The EUROGUSS Executive Circle 2025 concluded with strong momentum, the forging of new contacts, and a clear message to the industry. From 1 to 2 July, more than 70 high-ranking decision-makers from across Europe, representing the entire die casting value chain, gathered in the outskirts of Milan to develop collective strategies for the future of the die casting industry in a series of intensive workshops, discussions and presentations. Their verdict? The industry is under enormous pressure but is ready to act to prepare for the future in the face of global and technological competition.
In keeping with the slogan “Less past, more future”, the event was characterized by a spirit of optimism. The tenor of all formats was that the time has come to not just analyse developments but actively shape the future. The participants made clear that the time for hesitation is over. Europe needs courage, pace, and cooperation. “The most important thing for me was the clear focus on future viability – technological, organisational, and cultural. It wasn’t a matter of describing existing structures but of joining forces to invent new approaches,” says attendee Andre Weißbenner, CEO of tool and die maker Heck & Becker.
Strategic compass for the sector: what matters now
During the event, key future scenarios emerged that are set to define the direction to be taken by the European die casting industry in the coming months. The crucial factor here is the transition from words to action, because hope alone is not a strategy, as one participant summed it up so aptly. The participants are calling for decisive action instead of endless discussions. Also high on the agenda was a stronger European network with more OEM involvement and functioning knowledge transfer. “Apart from the sweat-inducing early morning run, my personal highlight was the decision of more than 40 participants to launch the ‘European Diecasting Network’, says a delighted Siegfried Heinrich, Managing Director of Schaufler Tooling. A lone wolf mentality is to be replaced by targeted cooperation and collective lobbying work, to present a united front when tackling global challenges.
The will to innovate was also palpable. The industry doesn’t just want to discuss digitalisation and artificial intelligence but aims to apply it, rethink it, and allow genuine changes, as the statement by Iziana Tronci, Head of Product Development and Board Member at Gefond, shows: “I would like to focus on the importance of predictive maintenance, the necessity for new business models like servitisation for machine manufacturers, and the integration of sustainability into foundry operations – three important pillars for the future of our industry.”
In this context, a positive mindset is paramount: There’s a need to stop complaining and move towards solution-driven collaboration. At the same time, the event participants want things to move faster. Decisions and their implementation need to happen much sooner in the future, even if there are risks involved.
Another key factor is the clear focus on customer needs. It’s not enough just to have outstanding technologies. This includes actively strengthening the visibility and market understanding of the industry through targeted marketing and communication campaigns. All of this calls for a radical change of mindset: the new sense of identity is to be characterised by courage, openness, and curiosity. Because one thing is clear: Europe is under pressure, so failing to act and just hoping for the best is no longer an option.
Keynote by Professor Stefan Bratzel: “Challenges for OEMs and Suppliers”
Professor Stefan Bratzel, founder and Director of the Center of Automotive Management (CAM), gave a visionary keynote address with the title “Theses on future trends in the automotive industry. Challenges and missed opportunities for OEMs and suppliers”, in which he explored the strategic choices that are now necessary to thrive in the face of global competition. For automotive suppliers in particular, and consequently for the die casting sector as well, Bratzel clearly showed where the opportunities lie, but also where there has been too much hesitation in the past.
In-depth workshops offered solutions for real-life challenges
In other interactive workshops, participants worked on practice-driven approaches to deal with the most pressing issues in the sector and were able to discuss these directly with experts from the respective areas:
- Artificial intelligence in die casting:
Under the title “AI leadership in a new era: man, mindset and machine”, Kai Dippe, CEO of Quantum Flow AI, introduced participants to pilot projects for use in companies. - Industry marketing:
In the workshop “Industry marketing that works – how die casters become visible, relevant and attractive”, Katharina Krimmer, Director Vogel Corporate Solutions, explored novel approaches for greater visibility and positioning. - Employer branding:
Under the banner “Tackling the service workforce crisis”, Sebastian Feldmann, Senior Partner at Roland Berger, discussed attractive employer brands for the future recruitment of skilled personnel. - Strategic purchasing:
“More than just a supplier: how die casters win over global procurement through innovation, partnership and cross-cultural understanding” was the subject of the workshop conducted by JJ Heldt, Director Sales, Commercial Excellence Germany, Austria and Switzerland at Bosch Rexroth.
A European network as the key to success
The EUROGUSS Executive Circle has been validated once again as the key platform for strategic decision-making. “What we are creating here is not a forum for unstructured talks or a series of presentations but a community that is actively committing itself to the future of the European die casting industry with concrete projects, ideas and alliances,” explains Christopher Boss, Executive Director of EUROGUSS. This is also reflected in the extensive positive feedback that reached the EUROGUSS team after the event.
Johannes Messer, industry expert and co-initiator of the event, also stresses the importance of the format: “The industry is at a turning point. The EUROGUSS Executive Circle offers the right blend of depth, strategy and international networking to shape this transformation decisively.”
Next industry events finalised
Following the intensive discussions in the Executive Circle, the industry is now looking to the next major must-do event: EUROGUSS, the established industry gathering for everyone wanting to actively help shape the future of the die casting industry, will take place in Nuremberg again from 13 to 15 January 2026.
The dates for the next EUROGUSS Executive Circle have also been set. The C-level community will come together again from 1 to 2 July 2026. The exact venue will be announced later. Many participants have already marked these dates in their calendars: “I intend to attend the next Executive Circle again. I see it as a successful platform and C-level network for compliant discussions of the key developments and challenges of our European die casting and supplier industry across the entire value chain, from raw materials and equipment to installation in the vehicles of our OEMs. I hope to see even greater involvement on the part of foundries and automakers,” says Siegfried Heinrich.
