NACE 24.5 – Casting of Metals | Public Tenders

NACE 24.5: Foundries and castings in public procurement. CPV codes, contracting authorities and procurement procedures for cast components.

Definition: NACE 24.5 covers the casting of iron, steel and non-ferrous metals in foundries. Castings are indispensable for mechanical engineering, vehicle manufacturing, pipeline construction and infrastructure.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 24.5 cover?

NACE 24.5 (Casting of metals) classifies operations that process metals by melting and casting into moulds — a traditional yet highly modern manufacturing process with a broad spectrum of applications.

Class	Title	Typical outputs
24.51	Casting of iron	Grey-iron, ductile-iron and malleable-iron castings
24.52	Casting of steel	Steel castings for mechanical engineering and vehicles
24.53	Casting of light metals	Aluminium and magnesium castings
24.54	Casting of other non-ferrous metals	Bronze, brass and copper castings

Public tenders: castings and foundry products

Castings from NACE 24.5 are present in numerous infrastructure and procurement areas of the public sector — from manhole covers and pump housings to bridge bearings.

Typical contract types

Manhole covers and street furniture: municipalities procure cast-iron products for road and sewer infrastructure (manhole covers, gullies, drains)
Pump housings for water supply: waterworks and wastewater-treatment plants require castings for pumps, fittings and valves
Bridge bearings and sliding elements: road and bridge construction projects require steel and grey-iron castings
Machine castings for public operations: vehicle components, machine bases and housings for public workshops
Heritage restorations: reconstruction of cast-iron constructions (railings, lanterns, fountains) for listed public spaces

Relevant CPV codes

CPV code	Title	Application area
44316400	Cast iron	Cast-iron parts in general
44163160	Cast-iron fittings	Pipeline fittings of cast iron
44212382	Manhole covers	Road and sewer inspection covers
42122000	Pumps	Pumps with cast housings
34946100	Track materials	Switches and crossings of cast steel

Contracting authorities and bidders

Public contracting authorities

Cities and municipalities as sewer-infrastructure operators, waterworks, civil-engineering departments and rail-infrastructure operators are the main buyers of foundry products. For listed objects, state heritage authorities and municipal culture authorities are relevant contracting authorities.

Bidders and eligibility requirements

Works standards: EN 1561 (grey iron), EN 1563 (ductile iron), EN 1559 (casting procedure)
DVGW approvals: required for castings used in drinking-water and gas pipework
Dimensional accuracy and sample parts: public contracting authorities frequently require sample parts before series delivery
Capacity evidence: delivery volumes, melting capacities and lead times

Frequently asked questions on NACE 24.5 and public tenders

Can foundries participate as subcontractors in public construction projects? Yes, very frequently. Foundry products are often procured and installed by civil-engineering or pipeline contractors as principal contractors. Foundries can also qualify directly as bidders for material supply tenders.

What environmental requirements apply to foundries in public contracts? In addition to ISO 14001, contracting authorities may require compliance with the Industrial Emissions Directive, BAT reference documents for foundries, and specific limits for heavy metals and organic emissions.

NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section
NACE 24 – Manufacture of basic metals: parent division
NACE 24.4 – Non-ferrous metals: non-ferrous metals as raw material
NACE 25.9 – Other fabricated metal products: downstream processing area

Last updated: January 2026 All information provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement.