Dear Readers!

We are approaching the end of 2024.

Welcoming the New Year 2025 forces us to summarise the passing one. For our Association, it was very hard-working, as always. We managed to implement most of our plans and assumptions, take part in many events important for the industry.

In January, the Association represented the Polish foundry industry at the EUROGUSS 2024 Trade Fair in Nuremberg.

In February, in Bukowina Tatrzańska, more cups and medals were awarded in the 2nd Polish Foundry Championships in Skiing and Snowboarding.

June, as always, abounded in many important events for the foundry industry.

Poznań welcomed us, as always, with beautiful sunshine during this year’s edition of the ITM Industry Europe 2024 Trade Fair, and another meeting of the management staff was held in Kielce during the 11^th Forum of Presidents and Directors of Foundries in Poland.

The CastForge Trade Fair in Stuttgart has become a permanent fixture in the calendar of foundry events in Europe. This year, they were an ideal opportunity for the Association to promote Polish iron and steel foundries on the European market.

After the summer holidays, in September, we came back to Kielce to participate in the 25th edition of the International Trade Fair of Technologies for Foundry METAL.

In October, we organised a technical trip to the 75^th World Foundry Congress, which this time was held in Deyang, China. The Polish representation was the largest among the participants from Europe and consisted of 33 people – representatives of institutes, universities and foundry companies. The participation in the Congress resulted in success for Poles, which was confirmed by the awards they won.

December and the preceding autumn months were filled with activities preparing our flagship annual foundry event, the National Foundryman’s Day. These activities were intertwined with questions about how many participants would come, how many abstracts would be presented, how many companies would present their creative products during the annual exhibition accompanying the conference.

We hope that the summary of the year-ending event that is the National Foundryman’s Day will bring only positive answers. And we will owe it to the commitment of the entire secretariat of the Main Board of STOP, members of the Main Board of STOP and the cooperation of all those people and business partners who have great trust and friendship in the Association and treat it as an organisation representing the Polish foundry industry.

This mobilises us to further ambitious initiatives that will only strengthen the position of the Association in Poland and abroad.

We would like to thank Dear Readers, Subscribers, Advertisers, Authors and all STOP Ordinary and Supporting Members, Friends and Supporters for their cooperation and support of our activities in 2024.

At the same time, on the occasion of the National Foundryman’s Day 2024, Christmas and the upcoming New Year, we wish you health, all prosperity and success in your private, professional and association life. May this Year be the one in which you will successfully implement all your plans, intentions and dreams.

Magdalena Baryła (Jasińska) – Deputy Editor-in-Chief