Viet Nam hosts Asian Foundry Congress

A corner of a cast-iron and steel production line in Viet Nam. - Photo Nguyen Thang

Speaking at the 13th Asian Foundry Congress (AFC-13) in Ha Noi, in which more than 230 international and domestic firms are participating, Hung said Viet Nam was close to its target of national industrialisation and modernisation, in which mechanical manufacturing should be given attention.

President of the Vietnam Foundry and Metallurgy Science and Technology Association (VFMSTA) Pham Chi Cuong said the foundry industry could occupy 40 to 70 per cent of the mechanical engineering chain's value.

However, Cuong said the industry was yet to thoroughly compile statistics on its output, products, technology level and equipment use.

Cuong said the sectors should prepare a specialised document that included detailed and precise profiles of the foundries in the country. This could open up greater business connectivity at home, while helping foreign clients seek partners in Viet Nam and policymakers design relevant strategies.

Associate Professor Nguyen Huu Dung from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST)'s Institute of Materials Science and Technology said Asia had high potential for the foundry industry's development. Official statistics revealled that the region has 50 per cent of the world's metal-casting yield.

Production in Viet Nam is only adequate for domestic consumption, with competition taking place inside the national boundaries. It is estimated the country will annually produce two million tonnes of foundry products by 2020.

The government expects to approve a range of foreign investment projects that can help the local industry improve its technology and product quality.

Regarding countries that developed their foundry industry late, such as Viet Nam, Dung said technology needed to be actively improved to attract investment in research and encourage the development of transnational groups.

The three-day-congress will end on October 30.

The scope of the AFC-13 is to promote exchange of results and ideas in the fields of foundry and cast metals engineering under the theme "Asian Foundries – Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Developments in the Foundry."

The participants will discuss issues such as cast iron and steel; advanced metallic materials science and engineering; computer applications; and non-ferrous and light alloy castings; besides foundry technology, equipment, manufacturing and tools and automation.

The congress will allow all participants to take full advantage of the many opportunities for formal and informal interaction with colleagues from all over Asia, sharing knowledge of the most recent advances in technology and research on foundry and metals science. The AFC-13 will foster collaboration between academic and industrial communities.