For the past few decades, the global industry was captivated by the vision of low-cost production in the Far East. However, recent years – marked by the pandemic, port congestion, and geopolitical instability – have drastically changed the rules of the game. Today, a low unit price for a casting is no longer enough to remain a market leader. What matters now is supply security, quality, and flexibility. This is precisely why European companies are increasingly turning their gaze toward domestic iron foundries. Why are Poland, and specifically companies like ELZAMECH, becoming the primary beneficiaries of the nearshoring trend?

Poland’s rising significance in the foundry industry

Nearshoring is a business strategy that involves relocating production processes or services to countries in close geographical, political, and cultural proximity. In the context of heavy industry and metal casting, this represents a reversal of the globalization trend that for years pushed production to Asian countries in pursuit of the lowest labor costs.

Today, for companies from Germany, France, Scandinavia, or the Benelux countries, Poland has become a natural production hub. Why is this shift happening now? It is not driven by sentiment or economic patriotism, but by a cold calculation of business risk, influenced by three key factors.

• The end of the era of cheap long-distance transport. Drastic fluctuations in sea freight prices and limited container availability have made logistics from Asia unpredictable. Nearshoring allows for the almost complete elimination of risks associated with maritime route blockades or port instability.
• Supply chain resilience. The pandemic and geopolitical tensions exposed the weaknesses of the "offshoring" model. An interruption in the supply of even one small casting can halt the assembly of a machine worth millions of euros. The geographical proximity of the ELZAMECH foundry allows for real-time production monitoring and an immediate response to changes in demand.
• Cultural and legal compatibility. As a member of the European Union, Poland operates within the same legal, customs, and quality framework (ISO standards, environmental directives). Cooperation within the Single Market eliminates bureaucratic barriers, customs duties, and currency risks, which – in long-term contracts with third countries – can drastically reduce project profitability.

Reasons why iron castings are best made in Poland

Logistics and lead time

A container from China takes an average of 4–6 weeks to reach Europe, plus time for customs clearance and inland transport. Every port delay translates to downtime on the production line. Partnering with a Polish foundry reduces this time drastically. Delivery from ELZAMECH to any location in Poland is a matter of 24 hours, and to most EU countries, a maximum of 2–3 days.

• Benefit – companies can maintain lower inventory levels (Just-in-Time principle) and react faster to sudden orders from their customers. Capital previously frozen in transit begins to work for the business.

Quality control and compliance

Ordering castings from the other side of the world can be a "pig in a poke" scenario. Potential complaints involve massive return shipping costs and months of waiting for a replacement batch. The Polish casting industry is renowned for its rigorous adherence to EU standards. At ELZAMECH, the quality control process – from chemical composition analysis to non-destructive testing (NDT) – takes place on-site.

• Benefit – the company is guaranteed to receive a product that meets specifications. Should a problem arise, we are on-site to resolve it immediately, and engineers can meet face-to-face to discuss technical details.

Communication and flexibility

Language barriers, time zone differences, and cultural gaps can lead to costly technical misunderstandings. In the machinery industry, where microns and specific alloy parameters matter, precise communication is key. Working with a Polish partner provides the comfort of operating in the same time zone and a similar technical culture.

• Benefit – the ability to implement rapid design changes, easy prototyping, and technological consultations at every stage of production.

TCO – Total Cost of Ownership

Many buyers make the mistake of looking only at the "ex-works" unit price. However, if you add sea freight costs (which can increase severalfold within a month), duties, taxes, risk-related costs, inventory storage, and the cost of handling complaints to the Asian price, it often turns out that the Polish foundry’s offer is not only qualitatively superior but also price-competitive in terms of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Modern machinery manufacturing needs partners, not just suppliers. In an era of economic uncertainty, the slogan "a close partner is a safe business" is no longer a cliché – it has become a survival strategy for the largest machine manufacturers in Europe. In practice, nearshoring means greater control over the process, better quality, and, above all, peace of mind for managers responsible for production continuity.

Choosing the right iron foundry is an investment in the efficiency and security of your production. ELZAMECH combines years of experience with a modern approach to customer service, offering high quality on the Polish market.