At the opening of the 75th World Foundry Conference in Deyang, Sichuan, held on October 26, Jose Javier Gonzalez, Secretary General of the World Foundry Organization (WFO), praised China’s robust manufacturing capabilities and industrial strength. “Deyang’s manufacturing base is strong, and it is continuously expanding its international market by providing high-quality products to the world,” he stated. He also highlighted that China is actively opening up space for the foundry industry to develop, maintaining a leading position globally in production levels and order volumes.
The conference, taking place from October 25 to 30, is hosted by the WFO and focused on the theme “The Developing Foundry Industry.” Approximately 1,500 experts, scholars, and industry representatives from over 30 countries and regions are engaging in deep discussions about foundry science and technology, engineering applications, and talent cultivation, sharing research findings and advanced technologies.
Lou Yanchun, Chairman of the WFO Executive Committee, noted that the global foundry industry is rapidly advancing toward digitalization, intelligentization, and greening. He emphasized that the fusion-driven development based on advancements in foundry technology would foster win-win cooperation among various stakeholders. “High-quality and high-level talent is essential for leadership, and youth will inject new energy and vitality into the global foundry industry,” he remarked.
Academician Ding Wenjiang, from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, pointed out that China is not only the world’s largest producer of castings but also a massive consumer market, with an annual casting output of about 55 million tons, accounting for nearly 50% of global production. He expressed a hope that this conference would provide an opportunity for global colleagues to explore China’s foundry supply chain and service agencies, collaborating to make greater contributions to the advancement of the global foundry industry.
Liu Yu, a representative from Dongfang Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd., a leader in extreme manufacturing capabilities, shared that their recent development includes the world’s largest 500MW hydraulic turbine runner and key casting products. He acknowledged that the company has been collaborating with brands like Siemens, Škoda, and Mitsubishi, with international expansion as a key focus this year. Liu hopes to gain insights into the latest industry trends and expand international business, bringing China’s major equipment manufacturing and services to the world.
In light of the changing global environmental landscape, Xie Huasheng, Chairman of the conference organizing committee, addressed the challenges facing the industry. He stressed the need to further advance foundry technology and build a strong supply chain, innovation chain, and talent chain. “China is strengthening its industrial foundation, optimizing top-level design, and enhancing international cooperation to boost the confidence and determination of foundry workers in technological innovation, contributing Chinese strength to the development of the global foundry industry.”
