Modern Casting articles from April 2007

Modern Casting archives from April 2007

Technocast starts production on engine blocks, heads.(Industry News)
April 1, 2007... New iron casting plant Technocast, Saltillo, Mexico, will begin production this month after final testing is completed on castings produced on its green sand molding line. The 550,000-sq.-ft. casting facility, which will manufacture engine...

AmeriCast buys Atlas Castings.(Industry News)
April 1, 2007... AmeriCast Technologies, Atchison, Kan., has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Atlas Castings and Technology, Tacoma, Wash. Atlas, which has casting and machining facilities in Tacoma and Chehalis, Wash., adds energy and defense...

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
April 1, 2007... The February web site question asked, "In which area of your operation have you invested the most to ensure worker safety?" Melting and Pouring 55.6% Maintenance 33.3% Molding/ 11.1% Coremaking This...

Metaltek provides rapid castings for army cleaning tool.(Product Innovations)
April 1, 2007... When Benet Laboratories, a Department of the U.S. Army research, development and engineering facility in Watervliet, N.Y., wanted to develop a single-piece part to replace a four-piece, multi-metal fabrication, Metaltek International's...

Recuperative furnace reduces energy consumption.(Product Innovations)
April 1, 2007... Principally used in fuel-fired applications, recuperative systems take waste energy leaving the furnace exhaust and repurpose it to preheat either charge materials or combustion air. Morgan Molten Metal Systems (Morgan MMS), Worcester, U.K.,...

Casting buyers are people too.(EDITORIAL)
April 1, 2007... Several times a year, I serve as an instructor for a casting design class. Typically, 20-30 casting buyers and designers--your customers--gather for this class and sit in a room for two days listening to discussions on topics ranging from...

Technocast starts production on engine blocks, heads.(North America)
April 1, 2007... New iron casting plant Technocast, Saltillo, Mexico, will begin production this month after final testing is completed on castings produced on its green sand molding line. The 550,000-sq.-ft. casting facility, which will manufacture engine...

Nemak becomes largest global producer of engine castings.(North America)
April 1, 2007... Nemak, Monterrey, Mexico, completed the acquisition of two casting companies, Norsk Hydro ASA, Oslo, Norway, and Teksid Aluminum, Turin, Italy, making it the largest supplier of cast cylinder heads and blocks worldwide. Alfa, Nemak's...

AmeriCast buys Atlas Castings.(North America)
April 1, 2007... AmeriCast Technologies, Atchison, Kan., has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Atlas Castings and Technology, Tacoma, Wash. Atlas, which has casting and machining facilities in Tacoma and Chehalis, Wash., adds energy and defense...

Citation returns to bankruptcy court; business to continue as normal.(North America)
April 1, 2007... Citation Corp., Birmingham, Ala., has filed a recapitalization, or "prepackaged" bankruptcy, plan, a move that comes on the heels of significant divestment and refocusing of business strategy. According to Ed Buker, Citation's president and...

GM, Delphi consider state-sponsored investments.(North America)
April 1, 2007... Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Lansing, Mich., is providing assistance to encourage General Motors (GM) to invest $225.5 million in its Saginaw Metal Casting and Orion Assembly plants,...

Hydro completes divestment.(Around the World)
April 1, 2007... In addition to the sale of its European metalcasting operations, Norsk Hydro, Oslo, Norway, has divested its interest in two North American metalcasting companies. The company's recently announced sale of a 49% share in Meridian...

Copper surfaces may help prevent cold and flu.(North America)
April 1, 2007... Studies being conducted at the Univ. of Southampton, U.K., under the sponsorship of the Copper Development Association, New York, are proving that copper and its alloys, brass and bronze, effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses that cause...

Hayes Lemmerz Indian subsidiary expands, announces new plant.(North America)
April 1, 2007... Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., Northville, Mich., announced its subsidiary in Chakan, India, Kalyani Lemmerz Ltd., has completed the expansion of its commercial vehicle steel wheel facility and plans to build an additional plant. The...

Aerospace supplier brings metalcasting in-house.(North America)
April 1, 2007... The Timken Co., Canton, Ohio, has added a casting operation at its new facility in Mesa, Ariz., which produces aerospace aftermarket components. According to a company press release, the new casting line makes Timken the only supplier in...

Private equity firm buys Richland Center Foundry.(North America)(Company overview)
April 1, 2007... TMB Industries announced the acquisition of Richland Center Foundry, Richland Center, Wis., a manufacturer of large, complex ductile and gray iron castings, from Schneider Fuel and Supply Co., Milwaukee. According to a TMB press release,...

Marathon Asset Management acquires Contech.(North America)
April 1, 2007... Marathon Automotive Group, a division of Marathon Asset Management LLC, New York, has entered into an agreement to acquire metalcaster Contech, Portage, Mich., from SPX Corp., Charlotte, N.C. Contech, a supplier of diecast and forged...

GIFA registration on target for projected goals with increased Asian presence.(Around the World)
April 1, 2007... Two months prior to the opening of GIFA 2007, the International Foundry Trade Fair and WFO technical Forum, 781 exhibitors from more than 35 countries already have registered. GIFA, held concurrently with Metec, Thermprocess and Newcast,...

Buhler Die Casting, Uzwil, Switzerland, has been awarded a contract to provide 12 complete diecasting cells to Hyundai Motor Co.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Buhler Die Casting, Uzwil, Switzerland, has been awarded a contract to provide 12 complete diecasting cells to Hyundai Motor Co. for the production of aluminum engine cylinder blocks.

Intermet Corp.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Intermet Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, has signed new contracts to supply a variety of die cast products to Siemens, Toyo and others. The parts will be produced at Intermet's facilities in Minneapolis and Jackson, Tenn.

Mercury Castings, Fond du Lac, Wis., announced that Rimrock Corp., Columbus, Ohio, has been selected as an approved supplier of its Slurry-On-Demand casting equipment.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Mercury Castings, Fond du Lac, Wis., announced that Rimrock Corp., Columbus, Ohio, has been selected as an approved supplier of its Slurry-On-Demand casting equipment, offered to in the U.S. and Canada.

Wescast Industries, Brantford, Ontario, selected MT Systems, Danville, Ill.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Wescast Industries, Brantford, Ontario, selected MT Systems, Danville, Ill., to provide the [SO.sub.2] blending, delivery and control system for its Wuhan, China, plant.

Doncasters Medical Technologies.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Doncasters Medical Technologies, Oregon City, Ore., a supplier of investment castings to the OEM joint replacement and spinal prosthetic markets, announced it has expanded its technical capabilities in metal-on-metal resurfacing programs with...

Federal-Mogul Corp., Lake City, Minn., updated their shakeout system with the installation of an MD-70 Mark 5 Rotary Media Drum from Didion International Inc., St. Peters, Mo.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Federal-Mogul Corp., Lake City, Minn., updated their shakeout system with the installation of an MD-70 Mark 5 Rotary Media Drum from Didion International Inc., St. Peters, Mo. Mueller Company, Quebec, Canada, recently installed a BD-50 Mark 5...

Viking Pump Inc., Cedar Falls, Iowa, recently commissioned the installation of a medium frequency shakeout system from Conveyor Dynamics Corporation.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Viking Pump Inc., Cedar Falls, Iowa, recently commissioned the installation of a medium frequency shakeout system from Conveyor Dynamics Corporation, St. Peters, Mo.

RSB Group, Sanaswadi, Pune, India, signed a memorandum of understanding with Team Industries Inc.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... RSB Group, Sanaswadi, Pune, India, signed a memorandum of understanding with Team Industries Inc., Kaukauna, Wis., to set up an aluminum diecasting plant.

Capital Refractories Ltd.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Capital Refractories Ltd., Clowne, Derbyshire, U.K., has now set up a permanent office in the U.S. with a sales manager based from the site.

AK Steel's.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... For the second consecutive year, employees of AK Steel's Ashland, Ky., coke plant have earned the Max Eward Safety Award, presented by the American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute.

D&E Foundry Ladles, Aitkin, Minn., announced the addition of Carpenter Brothers Inc.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... D&E Foundry Ladles, Aitkin, Minn., announced the addition of Carpenter Brothers Inc., Milwaukee, as a sales representative.

Makino, Mason, Ohio, appointed Price Equipment Company.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Makino, Mason, Ohio, appointed Price Equipment Company, Monroe, N.C., a dealer in the Carolinas and Virginia for all of Makino EDM and electrode manufacturing solutions.

Alcan.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Alcan, Montreal, has been named the metals industry champion on Fortune Magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies" list in 2007 and was also ranked the top company in Canada.

Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, Ill., purchased Quasar International Inc.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, Ill., purchased Quasar International Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.

Simpson Technologies Corp., Aurora, Ill., has joined Marora SA.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Simpson Technologies Corp., Aurora, Ill., has joined Marora SA, Caracas, Venezuela, to market metalcasting supplies in Venezuela.

Shougang Jingtang United Iron and Steel, Caofeidan, Hebei Province, China, has contracted Magneco/Metrel Inc.(Newscast)
April 1, 2007... Shougang Jingtang United Iron and Steel, Caofeidan, Hebei Province, China, has contracted Magneco/Metrel Inc., Addison, Ill., to supply colloidal silica refractories for the construction of the world's largest blast furnace.

Pacific Cast Technologies.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... Pacific Cast Technologies, Albany, Ore., named Christopher J. Gikas senior account manager.

International Truck and Engine.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... Daniel J. Torzewski retired from International Truck and Engine, Warrenville, Ill., after 40 years. Torzewski is a past national director of the American Foundry Society and will remain active in the organization.

Ashland Inc.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... Mike Swartzlander has been made vice president and managing director of Indian operations for Ashland Inc., Dublin, Ohio.

Pangborn Corp.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... Ken Dickson has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Pangborn Corp., Hagerstown, Md.

Refcotec Inc.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... Refcotec Inc. announced Robert Wolf will be the new general manager/ vice president of its subsidiary Protech Coatings Inc., Arlington, Texas.

OMG Group Inc.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... OMG Group Inc., Cleveland, named David L. Pugh director of the company.

I. Schumann & Co.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... I. Schumann & Co., Bedford, Ohio, made the following changes--Michael Schumann is now CEO and chairman of the board, Ronald Schumann is vice chairman, Scott Schumann is president and COO, David Schumann is executive vice president and Don...

Ashland Korea Foundry Products Ltd.(Personals)
April 1, 2007... Jeong Hyun Park has been made general manager of Ashland Korea Foundry Products Ltd., Busan, South Korea.

Obituaries.(Personals)(Obituary)
April 1, 2007... Dave Berry, Wichita, Kan., died Feb. 22, 2007, in military action in Iraq. Berry was a member of the Plains States Chapter of the American Foundry Society (AFS) and employee of Farrar Corp., Norwich, Kan. Jerrod Hays of Kansas Castings, Belle...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... April April 25-27--Industrial Minerals Association-North America and the National Industrial Sand Association Spring Meeting, L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington. May May 1-2--2007 Metal Casting Technology Forum, Saginaw Valley State...

Fighting the currency battle: new legislation offers relief to U.S. manufacturers, including metalcasters, harmed by unfair currency practices.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
April 1, 2007... Two new trade bills in the House and Senate address unfair currency practices. In the House, Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) have introduced the Fair Currency Act of 2007 with more than 50 co-sponsors. The measure modifies...

Industrial Technologies releases energy assessment report.(On the Hill)
April 1, 2007... In a recently concluded study that explored reasons why the metalcasting industry is hesitant to adopt new research and development outcomes, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) has found that many...

Legislation to overturn TRI changes introduced in Congress.(On the Hill)(Environmental Protection Agency introduces law for toxic release inventory)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Democratic lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol, Sen. Frank. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). have introduced new legislation that would reverse a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) role reducing the number of...

Blackhawk's turnaround: in 2003, Blackhawk de Mexico switched its production focus from gray to ductile iron. Four years later, the firm's production has more than doubled.(Cover story)(Company overview)
April 1, 2007... When Blackhawk de Mexico, Santa Catarina, Mexico, was acquired by Grupo Quimmco, Monterrey, Mexico, in late 2002, it was producing gray iron castings for the electric motor industry. But a varied product mix was stretching the plant's...

Accounting for in-process metal loss: when quoting new work or re-pricing jobs with existing tooling, it is important to take your in-process metal loss into account and apply surcharges accordingly.
April 1, 2007... How many pounds of metal does your customer buy when you sell him or her a 100-lb. casting? The most obvious answer would be 100 lbs., as shown on the invoice. But. in reality, the metalcasting process consumes considerably more metal. ...

California: the copper stopper? Metalcasters and engineers have joined forces to adapt to a new legislative measure that decreased the amount of lead allowed in copper plumbing.
April 1, 2007... California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a history of throwing weights around. Prior to entering politics, he was a 13-time world bodybuilding champion. Now, he has turned his world famous brawn on the metalcasting industry. Since he was...

Opening the gating for aluminum: sand molded aluminum gating systems have traditionally been based on tenants of iron casting, but recent research has focused on making them specifically suited to the more turbulent metal.
April 1, 2007... The American Foundry Society (AFS) Aluminum Gating and Risering Committee (2H) is continuing a program that has been underway for a number of years to understand and improve the gating systems used in sand casting facilities. The most recent...

Technology, products, services on display at 111th Metalcasting Congress.(111th METALCASTING CONGRESS: May 15-18, 2007 * Houston, Texas)
April 1, 2007... Metalcasters and suppliers from around the world will meet in Houston, May 15-18, for the 111th Metalcasting Congress to learn about current metalcasting practices, as well as cutting-edge technology that is the future of the industry. The...

Special events.(111th METALCASTING CONGRESS: May 15-18, 2007 * Houston, Texas)(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... Monday, May 14 Error Proofing and Visual Factory Management Seminar, 1:30 p.m. This seminar is designed to help operating metalcasting personnel improve their quality system by identifying and eliminating errors in the metalcasting...

Technical program (as of March 27).(111th METALCASTING CONGRESS: May 15-18, 2007 * Houston, Texas)(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... Hoyt Memorial Lecture Friday, May 18 10:15 a.m. Room: Ballroom of the Americas E The Engineering Profession in the 21st Century--Educational Needs and Societal Challenges Facing the Profession (07-155) Diran Apelian ...

List of exhibitors: (as of March 27).(111th METALCASTING CONGRESS: May 15-18, 2007 * Houston, Texas)(Alcan Inc.)(American Colloid Co.)(Applied Process Inc.)(List)
April 1, 2007... List of Exhibitors Advertisers are listed in bold. 500 ABB Inc. 406 ABP Induction LLC 127 AFC-Holcroft 507/509 Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic 916 Alcan Inc. 809 Allied Mineral Products Inc....

Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic (ATM) is a world leader in the development and manufacture of induction melting and heating equipment. ATM has worldwide operations, including facilities in nine countries. Ajax TOCCO's advanced technologies are used for...

CMH Manufacturing Co.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... CMH Manufacturing -- Hall Permanent Mold Casting Equipment: 3HS Tilt-Pour. Tilt pouring reduces turbulence, provides shorter cycle times and requires less metal for feeding systems. Significant features of the 3HS Tilt-Pour are low...

DIDION International Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... DIDION will feature its line of Rotary Foundry Equipment and CDC Vibratory Equipment. The New Mark 5 Series Rotary Media Drums and Rotary Lump Crusher/Sand Reclaimers will be displayed. The patented design guarantees increased productivity and...

Applied Process Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Applied Process' 8-page brochure is an information-packed guide to the austempering process, a high performance heat treatment for steel, gray iron and ductile iron that delivers improved toughness, wear-resistance, and fatigue strength. Learn...

Consolidated Engineering Co.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... CleanCast[R], a revolutionary new heat treating process from CEC, utilizes high pressure, heated air to rapidly heat and thermally de-core castings. This process, in combination with a patented new procedure that allows castings to be loaded...

Flow Science Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... See inside your designs with FLOW-3D[R] Optimize your designs before casting and lower your costs with FLOW-3D[R], a powerful computational fluid dynamics software for more accurate modeling. This easy-to-use software takes the trial and error...

Heraeus Electro-Nite Co.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... The new DATACAST ENtouch instrument offers improved software for advanced iron thermal analysis, enhanced interface options (including Ethernet) and a 15" color display. The instrument stores 1,000 measurements and can transfer data to a USB...

B&L Information Systems Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... B&L Information Systems is the leader in enterprise resource planning software solutions for metalcasters. Over 350 companies in 35 states and five countries have selected B&L's ERP software to help them increase productivity, cut costs and...

FANUC Robotics America Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... FANUC Robotics America is the leading supplier of industrial robots and robotic systems. Over 160,000 robots are installed worldwide, and more than 200 robot variations work in a wide range of applications, including material removal, material...

Carpenter Brothers Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Carpenter Brothers Inc. is a full line distributor of industrial supplies and equipment, serving the metalcasting industry since 1917. Products include metals, ferro-alloys, binders, abrasives, specialty sands, environmental treatment and metal...

Foundry Solutions and Design LLC.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Foundry Solutions and Design LLC announces an intelligent, automated vision inspection system from Inspectomation. Core-Vision[R] technology is capable of 100% inspection of cores and molds. Additionally the 3-D Flex-Inspector and Disc...

Inductotherm Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Inductotherm builds induction melting, holding, heating and pouring systems for virtually all metals and offers a complete line of coreless and channel type induction melting and holding systems, charging and preheating systems, melt shop...

LECO Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... LECO's GDS850A Glow Discharge Atomic Emission Spectrometer is now available with an RF-only option. Perfect for the analysis of non-conductive materials, the RF source option is available in 2- and 4-mm diameters. Glow Discharge Spectrometers...

Machida Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Machida Inc. is a manufacturer of flexible borescopes, video systems, light sources and related accessories. Machida's battery-operated borescope, Model FBA-4B-100P, features an optional battery pack that can provide as much light as a regular...

The Modal Shop Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... The Modal Shop is your home for the application of dynamic sound and vibration measurement in manufacturing for improving part quality. Our resonant inspection test systems detect variances in dimension, geometry, weight, voids, nodularity,...

High Temperature Systems Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... High Temperature Systems manufactures a complete line of molten metal transfer pumps, circulation pumps, degassing systems, lined pipe and pre-heat stations. Located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, our engineering staff has more than 30 years of...

Morgan Molten Metal Systems.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Your complete melt shop at the casting station with its integral charging system, preheating stack, continuous melting chamber and dip-out furnace, Mel-Keeper[TM] is a complete aluminum melt shop in a single unit. Highly energy-efficient and...

Mercury Castings.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Mercury Castings supplies aluminum and iron castings to non-marine customers produced via high-pressure diecasting, semi-solid metalcasting, and lost foam casting. Mercury Castings also offers mold flow analysis, die design, and die...

Norton Abrasives.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Norton SG[R] Blaze R980 coated abrasive belts cut faster and outlast competitive high-performance abrasive belts on materials ranging from inconel, titanium, stainless steel, chrome-cobalt, carbon and mild steel. Norton SG Blaze belts have...

Pangborn Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... RAPID-LOC[R] Rotoblast[R] Wheel with PATTERN-LOC[R], Pangborn's RAPID-LOC[R] Rotoblast[R] wheel features include: * 4" vane width * Up to 75 hp motor * 8 vane reversible wheel * Quick vane change design * PATTERN-LOC[R]...

Palmer Manufacturing, Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Standard features of the new Palmer M200XLD includes dual mixing chamber doors (both sides); no tools required; quick access saves time as doors provide easy access for cleaning and maintenance; heavy-duty construction; easy operation; and...

Rimrock Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Rimrock Corp. has developed a robotic system to automatically remove excess debris and flash from the inside of ductile iron pipes of various sizes. The system will utilize an ABB robot with an abrasive cutting wheel mounted on the end of the...

Roberts Sinto Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Barinder Grinder--fast, flexible performance. The Barinder[TM] cleans even the most unusual part geometry fast. Innovative robotic part handling and unique grinding wheels automate the removal of gates, burrs and parting line flash on gray and...

Tinker Omega Mfg. LLC.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Introduced at CASTEXPO'02, the TOM-Series Continuous Mixer has grown to be the market leader in innovation and durability. Featuring dual, rear-hinged doors, variable A/C pumps and many other standard features, why not find out why a TOM-Mixer...

Stotek Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... With over 1,000 furnaces sold, the Stotek crucible furnace is a world leader in efficiency and reliability. Recently introduced, the Alu-Doso is a crucible dosing furnace, ideal for automatic molding lines and applications where melting and...

Simpson Technologies Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... The Simpson Group, which includes Simpson Technologies Corp. and Beardsley & Piper LLC, is a world renowned provider of foundry molding sand preparation technology, including batch and continuous mixers, coolers, sand reclaimers, Simpson +...

The Schaefer Group.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Does your furnace need H.E.L.P.? The Halt Energy Loss Program is a new service from The Schaefer Group that measures your heat losses and designs ways to save that heat. Basic or extended energy audits. Call The Schaefer Group at 937-253-3342,...

Unimin Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... Unimin offers the industry a wide portfolio of high purity silica and olivine core and molding sands engineered to maximize performance and increase productivity while reducing scrap, waste and emissions. By bringing together superior deposits,...

Vesuvius USA.(Casting Technology Showcase 2007)
April 1, 2007... North American-made Vesuvius products include KING-CARB[R] and TERCOD[R] silicon carbide crucibles and NUGRAPH[R] clay graphite crucibles in multiple custom shapes. Vesuvius filters include UDICELL[R] reticulated ceramic filters for steel...