2025 China (Tianjin) International Foundry Expo: The Barometer of the Global Foundry Industry and Tiegu's Industrial Empowerment

I. Overview of the Expo: The "Davos Forum" of the Foundry Industry

From May 20th to 23rd, 2025, the 20th China International Foundry Expo (Metal China 2025) grandly kicked off at the Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Center. As the largest and most influential foundry industry event in Asia, this expo, themed "Green · Intelligent · Integrated," attracted 1,489 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions. With over 100,000 professional visitors, the intended signing amount exceeded 3 billion yuan.

Key Highlights at a Glance

• Record-breaking Scale: The exhibition area reached 100,000 square meters, covering six themed pavilions (high-end castings, intelligent equipment, raw and auxiliary materials, etc.). For the first time, a Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology Zone and a Composite Materials Pavilion were established.

• Upgraded Internationalization: Global Fortune 500 companies such as SEW from Germany and Toray from Japan participated in the exhibition. Overseas exhibitors accounted for 18%. Procurement delegations from emerging markets like Sri Lanka signed orders worth over $500 million on the spot.

• Technological Vane: Sixty-seven globally premier technologies were released, covering cutting-edge fields such as 3D printed sand molds, AI furnace temperature control, and hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI).

II. Technological Revolution: The Leap from the Laboratory to the Production Line

1. Green Transformation: Industrial Practices for Carbon Neutrality

In the Carbon Neutrality Demonstration Zone, the 1.2 million-ton hydrogen-based shaft furnace project globally premiered by HBIS Group became the spotlight. This project emits only 1.2 tons of CO₂ per ton of iron, a 50% reduction compared to traditional processes. The supporting carbon capture technology can convert waste gas into industrial-grade dry ice, achieving full-chain emission reduction. The 2025 China Foundry Composite Materials Blue Book released concurrently predicts that by 2028, the penetration rate of composite materials in the automotive lightweighting field will soar from 12% to 25%, with the market size exceeding 200 billion yuan.

2. Intelligent Foundry: The Dance of Robots and Big Data

The intelligent grinding robot exhibited by Baoding Weier is equipped with a visual recognition system, achieving an accuracy of ±0.02mm and reducing labor costs by 70%. The IGBT melting power supply technology introduced by Fuji Electric reduces energy consumption by 15% year-on-year and has already received orders from European new energy vehicle manufacturers. The integrated die-casting body technology demonstrated by Xiaomi Auto integrates 70 parts into one using a 12,000-ton die-casting machine, slashing manufacturing costs by 40%.

3. Material Breakthroughs: From Magnesium Alloys to Self-healing Molds

Yulin Fugu (producing 40% of the world's magnesium) and Huafu Technology jointly launched a lightweight solution using magnesium-based composite materials, reducing the weight of automotive chassis by 30%. The microcapsule self-healing mold material globally premiered by China Composites Group shortens the crack repair response time to 0.3 seconds and extends the mold life by 180%. It has been applied to the production line of FAW-Volkswagen EA888 engine blocks.

High-purity Pig Iron: The Cornerstone of Foundry Material Quality

• Special Material for Ductile Iron: The high-purity pig iron exhibited by HBIS has a carbon equivalent (CE) stably maintained at 4.3 - 4.5%, and its graphite morphology meets the ASTM A48 Class 40B standard, enhancing the fatigue life of ductile iron castings by 30%.

• Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement for Gray Iron Castings: Ansteel launched high-purity pig iron with low titanium content (Ti≤0.04%), improving both the hardness and machinability of gray iron castings (such as HT300 machine tool bases) and reducing the scrap rate by 15%.

Green Foundry Processes

• High-purity Pig Iron via Hydrogen Metallurgy: The 1.2 million-ton hydrogen-based shaft furnace project of HBIS emits only 1.2 tons of CO₂ per ton of iron. The produced high-purity pig iron has a sulfur content of ≤0.015% and is specially supplied for orders of ductile iron castings from European new energy vehicles.

• Intelligent Foundry of Gray Iron Castings: The intelligent grinding robot of Baoding Weier can make the surface roughness of gray iron castings (brake discs, pump casings) Ra≤3.2μm, with an efficiency 5 times higher than manual work.

Composite Materials and Casting Lightweighting

• Magnesium-based Ductile Iron: The composite material of magnesium alloy and ductile iron from Yulin Fugu reduces the weight of automotive steering knuckles by 25% and has a tensile strength of 600MPa.

• 3D Printed Gray Iron Castings: Gongxiang Cast Steel showcased sand mold 3D printing technology, shortening the mold development cycle of gray iron castings (HT200) from 30 days to 72 hours.

III. Resonance of the Industrial Chain: The Value Reconstruction from Raw Materials to End Products

1. Innovation in Raw and Auxiliary Materials

• High-purity Pig Iron Track: Baowu Group exhibited special pig iron for ductile iron with sulfur and phosphorus content ≤0.025%, suitable for precision casting scenarios such as wind turbine hubs and high-speed rail brake discs.

• Green Refractory Materials: The nano-coated refractory bricks of Qingdao Zunlong extend the furnace life by 50% and have obtained the EU CE certification.

2. The Wave of Equipment Upgrades

Guangdong Hongtu released a 20,000-ton super-large die-casting island, specializing in the integrated casting of new energy vehicle chassis. Hebei Modern Mould launched a topological optimization sand mold design software, shortening the new product development cycle from 45 days to 12 days.

3. Standard Output and International Collaboration

During the expo, the China Foundry Association reached an agreement with rail transit manufacturers from the Commonwealth of Independent States, promoting the inclusion of the GB/T 1412-2017 high-purity pig iron standard in the procurement system of railway accessories in Central Asia, marking the global reach of Chinese technical standards.

IV. Tiegu: A Reliable Partner in the Global Foundry Supply Chain

As an international trade service provider specializing in the agency of Chinese high-purity pig iron and castings, Tiegu provides global customers with a full-link service of "material selection - procurement - logistics - customs clearance" relying on 20 years of industry experience.

1. Core Agency Products

• High-purity Pig Iron: Sulfur and phosphorus content ≤0.03%, suitable for the production of ductile iron (QT series) and high-end gray iron castings (HT250-HT350).

• Ductile Iron Castings: Covering the entire range from QT400-18 to QT900-2, applied in scenarios such as automotive crankshafts and wind turbine hubs.

• Gray Iron Castings: Standard and customized parts of HT150-HT300, including pump valve housings and machine tool bases.

2. Supply Chain Advantages

• Direct Sourcing from the Source: Collaborating with the top 10 smelters like Baowu and Ansteel and over 30 high-quality casting factories, ensuring price competitiveness (FOB quotes are 20 - 30% lower than those in Europe).

• Quality Assurance: Provide SGS/BV inspection reports (including key indicators such as carbon equivalent and graphite morphology) for each batch of pig iron. Castings comply with ISO 9001 and customer-specific standards.

• Flexible Delivery:

• Pig Iron: Accept orders starting from 20 tons, with bulk or ton bag packaging. It can reach Europe and the United States from Qingdao Port within 30 days.

• Castings: Offer drawing conversion, sample trial production, and mass production, shortening the delivery cycle by 30%.

3. Value-added Services

• Customized Composition: Adjust the silicon (0.6 - 1.8%) and manganese (0.2 - 0.8%) content of pig iron to meet the special requirements of ductile iron or gray iron castings.

• Process Optimization: Collaborate with the China Foundry Research Institute to provide smelting parameter design and reduce the defect rates of casting porosity and shrinkage.

• Compliance Support: Assist in completing certifications such as CE, ASTM, and JIS, and cope with EU carbon tariffs (CBAM) and REACH regulations.

IV. Guide for Global Purchasers

1. How to Purchase through Tiegu

• STEP 1 Requirement Submission: Submit the technical specifications (material, size, certification, etc.) of pig iron/castings on the official website.

• STEP 2 Solution Matching: Provide price comparisons from more than three suppliers and sample arrangements within 24 hours.

• STEP 3 Order Execution: Support LC/TT payment methods and track production and logistics throughout the process (factory inspection via video is available).

2. Purchasing Benefits for Expo Participants

• Limited-time Benefits: Customers who sign contracts before May 31, 2025, will enjoy free samples and sea freight insurance subsidies.

• Technical Support: Get the Chinese High-purity Pig Iron Selection Manual and Solutions for Defects in Gray Iron Castings for free.

Seize the opportunity of Chinese foundry resources now by contacting Tiegu immediately!
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Why Choose Tiegu?
✅ First-hand Resources: Direct connection with China's leading smelters and casting factories, eliminating intermediate markups.
✅ Risk Control: Provide upfront compensation for quality disputes and daily compensation for logistics delays.
✅ Localized Services: Local teams in Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia, with 7×12-hour response.