GIFA Mexico 2024 celebrates a successful debut: record international attendance and an enthusiastic atmosphere in the exhibition halls ensure global appeal
The inaugural GIFA Mexico, which took place from 16 to 18 October 2024, running in parallel with the well-established FUNDIEXPO at the Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City, has come to a close with great success and a strong turnout of more than 4,700 trade visitors from Mexico, other Latin American countries, the USA and Canada. As a new trade fair in the “The Bright World of Metals” portfolio, GIFA Mexico has thus set new standards for the foundry industry in Latin America.
344 exhibitors from 16 countries showcased technological innovations in foundry technology across more than 15,000 m² of exhibition space. From machinery and equipment for sand and permanent-mould casting, metalworking and machining through to die-casting, virtually all relevant manufacturers, service providers and consultants were represented. Alongside suppliers from Latin America, international companies from China, Italy, Spain, Germany and the USA in particular took part. For the first time, companies from Turkey and India also exhibited – two countries that are increasingly recognising Mexico as an attractive market. This underlines the trade fair’s growing international significance.
Malte Seifert, Director of Metals & Autonomous Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, enthusiastically summarised his impressions of the three days of the fair: “The first GIFA Mexico is now behind us, and we are still speechless. The wealth of positive feedback and the numerous business opportunities that have arisen over the last few days have far exceeded our expectations. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to supporting the further development of the Mexican market and offering our customers important, internationally oriented market platforms. Together with our partner FUNDIEXPO, our aim is to develop GIFA Mexico/FUNDIEXPO into one of the world’s top four trade fairs for the foundry industry in the medium term.”
Bruno Jaramillo, Director of FUNDIEXPO, also expressed his great satisfaction: “We are very pleased with the results of FUNDIEXPO/GIFA Mexico 2024; the response from exhibitors and visitors was overwhelming and impressively underlined the importance of the trade fair for the industry. We are already working on the next event, which will take place in 2026 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, where we will provide further impetus for the development of the foundry and metallurgy sectors at an international level.”
GIFA Mexico/FUNDIEXPO also met with a very positive response from the international audience. Patricio Gil, former AFS President and foundry entrepreneur, praised the event: “You can expect a good event from experienced partners such as Messe Düsseldorf, organisers of the world’s leading trade fair GIFA and FUNDIEXPO, but I am pleasantly surprised. Mexico has enormous potential and this launch was an outstanding success.” Many exhibitors shared this enthusiasm and praised the high calibre of the trade visitors. Jürgen Lamparter, Sales Director at Oskar Frech GmbH, also gave a positive assessment: “We feel very much at home in Mexico, and GIFA Mexico/FUNDIEXPO offers us an excellent platform.”
Supporting programme attracts large numbers
Highlights of the accompanying supporting programme, featuring more than 80 presentations and events, included the Global Foundry and Metallurgy Summit and the panel discussion ‘Women in the Foundry Industry’. In addition to the trade fair, various factory tours and seminars were organised in the run-up to the event, giving participants a deeper insight into Mexico’s foundry sector.
At the industry’s request, the next GIFA Mexico/FUNDIEXPO will take place from 28 to 30 October 2026 in Monterrey (northern Mexico).
Information for exhibitors is available from the GIFA team
(Sarah Möller, MoellerS@messe-duesseldorf.de).
Further information on GIFA Mexico can be found at:
www.gifa-mexico.com.
FUNDIEXPO
FUNDIEXPO has been Mexico’s established trade fair and forum for the foundry industry for half a century and is organised by the Mexican Foundry Association, Sociedad Mexicana de Fundidores, A.C. (SMFAC), in cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf.
GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS, NEWCAST
Larissa Browa
Tel: +49 (0)211-4560 549
BrowaL@messe-duesseldorf.de