapid surge in prices for Chinese foundry machinery has not yet been registered, experts believe the prices may grow 30% over the next few years. 

A growth in demand for modifiers for out-of-furnace iron and steel processing has been registered as well. “We have enough capacities to fully meet the domestic market demands despite the closure of Europe,” said E. Mochalova, Marketing Director, NPP Group. “We are consistently developing our business by commissioning new equipment and rendering technical support for mastering new product ranges.” When sharing her impressions of Metallurgy.Russia’2023 and Litmash.Russia’2023 E. Mochalova noted their high activity as compared to the last year’s events. “Due to import stoppage the number of exhibitors and trade visitors, especially those from China, has grown a lot. However, NPP Group does not fear competitiveness. If you openly run your business, do market research, advertise, attend professional events, publish scientific works and defend patents you will unavoidably have competitors for that is market. However, we do not fear them. Our manufacture of microcrystal products is unique, the production is fine-tuned and the technology is patented,” said E. Mochalova. 

Metallurgy.Russia’2023 and Litmash.Russia’2023 international exhibitions are endorsed by The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, The International Union of Metallurgical Equipment Producers (Metallurgmash), Russian Engineering Union, Russian Union of Metal and Steel Suppliers, Russian Foundry Men Association and Expocentre Fairgrounds.

Welcome to attend Metallurgy.Russia'2024, Litmash.Russia'2024 and SteelStructures’2024, June 4-6, 2024, Expocentre Fairgrounds, Moscow, Russia.