Dr Ioannis Ioannidis (Oskar Frech), Vice President, will take over the position of Mr Galante (IMF Group) – long‐standing President of Cemafon – until the election of a new Presidency at the next General Assembly. During his Presidency for more than 20 years, Mr Galante has established Cemafon as the respected voice and lobby organisation of the European manufacturers of foundry machinery and plants, furnaces and products for the foundry industry. He is an untiring promotor of the European industry throughout the world. Furthermore, he invented and steered the biannual International Foundry Forum, which is now the most important networking event of our industry. On behalf of the Executive Committee and all members, Dr Ioannidis expresses his deepest respect and gratitude for Mr Galante’s long‐lasting engagement and his commitment to the idea of a strong and leading European foundry equipment supplying industry and the establishment of excellent international relations. The Executive Committee of Cemafon will continue to strongly support its members and the European foundry equipment manufacturers and their customers by promoting relations with European administrative bodies as well as international representatives relevant for our industry.