Paris, a château and an industry that needs to deliver

The starting point was in 2023. At that time, NürnbergMesse, together with Johannes Messer Consulting GmbH, initiated the first EUROGUSS Executive Circle. Around 60 executives met in Frankfurt to discuss the future of the European die casting industry in a compact workshop format. The outcomes were subsequently consolidated by Zukunftsinstitut Frankfurt/Vienna and translated into  possible development scenarios, which were presented at EUROGUSS 2024.

Developing actions on equal footing instead of following conference logic

The Executive Circle entered its next phase in 2024. In Königstein, decision-makers worked in groups on concrete measures. The focus was on topics such as networking, industry marketing and employer branding. This gave rise to the idea of establishing a European Die Casting Network (EDCN) – as a platform designed to sustain dialogue beyond the event, initiate specific projects and specifically strengthen collaboration across the value chain. 

In 2025, the focus shifted further towards implementation. Under the motto “Less past, more future”, the Executive Circle was held outside Germany for the first time. Around 70 industry executives gathered in Milan to discuss key developments in the automotive industry within the context of the aluminium foundry sector, following Professor Stefan Bratzel’s keynote address, ‘Theses on the future trends in the automotive industry’. The format was deliberately kept informal: workshops and open discussions among peers, rather than a traditional conference. The added value comes from the exchange of ideas, not from the stage.

Next EUROGUSS Executive Circle: 1–2 July 2026 in France

On 1 and 2 July 2026, senior leaders of the European die casting industry will soon gather for the fourth EUROGUSS Executive Circle – this time at the Château de Guermantes near Paris. The programme includes workshops, discussion rounds and targeted networking formats. The content focuses on issues that affect everyone, but cannot be solved by any one company alone: competitiveness, cooperation along the value chain and the future of the European die casting industry in a global economic and geopolitical context. All under the guiding theme: From Regional Excellence to Global Relevance.

Fittingly, Prof. Dr. Marcel Fratzscher, President of DIW Berlin, will explore in a keynote the impact of inflation, the energy transition, geopolitical tensions and the new world order on Europe’s industrial competitiveness. The perspective will then be specifically applied to the die casting and foundry industries, with their strategic role in international competition under discussion.

A central focus lies on New Business Areas – in other words, tapping into new, high-growth markets beyond traditional automotive applications. The key question is how European technological expertise, industrial quality and connected value creation can also be translated into sustainable growth in new sectors. The objective is to turn regional excellence into lasting global relevance.

Discussing solutions together with leading suppliers

What is already clear is that the Executive Circle remains a format for concentrated dialogue in a smaller setting. Participant numbers are limited, and the event is aimed exclusively at C-level decision-makers from European companies. 

That the format works is no coincidence. The European die casting industry is under pressure – technologically, economically and geopolitically. Yet that is precisely the common denominator. The EUROGUSS Executive Circle creates the framework in which perspectives, ideas and synergies can be brought together and developed further.

More information about the EUROGUSS Executive Circle and the next meeting can be found here: https://www.euroguss.de/en/events-programme/executive-circle