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

For decades, process stability in semi-solid casting has been the single biggest barrier to scaling the technology. With automotive quality departments demanding verifiable, traceable, and reproducible solid-fraction data, the days of “trust us, we’ve done 5,000 quenches” are over.

In this sponsored episode, Fabian Niklas interviews Staffan Zetterström, not as co-host, but as Marketing & Sales Manager of Comptech Rheocasting, to reveal a quiet revolution. A new solid-fraction analysis software developed jointly with academia and powered by machine learning.

It’s a candid look at why an equipment manufacturer took the leap into software, what it actually solves for foundries, and what this signals for the future of process control, gigacastings, and data-driven casting development.

Key Insights

* You cannot scale semi-solid casting without proving your solid fractionAutomotive OEMs are increasingly asking two questions: Is your process stable? And what solid fraction do you have? Without hard data, foundries won’t pass nomination gates, no matter how good their slurry looks on paper.

* Machine learning + metallurgy = a breakthrough in usabilityThe software automatically analyzes microstructures using models trained in collaboration with leading researchers at Jönköping University. Customers simply upload a polished sample; Comptech validates the rest. The approach blends advanced algorithms with decades of metallurgical expertise to deliver numbers engineers can trust.

* Foundries need digital tools because casting leaves zero margin for errorProducing a rear floor, battery tray, or front cradle every 60 seconds means any alloy mis-specification or solid-fraction drift multiplies into catastrophic cost and unmanageable recalls.Software-based validation is quickly becoming a necessity, not a luxury, for gigacasting programs. The amount of data required for optimization simply cannot be handled manually.

* Building software as a hardware company is messy, but necessaryComptech openly shares how challenging it was for a traditional hardware-focused organization to create software. Translating academic research into a tool that can be used at 3:15 in the morning on the shop floor required a complete shift in mindset. The team had to rethink manuals, user flows, pricing, packaging, and even internal processes such as accounting and distribution.

“Would we do it again? Absolutely!”

Despite the cost, uncertainty, and growing pains, Comptech says developing this software was essential. It solves a foundational problem, enables more machine sales, unlocks validation for customers, and prepares the industry for the next era of data-driven casting development.

Software is no longer optional — it’s the next strategic layer of competitiveness.

Whether you’re an equipment supplier, foundry manager, quality engineer, or casting developer, this episode shows how digital tools are becoming essential to winning nominations, qualifying parts, and securing the next generation of high-value casting programs.

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.

Until next time, keep casting strong!

Fabian and Staffan

Staffan Zetterström and Fabian Niklas break down why the future of the foundry industry cannot rely on automotive alone and why non-automotive business is rapidly becoming the most strategic and profitable path forward.

With automotive volumes flattening, EV architectures reducing part count, and new competitors squeezing margins, the classic “wait for the rebound” mindset is no longer viable. This episode explains what is changing, which industries offer real opportunities, and what foundries must rethink to reach customers who don’t traditionally work with castings.

Whether you’re a foundry owner, commercial leader, or technical manager, this discussion provides a practical roadmap for expanding into new markets, building resilience, and taking control of your long-term business development.

Key Insights

* New industries are opening up, if you know where to look

Some sectors outside the automotive industry are quietly becoming gold mines for foundries. The opportunities are bigger than most expect.

* These customers don’t think like automotive, and that’s the advantage

When the purchasing logic changes, so does the way you win business. The rules are different and far more favorable for those who adapt.

* Speed matters more than you think!

In specific industries, your response time can outweigh your price. A simple shift in pace can unlock doors that were previously closed.

* The casting is only the beginning

In many applications, the casting itself is a small part of the total value. Knowing how the rest of the product comes together makes all the difference.

* Marketing becomes your new inbound engine

To get in front of industries that don’t know you, and don’t know they need you, communication becomes a strategic capability, not a nice-to-have.

* Visibility beats perfection

You don’t need millions of views. You need the right 10–14 people to see you, recognize you, and start a conversation. Being present in the right channels makes that happen.

“You’re not selling a 1,99€ lipstick; you’re selling trust!”

This episode highlights why diversifying beyond automotive isn’t optional anymore. It’s a strategic move that can unlock long-lived programs, higher margins, closer customer relationships, and a more stable future, but only if foundries build the commercial muscles needed to reach industries that operate very differently from the automotive industry.

Rather than waiting for the market to recover, this Gold Nugget outlines how to create your own demand, position your expertise, and win business in sectors that value engineering service, reliability, and sustainability.

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.

Until next time, keep casting strong!

Fabian and Staffan

Staffan Zetterström and Fabian Niklas take a closer look at the Rheocasting Masterclass by Casting-Campus GmbH. A practical, business-focused online learning format designed to help the foundry industry unlock new applications and profits with Rheocasting.

Whether you’re an engineer evaluating new processes, a commercial leader searching for fresh revenue streams, or a supplier who wants to understand where the industry is heading, this podcast provides a clear view of why Rheocasting is gaining traction now and how the proper knowledge can unlock an unfair advantage for anyone ready to move first.

Key Insights

* What the Masterclass covers: From solidification and rheological behavior to business development, application design, and market positioning.

* Lower alloy silicon ≠ lower opportunity: How Rheocasting compensates for castability challenges in giga- and megacastings, while improving tool life and performance.

* New applications advantage: Conductivity jumps from ~140 W/mK to nearly 200 W/mK with low-Si alloys, enabling new electronics and cooling concepts.

* Who’s joining?: Strong participation from Italy, the U.S., and India, with foundries, suppliers, and OEMs unified in the need to understand Rheocasting.

* Flexible global access: Six webinars, multiple meetings for different time zones, and a format that works for operators, engineers, sales teams, and management alike.

* Business first: Rheocasting success requires marketing, design collaboration, and early customer involvement; not just buying new equipment.

“Buying the machine is the easy part, the value is created when you build new business with it.”

This episode highlights how rising demand for high-performance components, shrinking automotive volumes, and the push for differentiation make Rheocasting a timely strategic move for foundries. With a format that is affordable, accessible, and designed for real-world implementation, the Masterclass aims to close the gap between technical capability and profitable business execution. It empowers foundries not just to make better parts, but to win new applications, build stronger customer relationships, and take control of their future in a rapidly changing market.

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.

Until next time, keep casting strong!

Fabian and Staffan

In this episode, Staffan Zetterström and Fabian Niklas travel to India, one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly growing die casting markets. Our guest, Tej Bambra, brings nearly four decades of industry experience and a lifetime of insight into how the Indian die casting landscape has evolved from manual casting in the 1970s to today’s robotics and closed-loop systems.

Key Insights

* India vs. China — how scale, demand, and government incentives shape both markets.

* Technology adoption — why most Indian die casters still rely on imported European and Chinese machinery, and how this affects cost competitiveness.

* Materials and innovation — the early steps in magnesium die casting and the maturity of aluminium smelting in India.

* Automotive outlook — from 4.9 million four-wheelers and 21 million two-wheelers today to a projected 10 million cars by 2030.

* EV growth and the two-wheeler backbone — how electrification could reshape India’s mobility sector.

* Global positioning — what it will take for India to narrow the gap to China and become a true manufacturing counterweight.

“The Future is bright, but we have to bridge the Gap in Technology and Scale”

Tej also reflects on the cultural and economic contrasts between Europe and India: while the West may be moving away from car ownership, in India, a car remains a symbol of status and freedom, and that demand is driving industrial growth.

This episode offers a grounded look at where Indian die casting stands today and how it’s preparing for the next decade of transformation.

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.

Until next time, keep casting strong!

Fabian and Staffan

This week, Staffan Zetterström sits down with Fabian Niklas, this time in a different role. Fabian is the driving force behind the new Marketing Accelerator for the high-pressure die casting industry.

If you’ve ever struggled to make your company visible beyond job ads and trade fairs, this episode is for you. Fabian explains why our industry has world-class technology but often hides it “in the drawer”, how to finally communicate benefits (not just features), and why consistent, smart content will attract the right customers and even AI search engines to your doorstep.

Key Insights

* Why great die casting innovations often remain invisible, and how to change that.

* How the Marketing Accelerator works: bi-weekly online meetups, peer feedback, and content accountability.

* Turning content into real leads and why mass press releases don’t work on Social Media.

* How AI search is changing how buyers find foundries and how to be discoverable.

* The power of consistency and uniqueness in technical B2B marketing.

* Building a personal brand that moves with you throughout your career.

Either you die a little bit every day, or you develop a little bit every day

Whether you’re responsible for business development, employer branding, or just curious about building your personal brand in die casting, the Marketing Accelerator is a free, community-driven workshop to learn, share, and grow. Invest a few hours, try the Marketing Accelerator, and see where it takes you.

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.

Until next time, keep casting strong!

Fabian and Staffan