Foundry industry as a base branch represents an important factor contributing to the economic potential of each country. Current market development as well as technical and economic objective, the production of high-quality, low- cost and environmentally friendly casting, requires application of recent and advanced materials, as well as production technologies, followed and supported by understanding of production process. Production imperative is pointed into the recent technologies and improved materials for everyday usage in our homes, workplaces, as well as materials with special requirements for specific applications such as those for the automotive or space industry. Industrial activities, which are defined as strategic activities in the Republic of Croatia are Metal Casting and Production of Final Metal Products, recognized as "economic growth drivers" because they are expected to realize higher rates of growth and employment. Hi-Tech casting solution comprehends to recent technology and educated and skilled engineers. The Conference topics were designed as presentations of the current "state of the art" research in collaboration with industry, and production innovation with the aim to improve the competitiveness. The scope of 17th International Foundrymen Conference (IFC) covers scientific, technological and practical aspects concerning research, development and application of casting technology with the common perspective – increase of competitiveness. Special attention will be focused towards the competitiveness ability of foundries, improvement of materials features and casting technologies, environmental protection as well as subjects connected to the application of castings. During this Conference 44 papers will be presented. Book of Abstracts of the 17th International Foundrymen Conference includes summaries of the papers. The Proceedings book consists of papers in extenso published in electronic format (CD). Full length papers have undergone the international review procedure, done by eminent experts from corresponding fields, but have not undergone linguistic proof reading. Sequence of papers in Proceedings book has been done by category of papers in following order: plenary lectures, invited lectures, oral and poster presentation, and inside the category alphabetically by the first author’s surname. This occasion represents the opportunity to discuss and increase the mutual collaboration between HEIs’ and industry with the aim of information exchange related to advanced experience in foundry processes and technologies, gaining the new experience in presentation and / or teaching process within lifelong learning process.
