The trade fairs Thermprocess, GIFA, METEC and NEWCAST are switching from a four-year to a three-year cycle. As such, the next staging of the leading international trade fairs for foundry technology, metallurgy, thermal-processing equipment and castings will take place from June 26-30, 2018, in Düsseldorf, Germany.  With this shorter cycle, the organizer Messe Düsseldorf is responding to the changes in the innovation cycles within the industry.

The four leading trade fairs, which together form the “Bright World of Metals,” have adapted to changes in their respective industries several times in the past. Held for the first time in 1956, GIFA initially took place every six years before changing to a five-year cycle in 1974 and then to a four-year cycle at the beginning of the millennium. Since 1974, Thermprocess took place at the same time, while METEC was added in 1979. NEWCAST became the newest member of the quartet in 2003.

When last held in June 2015, the four trade fairs recorded very positive results:  78,000 visitors from more than 120 countries came to Düsseldorf to see product innovations from 2,214 exhibitors. The international participation was again high: 56% of the visitors and 51% of the exhibitors were from countries other than Germany.