Europe Iron & Steel Casting Market size exceeded USD 33.6 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5% from 2021 to 2027.

Casting is prevalent for manufacturing complex products and parts. The process involves the use of molds to provide any desired shape to the molten metal. Casting is a low-cost alternative for producing complex designs that are usually uneconomical to make through any other process. The method provides the ability to use various materials, including metals and synthetics as well, however, iron and steel are mostly used in casting owing to their superior properties. The demand for cast steel & iron is robust from the automotive industry.

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European Market, By Application

Automotive is the major application sector of cast iron & steel. In 2020, the automotive sector acquired 32.7% of the industry share. Steel and iron cast are extensively used for manufacturing products like engine components, driveline, braking components, and suspension components. The rising adoption of automobiles and the industry growth will further fuel the consumption of cast iron & steel in the coming years.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the recovering economy post-covid will present lucrative opportunities for the growth of the automotive industry. In 2021, the iron & steel casting market is likely to showcase a growth rate of around 10% compared to 2020. Most probably the impact of COVID-19 will persist in the first quarter of 2021. but the year is projected to show profound growth with the progress of the vaccination program in the region.
 

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Additionally, the rapidly growing production of electric vehicles will have a significant impact on revenue generation. Major engine components of electric vehicles and the body are made from aluminum or steel which are either manufactured through molding or casting.

Development in the European construction and infrastructure sector will also drive the demand for iron and steel casting. According to the Euroconstruct – a forecasting body based in Europe, the construction industry in the region is most likely to witness a growth of 4.1%, 3.4%, and 2.4% in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. The construction output is estimated to reach up to Euro 1.7 trillion by 2023, exceeding by Euro 28 billion compared to the pre-coronavirus level of 2019. Even though many countries in Europe have sustained heavy damage due to the COVID-19 outbreak, markets such as Germany performed well. The construction projects in Germany were able to remain relatively unhindered and continued through the pandemic. The civil engineering division is expected to be the least affected and is likely to register a growth of around 5.2% in 2021. The residential construction sector will observe notable growth than the non-residential sector and will reflect an estimated 4.7% growth in 2021.

European Market, By Material

Based on casting materials, iron segment dominated more than 80% of the iron & steel casting market share in 2020. Cast iron is mostly preferred owing to its properties, such as favorable shrinking rates and pourability. It is relatively convenient to cast, as doesn’t shrink as much as steel and pours easily. Hence, it holds the ability to fill complex molds easily and acquire any desired shape. The flowability makes cast iron a preferred choice for several applications including ornate or architectural ironwork structures.

Furthermore, iron is segmented into ductile iron, gray iron, and white iron. Among these, gray iron receives more preference over others due to its superior properties, such as superior thermal conductivity, vibration damping ability, and excellent tensile strength. Moreover, it is a cost-effective material and can be used for a comprehensive range of products, including hydraulic components, linkages, gears, pumps, automotive suspensions, tractor components, machinery bases, steering knuckles, and wind turbines, among others.

European Market, By Process

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Sand casting is the most widely used process for iron & steel casting and the segment generated a revenue of over USD 17 billion in 2020. The extensive application of the process is attributable to the cost-effectiveness, better timing, and the ability to produce components using any kind of material. Any ferrous or non-ferrous alloy can be used in the process of sand casting with relatively low costs making it a highly preferred choice. Moreover, sand casting is efficient in manufacturing large parts and can range in weight from ounces to over 200 tons.

However, there are also few challenges associated with the sand-casting process. Compared to other common processes, it provides a compromised surface finish and low dimensional accuracy. Still, the surface finish can be improved if certain surfaces are machined. Due to its several benefits over other processes, san casting is used to produce a wide range of products, including impellers or blowers, electronic equipment, oil & gas tanks, engine blocks, agricultural machine components, valves, pistons, automotive parts, mining equipment, and medical equipment, among others.

Competitive Industry Landscape

Prominent industry players involved in the manufacturing include Silbitz Group GmbH, ACO Eurobar GmbH, Rautic GmbH, BAS Castings, NovaCast Limited, Thomas Dudley Foundry Limited, Newby Foundries Ltd., Farinia Group, Lucchini RS S.p.A., Castinox S.A., AIANOX, S.A., FUNOR SA, Metal Group, Mechel Group, and LLC BVK.