This is precisely what CastForge is all about. Held every two years, the international trade fair brings together manufacturers of forgings, castings and machined components with customers from across Europe. The 2026 event in Stuttgart, Germany, also marked HKS Forge’s debut at this major industry gathering.
CastForge is one of Europe’s leading B2B trade fairs dedicated to the supply chain for forgings and castings. For HKS Forge, taking part provided an opportunity to showcase its manufacturing capabilities, strengthen relationships with existing customers and establish new business contacts with partners from across Europe.
Over the three days of the exhibition, our stand welcomed a large number of industry professionals. The forgings on display, a video showcasing our manufacturing process and the overall stand concept all attracted considerable attention, while creating a welcoming environment for business discussions. However, the greatest interest was, as ever, in what lies behind the products themselves – our technical know-how, many years of experience and ability to provide a complete manufacturing process, from die production and closed-die forging through heat treatment to final CNC machining.
“We were very positively surprised not only by how well the entire exhibition was organised, but also by the calibre of its visitors. Most of our discussions were directly with technical specialists and decision-makers responsible for new projects. This created excellent conditions for meaningful discussions and for establishing new business relationships,” confirms Igor Kajan, Sales Manager
Another strong point in our discussions was the fact that HKS Forge is a certified supplier to the automotive industry. For many companies, meeting the stringent requirements of the automotive sector is clear evidence of high quality standards, stable manufacturing processes and supplier reliability. These credentials were among the strengths of our company most frequently recognised by visitors.
Throughout the exhibition, we held dozens of professional meetings with both existing and prospective business partners. Representatives of several major industrial companies expressed an interest in our manufacturing capabilities, including Ford Motor Company, Magna Powertrain, Bayraktar, Cummins and Benteler. Each meeting provided an opportunity to present HKS Forge as a reliable partner for technically demanding projects, while also gaining a better understanding of our customers’ needs and the direction in which European industry is evolving.
Our participation in the exhibition was not solely about making new contacts. Equally valuable was the opportunity to explore the latest trends in metal forming, manufacturing technologies and the ways in which companies from our industry present themselves at international events. These insights are an important part of the continued development of our business strategy and our preparations for future trade fairs.
The successful presentation of the company was made possible by the HKS Forge team comprising Igor Kajan (Sales Manager), Martina Chorvátová (Quotation Specialist) and Miroslav Griflík (Head of Production Engineering). On the busiest day of the exhibition, the HKS team was also joined by Slavomír Gregor (Managing Director) and Peter Špak, representing Energy Group. Our participation was the result of several months of preparation – from the design of the exhibition stand and promotional materials to logistics and the overall organisation of the event.
CastForge 2026 confirmed that even in the digital age, face-to-face meetings remain irreplaceable. The new contacts we made, the business opportunities that emerged and the many inspiring conversations we had are a strong motivation for us to continue building the company’s reputation in international markets. We are also pleased to have had the opportunity to represent not only HKS Forge, but the entire Energy Group, presenting it as a modern, reliable and technologically advanced partner for European industry.
