Consortium

Istanbul Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters’ Assocation was found in 1986 under the General Secretariat of the İstanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters’ Associations, represent more than 7000 member companies. Istanbul Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters’ Assocation have been established with the aim of contributing to the improvement of exports, carrying out exportrelated transations on behalf of their members and coordinating business activities and relations of exporters, finding solutions to their problems and providing guidance.

As the coordinator of the DigiFoundry project, IDDMIB is responsible for the overall management, communication, monitoring, and reporting of project activities. In addition to coordinating the consortium, IDDMIB actively contributes to researching best practices in vocational education and training, organising peer-learning and networking activities, and strengthening cooperation among sector stakeholders. IDDMIB also supports the research on green and digital transformation trends and needs in the foundry sector and contributes to related events and knowledge-sharing activities. Through this combined role, IDDMIB helps ensure that DigiFoundry remains well-managed, sector-oriented, and relevant to both vocational education and industrial transformation.

The Turkish Foundry Association (TÜDÖKSAD), founded in 1976, is a voluntary non-governmental organization representing Türkiye’s metal casting industry. With 135 member foundries and 63 associate members, including major foundries and many SMEs, TÜDÖKSAD supports the sector’s development, promotes its interests before public authorities, contributes to national policy-making, and represents the industry internationally. It has been a member of the World Foundry Organization (WFO) since 1989 and the European Foundry Federation (EFF) since 2007, and supports the biennial Ankiros fair with the TurkCast section.

Within the DigiFoundry project, TÜDÖKSAD ensured the active participation of the foundry sector and helped align the digital training infrastructure with real production processes. By coordinating companies, engineers, and technical experts, it enabled on-site observations, captured production flows and operational details, and supported their transfer into the simulation environment. This helped transform the training content into a practical and realistic tool reflecting current foundry operations and industry needs.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME) at the Brno University of Technology (BUT) is one of the largest and most prestigious engineering faculties in the Czech Republic. With a rich history spanning over a century, it combines traditional engineering principles with cutting-edge research in fields like aerospace, robotics, and energy. The faculty is recognized for its strong ties to the industry, offering students practical experience and excellent career prospects in a global market.

In the DigiFoundry project, FME BUT is responsible for the overall content, planning, and management of the technical work package focused on innovative foundry methods. Our core contribution lies in the implementation of virtual technologies, numerical simulations, and the integration of advanced digital tools into manufacturing processes. Working with a wide spectrum of materials, including specialized steels and Co, Ni, and Ti-based alloys, we provide high-level expertise in complex metallurgical challenges. Our strong asset is the ability to bridge the gap between digital innovation and physical production. We offer a unique synergy by combining advanced research in foundry technology and metallurgy with direct validation in our fully equipped experimental facilities for gravity sand casting and investment casting. This dual capacity for both virtual optimization and real-world verification makes us a strategic partner for future collaborations aiming at Industry 4.0 applications and high-performance engineering.

The Polish Foundry Chamber of Commerce is Poland’s only self-governed organization representing the foundry industry, bringing together leading foundries, enterprises, and institutions serving the sector. It represents the industry before state authorities, other self-governed bodies, and international organizations, contributes to legislative processes, and gives opinions on legal acts affecting the economy. The Chamber also supports cooperation between Polish foundries and partners in Poland and abroad, organizes trade fairs and trade missions, and facilitates contacts with producers of castings, suppliers of materials, machines, equipment, and services for the foundry industry. Its member companies produce castings in cast iron, cast steel, and Cu, Zn, and Al alloys for various industries. The Chamber is a member of the Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG) and the European Foundry Federation (EFF).

Amazoi XR Technical Simulation Software Inc. is an R&D company developing AR/VR-supported simulation projects. The company was established through equity-based crowdfunding with the support of the Ankara Development Agency, Hacettepe Technopolis, Fundbulucu, GSYF (Gross Refineries Fund), and 60 qualified investors, totaling 1,103 provinces. Amazoi XR Tech develops simulation projects using augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and WebGL technologies for its business partners operating in the defense, petrochemical, automotive, and construction/mining sectors. With its highly qualified engineering and design team, Amazoi XR Tech has developed VR-supported basic OHS and 50 critical occupational safety and on-the-job technical training simulations.

The Foundry Association of the Basque Country and Navarra (AFV) is a non-profit organization and has since 1978 as objective to defend and promote the professional interests of the foundry sector. In 1997 the AFV agreed with the Foundry Association of Catalonia (AFC), the other focal point of the Sector in Spain, to set up the Spanish Federation of Foundry Associations (FEAF). FEAF has its head office in Bilbao, in the headquarters of the AFV, and both organisations share the same resources, not only material but also human.