2025 tested the foundry industry like it hasn't in many years. Volumes dropped, forecasts evaporated, and many companies found themselves stuck between rising costs and shrinking demand. In this Gold Nugget, Fabian Niklas and Staffan Zetterström reflect on what really went wrong in 2025 and why 2026 will be the year that separates those who merely survive from those who actively shape their future.

This conversation is about decision-making, responsibility, and positioning. Not waiting for OEMs. Not hoping for better portals. But deliberately preparing, technically, strategically, and personally, to look back at the end of 2026 and say: That was a turning point.

Key Topics

* 2026 as the decision year: Why overcapacity, consolidation, and bankruptcies will force hard choices and why hesitation may be the most dangerous strategy of all.

* Where real opportunities are emerging in casting: Beyond the gigacasting headlines, the discussion explores why certain machine sizes, alloys, and applications are quietly gaining traction and why margins won’t come from where everyone is looking.

* The return of metallurgy as a profit driver: Sustainability, alloy flexibility, scrap usage, and property optimization are no longer “nice to have.” They are becoming decisive competitive factors.

* Why branding is no longer optional: From company brands to personal brands, visibility and trust are shaping who gets invited into new developments and who remains just another line in a comparison sheet.

* How software, data, and new roles change the game: As process windows shrink and complexity rises, the episode dives into why software, knowledge capture, and interdisciplinary thinking will define efficient production going forward.

* Why Asia will matter more than ever: A clear-eyed look at where growth, investment, and experimentation are accelerating and what that means for European foundries and professionals.

“Waiting for portals and RFQs is no longer a strategy; owning your future is.”

One theme runs through the entire episode: ownership. Ownership of knowledge. Ownership of decisions. Ownership of visibility. The industry is moving away from one-size-fits-all alloys, static specifications, and passive supplier roles. In their place come specialization, branding, smarter processes, and people willing to learn fast and act early.

2026 won’t be easy, but for those who invest in skills, systems, and credibility now, it can become a defining year. This episode is both a reality check and a call to action for anyone who wants to be relevant, profitable, and future-proof in the foundry industry.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you in the next episode, where we’ll continue to bring you the latest insights and updates from the casting world. Don’t forget to ask questions, write comments, or make suggestions for future episodes.

We hope to meet you at the Euroguss!

Fabian and Staffan

Staffan Zetterström and Fabian Niklas invite you on a Euroguss tour built around the people and companies who have appeared on the Goldcasting Podcast. These are the companies that dared to step outside the box, share insights openly, and contribute to shaping the future of casting.

This episode is about energy, ideas, and conversations. Use it as your personal map through Euroguss to meet people who think differently and are happy to continue the discussion face-to-face at their booths. Use the podcast as a conversation starter, tell them you came via the Goldcasting Podcast.

Also, your hosts are present at the Euroguss with booths. You’ll find Staffan at the Comptech booth and Fabian at the Casting-Campus booth.

Companies on the Euroguss Tour

* 7A-110 Chem-Trend with Darko Tomazic (GN 37 - Spray your Production Issues away with HERA)

* 7A-420 Grob with Carsten König (GN 36 - The Essence of Employer Branding for the Foundry Industry)

* 7-524 Rockman with Tej Bambra (GN 56 - The Indian Market for Die-Castings)

* 7-132 Stena Aluminium with Erik Petre (GN 21 - The Kings of Scrap)

* 5-214 voestalpine with Dr. Armin Wiedenegger (GN 22 - How to increase the Tool Lifetime of Gigacastings)

* 5-246 Euroguss with Christopher Boss (GN 45 - The Euroguss Executive Circle)

* 5-250e University of Kassel with Prof. Fehlbier (GN41 - The First Global GIGA-Casting Congress)

* 5-468 Laubinger + Rickmann with Philipp Hettich (GN 19 - Geometric Distortion of Gigacastings)

* 5-162a Dynatool Industries with JC Tawil (GN 16 - Maple Syrup on the US Market with Jean-Claude Tawil)

* 5-162d Comptech with Dr. Per Jansson (GN 9 - Dr. Per Jansson changes the World one Slurry at a Time; GN 18 - Is Rheocasting the Savior of Gigacasting?; GN 54 - The Opportunities Rheocasting creates for Foundries, GN 59 - Software to prove the Stability of Rheocasting)

* 5-162f Spartan Light Metal Products with Chris Sleath and Scott Meyer (GN 48 - Rheocasting Developments at Spartan)

* 5-153 Casting-Campus with Fabian Niklas (GN 55 - Content Marketing for the Foundry Industry; GN 57 - Learn how to implement Rheocasting profitably)

* 4-168 Gnutti Carlo Group with Eric Müller (GN 38 - The Future of the Die-Casting Industry is Marketing)

* 4-348 Teraport with Raphael Heilig (GN 40 - A joint HPDC Industry in Europe as a Best Seller)

* 4-342 Magma Gießereitechnologie with Dr. Horst Bramann (GN 46 - Risk Mitigation in Gigacasting with MAGMASOFT)

* 4-340 ItalPresseGauss with Peter Sell (GN 24 - The Race to the highest Clamping Force)

* 4A-216 Bühler with Dr. Markus Hofer (GN 25 - How the Merger of Disciplines makes Casting successful)

* 4A-114 Handtmann with Andreas Würzer (GN 50 - German Megacasting and Chinese Speed)

* 4A-314 Heck + Becker with Benni Jung and Andre Weißbrenner (GN 7 - The Transformation of Heck + Becker, GN 33 - Leveraging of Cooperation takes off at the Euroguss Executive Circle)

Want to Be on the Next Tour?

If you feel your company should be part of a future Goldcasting tour, talk to us.Stop by at Euroguss, give us a call, or reach out after the show. Let’s discuss how your story could be featured on the podcast and maybe on the next tour map.

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you in the next episode, where we’ll continue to bring you the latest insights and updates from the casting world. Don’t forget to ask questions, write comments, or make suggestions for future episodes.

We hope to meet you at the Euroguss!

Fabian and Staffan

The Rheowalk is an initiative to showcase a worldwide network supporting Rheocasting, organized by Comptech. This Gold Nugget is based on this map and provides additional insights into why you should visit each company.

You will find Staffan Zetterström at the Comptech booth (5-162d) and Fabian Niklas at the Casting-Campus booth (5-153). Both hosts are proud to share each company's Rheocasting accomplishments with you.

Following the steps in this tour, you can see, learn, and discuss with these experts, who can present the interesting aspects of Rheocasting. When you enter the Euroguss trade fair, turn left and start in hall 4A, or invert the list when you want to start in hall 7A.

Companies in the Rheowalk

4A-216: Bühler

4A-322: Wieland Caro

4A-522: Faist Light Metals

4-342: Magma

4-116: DGS

5-153: Casting-Campus

5-162d: Comptech

5-162f: Spartan Light Metal Products

5-162a: Dynatool Industries

5-162b: PSW Group

5-162g: PTS Prüftechnik

5-162c: G-Plast

5-361: Millison Technologies

5-250a: Österreichisches Gießereiinstitut (ÖGI)

5-250e: Gießerei Technik Kassel (GTK)

7-132: Stena Aluminium

7A-110: Chem-Trend

See you in Nürnberg!

Follow along the Rheowalk and become a Rheocasting insider as well. Use the podcast as a conversation starter at the booths and talk to our friends, partners, and colleagues. We are all looking forward to talking to you about our favorite topic - Rheocasting!

Thank you for listening. We’ll see you in the next episode, where we’ll continue to bring you the latest insights and updates from the casting world. Don’t forget to ask questions, write comments, or make suggestions for future episodes.

We hope to meet you at the Euroguss!

Fabian and Staffan