Indian Foundry Congress and IFEX 2022 which was scheduled from 18-20 February 2022 is now rescheduled to 22-24 April 2022 at the same venue at Helipad Grounds, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The organising committee is optimistic of bringing international foundry experts as speakers and delegates during the new date, expecting the global pandemic will slow down by the end of March 2022.
70th Indian Foundry Congress (IFC) and 18th International Foundry Exhibition (IFEX) organised by The Institute of Indian Foundry Men (IIF) got postponed due to the growing third wave covid19 and omicron concerns in the country. IFEX 2022 exhibition is managed by India’s leading tradeshow organisers K and D Communications and will be now scheduled from 22-24 April 2022 at Helipad Grounds, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Every edition of IFC and IFEX is organised by different regions and the 2022 edition is organised by IIF Western Region. The last edition of IFC and IFEX which was organised virtually during 2021 was organised by IIF Eastern Region. The Western Region was preparing to make the 2022 edition a grand trade fair and initiated their activities very well in advance and roped in one of India’s premium exhibition organisers K and D Communication to manage the IFEX 2022 exhibition.
During the very first week of January 2022, the organising committee headed by Subodh Panchal, Organising Chairman of IFC, Amish Panchal, Chairman of IFEX 2022, Devendra Jain, President of IIF, Manish Patrikar, Chairman of Western Regional Committee, Saibal Sen decided to postpone the show considering the current pandemic situation. Machine Maker spoke to Subodh Panchal, Chairman of 70th Indian Foundry Congress organising committee, a foundry veteran who was part of organising numerous IFC’s during his extensive career.
“During the first week of January, there was a big hype in the media about the new wave of covid19 and omicron infections happening in many parts of the country. Panic buttons were pressed and we got calls from delegates as well as exhibitors about the safety concerns”, said Subodh Panchal. The organising committee took immediate steps and announced the postponement of IFEX 2022 as well as IFC by the 5th of January 2022.
There are many international speakers who are experts in Foundry who regularly participate in the flagship event of The Institute of Indian Foundry Men. “There were concerns that the speakers from the global industry will not be able to participate if we are going to continue on our with our scheduled date in February. Our decision proved right within two days when Vibrant Gujarat one of the biggest events of Gujarat Government at the same venue got postponed”, added Mr Panchal.
All the 220 exhibitors appreciated the decision of the organising committee to postpone the IFEX and Cast India Expo to April 2022. “There were two options in front of us. To cancel the event or to postpone. One cannot just sit and look at what is happening, and we need to continue to do the business. After much deliberations it was decided to postpone the event”, informed Subodh Panchal.
Subodh Panchal is very optimistic that the current situation not just in India, but globally will improve by end of March. “We expect within next two months people can travel safely to the exhibition and conference which we are scheduled from 22-24 April. We are already receiving several positive signals. In some of the metros Covid19 infections are flattening, and other places respective government and authorities are taking all precautions to control the spread”, concluded Mr Panchal.
In a note, the organising committee of IFC extends its efforts and support to all stakeholders involved in the exhibition and convention. The OC also ensures more value will be added to the event, overcoming the larger challenges of the industry, but creating opportunities together even larger.
