Modern Casting articles from April 2008

Modern Casting archives from April 2008

Elyria Foundry Co. acquires Hodge Foundry Co.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elyria Foundry Co. LLC. Elyria, Ohio, recently announced it has acquired Hodge Foundry Co., Greenville, Pa. According to a company press release, the two metalcasters will continue to operate independently on a...

New-look Intermet wins new business.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Intermet Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, announced it landed $130 million in annualized new and replacement business during 2007. The company said revenue from the multi-year programs, which were not itemized, will total more than $537 million,...

New web content: where it's at.(moderncasting.com)
April 1, 2008... Access expanded editorial content at www. moderncasting.com whenever you find the cast metal Where It's At sign (above) in this issue. Find it in the following locations: * Table of Contents: Web-Only article on aluminum in diesel engine...

Modern casting blog.(moderncasting.com)
April 1, 2008... MODERN CASTING staff members blog about John Ratzenberger's pet project, the effect of the White House on metalcasting, a coffee casting and how the industry scooped Al Gore. Keep up with the latest developments at www.moderncasting.com.

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
April 1, 2008... The February website question asked: How would the domestic metalcasting industry be affected by a democrat in the White House in 2009? This month's question is available at wwww.moderncasting.com. Negatively 55.2% Positively ...

Many shades of green.(EDITORIAL)
April 1, 2008... While you may not know it, metalcasting is leading the green movement. Sure, Al Gore stole our thunder with his 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth and has become the most visual proponent for legislation to curb the growth and effect...

Energy caster Elyria Foundry Co. acquires large-casting specialist Hodge Foundry Co.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Elyria Foundry Co. LLC, Elyria, Ohio, recently announced in a press release it has acquired Hodge Foundry Co., Greenville, Pa. According to the release, the companies will continue to operate independently on a day-to-day basis, but the...

Strike affects GM's Saginaw Metal Casting Operations.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Saginaw Metal Casting Operations (SMCO), Saginaw, Mich., stopped production temporarily on March 10 in the wake of a worker strike by another major General Motors (GM) supplier, according to a spokesperson. "Our current casting lines are...

New-look Intermet announces business uptick.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Intermet Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, announced it gained $130 million in annualized new and replacement business during 2007. Revenue from the multi-year programs, which were not itemized, will total more than $537 million, spanning the...

Investment caster American Aerospace builds new plant in Arizona.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Investment caster American Aerospace Technical Castings, Phoenix, Ariz., was expected to begin production in its new 40,000-sq.-ft. facility on April 1, according to a company spokesperson. American Aerospace's plant manager Larry...

Wisconsin Die Casting closes without notice.(North America)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Wisconsin Die Casting, Milwaukee, abruptly shut down on March 6, according to local news reports. "There was some hang-up where the money wasn't there that they need to keep operating, and it happened all of a sudden," Carl Rosen, regional...

Advanced Metals Group expands two plants.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Advanced Metals Group LLC recently added molding lines at two of its facilities, aluminum caster U.S. Castings LLC, Entiat, Wash., and sand caster Mabry Castings, Beaumont, Texas. A spokesperson for the group said that both moves were in...

Sand caster Danko Arlington expands metalcasting facility, machine shop.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Danko Arlington Inc., Baltimore, recently expanded both its metalcasting facility and machine shop operations in response to new business. The aluminum and bronze sand caster purchased an adjacent 7,600-sq.-ft, building to extend its...

Metal Technologies suspends gray iron production in West Allis facility.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Metal Technologies' West Allis, Wis., gray iron casting facility went under a "suspension of production" on Feb. 29 due to a market slowdown, a company official said. "We thought it was wise to restrict our capacity until the market...

CDCA: Canadian diecasting needs assistance.(North America)
April 1, 2008... The Canadian Die Casters Association (CDCA) on Feb. 7 confronted national organizations and government officials in Ottawa regarding the diecasting industry's current troubles in the global marketplace, asking for assistance in order to...

Quality certifications.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2008... The following metalcasting organizations have passed recent certification audits: J. Walter Miller Co., Lancaster, Pa., (ISO 9001:2000); Tampa Brass and Aluminum, Tampa, Fla., (ISO 9001:2000); The Federal Metal Company, Bedford,...

Investment caster Signicast given innovation award by state of Wisconsin.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Investment caster Signicast Corp., Hartford, Wis., recently was honored for Manufacturing Process Innovation at the 20th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards. The awards, announced on Feb. 28 at a dinner and program at the...

Gartland Foundry among safety award winners.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Seven Indiana companies were given 2008 Governor's Workplace Safety Awards for advancing occupational safety and health, including Gartland Foundry Co. Inc., Terre Haute, Ind. The awards, which focus on best practices for eliminating...

Ellwood Casting pours 180-ton iron ingot mold casting, one of North America's largest.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Ellwood Engineered Castings, Hubbard, Ohio, poured a 180-ton iron casting on Jan. 27, one of the largest iron castings ever poured in North America. The ASTM A48 Class 20 iron ingot mold casting's pour weight of 360,000 lbs. resulted in a...

Ryobi Die Casting receives quality award from Toyota North America.(North America)
April 1, 2008... Ryobi Die Casting Inc., Shelbyville, Ind., among others, recently received top honors for quality from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc., Erlanger, Ky. Delivered in Covington, Ky., at the company's Annual Supplier...

Alcoa.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Alcoa, Pittsburgh, has combined its Wheel Products business with its Auto and Truck Structures business to form a new business unit called Wheel and Transportation Products.

Citation Corp.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Citation Corp. management announced the metalcasting company has changed its headquarters designation from Birmingham, Ala., to its existing facility in Novi, Mich.

PHB Inc., Fairview, Pa., a manufacturing company providing products through a variety of processes.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... PHB Inc., Fairview, Pa., a manufacturing company providing products through a variety of processes, including diecasting, licensed Odyssey software by B&L Information Systems, Bridgman, Mich., to support its business operations.

Summit Foundry Systems Inc.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Summit Foundry Systems Inc., New Haven, Ind., will soon begin a $1 million expansion project that will include a building addition and new equipment, according to a company press release. The investment will add approximately 12,000 sq. ft. to...

Amcol International Corp.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Amcol International Corp., Arlington Heights, Ill., announced it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire an interest in a chrome mine in the Republic of South Africa. The mine will aid in the company's production of chrome sand for the...

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, N.Y., recently installed and commissioned a high volume T-6 heat treatment system to process aluminum engine components for an automotive manufacturing company located in the southeastern U.S....

Ipsen.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Heat treat supplier Ipsen, Rockford, Ill., completed a year-long project in developing, designing and constructing a new stockroom and inventory management system for its U.S. plant locations.

Maus S.p.A.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Maus S.p.A, Campodarsego, Italy, recently announced the opening of a new technical center at its U.S. location. The center in Calhoun, Ga., will provide sales, service, application engineering and machine demonstrations to interested parties...

Sinto Surface Treatment.(Newscast)
April 1, 2008... Sinto Surface Treatment, Lansing, Mich., announced it has made Carpenter Brothers Inc., Milwaukee, its exclusive Midwest distributor.

Norwood foundry recognized for vent innovation.(North America)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Norwood Foundry, Nisku, Alberta, Canada, was awarded the Alberta Business Award of Distinction for Health and Safety Innovation for a ventilation system it developed in its ferrous and nonferrous metalcasting...

Malleable iron still has a niche.(Letterbox)
April 1, 2008... A friend at General Motors recently gave me the Casting Answers & Advice article in the February issue of MODERN CASTING, and as a "malleabler," I would like to comment. I know malleable has become less popular in recent years, but I believe...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2008... April April 14-17--SAE 2008 World Congress, Cobo Center, Detroit. April 24--AFS Metalcasting Solutions Seminar, Hilton Garden Inn O'Hare, Des Plaines, Ill. May May 13-16--FOND-EX-The 12th International Foundry Fair, Brno...

Lufkin Industries Inc.(Personals)
April 1, 2008... The board of directors for Lufkin Industries Inc., Lufkin, Texas, elected John Glick, the company's president, to serve as CEO.

Alcoa.(Personals)
April 1, 2008... Kevin Kramer, current president of Alcoa Wheel Products, will fill the same role for the Wheel and Transportation Products business recently created by Alcoa, Cleveland.

Wheelabrator Group.(Personals)
April 1, 2008... Martin Magill was appointed VP and general manager of Wheelabrator Group, La Grange, Ga., and Wheelabrator Commercial Operations.

Synchro32.(Personals)
April 1, 2008... Shane Allen was made head of U.K.-based Synchro32's new support unit opened in Austin, Texas. He will be managing the company's North American presence. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Alfe Corporate Group.(Personals)
April 1, 2008... Alfe Corporate Group, Fort Wayne, Ind., hired Lisa Wissinger as its new assistant controller.

Tube City IMS LLC.(Personals)(William Miller promoted to general manager)(Fermin Maldonado promoted to vice president of operations)(Kris Bonitatibus promoted to account executive)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Tube City IMS LLC, Pittsburgh, promoted William Miller to senior VP and general manager, international operations, and Fermin Maldonado to VP of operations for its IMS Division. Kris Bonitatibus was named account executive, Ontario Division,...

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.(Personals)
April 1, 2008... Diran Apelian, Howmet professor of engineering and director of the Metal Processing Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., was made the new president of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Gerom Siddons, Bradenton, Fla., died April 7, 2007. He was 77. Siddons was an active member of AFS and worked for Smith Sharp, Minneapolis, for more than 25 years. James White, Austin, Texas, died Feb. 13, 2008. He was 67. White co-founded...

Revisions proposed for FMLA: the revised Family and Medical Leave Act may affect metalcasters' human resources policies.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
April 1, 2008... In February, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposal to make wide-ranging revisions to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations. The proposal represents the first major update to the act since its enactment in 1993....

House passes energy credits.(On the Hill)(Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... In February, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act (H.R. 5351) for three years, through Dec. 31, 2011, and provide $6.57 billion in renewable energy tax credits for facilities...

Higher fines on hire crimes.(On the Hill)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March raised civil fines against employers that violate federal immigration laws by close to 25%, including a $5,000 maximum increase for multiple violations. ...

Employment verification act introduced.(On the Hill)(New Employee Verification Act )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... In February, the New Employee Verification Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. It would create the nation's first mandatory employment verification system, requiring all U.S. employers to electronically verify that their...

The climate is changing: the climate change debate is front and center in Washington, D.C., and it should be front and center in your metalcasting facility.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Al Gore's 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth unleashed intense public interest and examination of the facts, science and potential global impact of climate change through the introduction of greenhouse gases to...

Growth forecasts curbed: continuing market research hedges on earlier forecasts for short-term growth in the casting industry.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ongoing interviews with key personnel from major casting end users have hedged earlier forecasts calling for a slight expansion in 2008, as casting sales soften in some specific market sectors. However, sales of cars...

Rate of imports slowing: China and India are forecast to increase their shares in the global metalcasting market but will reduce exports to focus on their growing domestic needs.(Industry overview)
April 1, 2008... According to interviews with casting end users and analyses of econometric forecasts, the U.S.'s accelerating rate of reliance on foreign castings is beginning to slow as the global marketplace shifts in several ways. U.S. imports of...

Feeding the power-hungry: when car enthusiasts ask for more, the automotive aftermarket and the castings that supply the industry answer the call.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most car owners are satisfied with the out-of-the-box vehicle they drive to and from work every day. But for some restless drivers, what's been handed to them isn't enough. These automobilists are served by the...

CastExpo'08: one-stop shopping for metalcasters: the latest metalcasting equipment, products, technology and information can be found at CastExpo'08.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Metalcasters and suppliers from around the world will gather in Atlanta, May 17-20, for CastExpo'08, the largest metalcasting exposition in North America. The four-day event, sponsored by the American Foundry Society...

Special events.(CastExpo'08: Atlanta, Georgia May 17-20, 2008)(Calendar)
April 1, 2008... (separate registration fee may apply) Saturday, May 17 Casting Answers & Advice, 11;45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Ask leading metalcasting industry experts questions and find potential solutions for some of your most pressing problems. ...

Technical program.(CastExpo'08: Atlanta, Georgia May 17-20, 2008)(Calendar)
April 1, 2008... HOYT MEMORIAL LECTURE Monday, May 19 10:15 AM Room: C101 Auditorium FreedomCAR and Casting: Research & Development of Cast Automotive Components (08-179) ALUMINUM Sunday, May 18 2:00 PM Room: (2203 ...

List of exhibitors (as of March 27).(Cast Expo'08: Atlanta, Georgia May 17-20, 2008)
April 1, 2008... List of Exhibitors (As of March 27) Advertisers are listed in bold. Booth Company 1154 A Finkl & Sons Company 3407 ABB Inc 2839* ABP Induction* 1012 Acceletronics Corp 2713 ...

Flow Science, Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Flow Science will be demonstrating FLOW-3D[R] casting simulations at Booth # 2524. Casting engineers, metallurgists and project managers will see how FLOW-3D[R]'s General Moving Objects model produces highly accurate predictions of casting...

Chesapeake Specialty Products.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... SphereOX: Best sand additive for no-bake cores, molds and resin coated sand. Eliminates veining, penetration, pinholes, burn in and lustrous carbon casting defects. Chromite sand can be replaced with silica sand and SphereOX. Nothing works...

B&L Information Systems.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... B&L Information Systems is the leading provider of enterprise resource planning software for metalcasters. Over 375 metalcasters in 35 states and five countries have selected B&L's software and services to help them increase productivity, cut...

Foseco.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... At Foseco, our goal is to help your foundry achieve Great Performance based upon a number of factors. It's not just products. It's application engineering and superior technologies that make your quality castings cost les--day in and day out....

CMI Equipment & Engineering.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... For over 30 years, CMI Equipment & Engineering has been designing, manufacturing, and installing the most innovative metal casting equipment available. Designed and manufactured to provide unsurpassed durability and reliability, we offer the...

DISA Group.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... The DISA Group serves with leading edge technology solutions, tailored to customers' specific needs. This is only done through our strong commitment, traditions and values. DISA offers solutions employing various molding...

Alfe Heat Treating.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Alfe provides heat treating and related services for automotive, industrial and aerospace metal industries. The company operates both ferrous and non-ferrous facilities throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Our state-of-the-art,...

Ashland Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Ashland Inc. is promoting advancements to our productivity and*I environmental platforms with the introduction of the ISOCURE FOCUS[R] 112 / ISOCURE FOCUS[R] 212 binder. This product has been able to improve core making cycle times by as much...

Carrier Vibrating Equipment.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carrier Vibrating Equipment has been the leader in innovative solutions for the metal casting industry for over 55 years. Carrier offers custom designed equipment, including sand coolers, preheaters, charge systems,...

Didion International.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Didion will feature its line of Rotary Foundry Equipment and several new CDC Patented Conveyor Systems including a multi-directional conveyor that runs in three different directions with a single drive. In addition,...

ESI Group.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... ESI Group, leader in engineering analysis software, is featuring Pro-CAST, an extensive engineering design tool to exceed the most challenging requirements, covering fully coupled fluid flow, thermal, solidification, stress and microstructure,...

FANUC Robotics America.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... FANUC Robotics America is the leading supplier of industrial robots and robotic systems. Over 190,000 robots are installed worldwide, and more than 200 robot variations work in a wide range of applications including assembly, material removal,...

IGC Technologies.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... IGC Technologies provides engineered solutions to prevent casting defects. Our ultimate goal is to increase profitability by providing value-added solutions to the casting process. IGC product formulations help improve metal quality, reduce...

OmniSource.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Our focus on customer needs and in-depth knowledge of melting operations makes OmniSource the obvious choice for foundry scrap products. Full-range analytical labs assure consistent chemistries. We offer products for gray and ductile iron,...

Loramendi.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Loramendi's outstanding design department, with 40 engineers, enables the manufacture of Taylor-made products. The company offers technology used for total performance in vertical molding, as well as core making and manipulation and has the...

Pangborn, Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Pangborn designs, manufactures, markets and services shot blast machines, dust collectors and related products for the primary metal and metalworking industries. Since 1904, Pangborn has been a leader in surface preparation technology by...

GreCon Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GreCon Spark Detection Systems can reduce your risk of dust fires and explosions in pneumatic conveying systems by detecting and extinguishing sparks and embers before they reach the collection equipment. New CC5000...

Inductotherm Group.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Inductotherm Group, booth #1907, is equipped to show you the newest products and most advanced technologies. Inductotherm is the industry leader in induction melting, heating and advanced vacuum melting. Some of...

Applied Process, Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Applied Process, Inc. has a proven reputation as the leader in Austempering technology. The Austempering process is a high performance heat treatment for steel, gray iron, and ductile iron that delivers improved toughness, wear-resistance, and...

Arena-flow, LLC.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Arena-flow[R] is the only foundry software package which uses the revolutionary Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics (CPFD[R]) technology to model sand core filling and curing. Arena-flow [R] has been extensively...

Foundry Solutions & Design.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Foundry Solutions & Design (FS&D) provides complete Engineering & Consulting Services to the ferrous and non-ferrous Foundry Industry. As an independent company, FS&D develops customized, high performance...

Dueker Co.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Dueker Co.'s Engineering Department designs and builds custom-made centrifugal casting plants for the production of pipes, cylinder liners, piston rings, bearing cages and much more. The advantage of the Dueker technology is the minimization of...

Kuttner North America.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Kuttner North America offers a full range E j of foundry solutions; including cupola melt centers, heat recovery systems, gas cleaning systems, and process controls. Kuttner also has the environmental expertise to help you stay ahead of...

General Kinematics Corp.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... General Kinematics VARIO-DRIVE [TM] shakeouts allow you to adjust casting retention time with the push of a button. Long lasting components and extra heavy-duty construction offer extended uptime and low maintenance operation. Direct drive...

Magma Foundry Technologies.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In every business there are tools that are essential for doing the job right. In metal casting, MAGMA offers a casting process simulation software that is one of these tools, MAGMASOFT[R]. With MAGMASOFT[R] you can...

KOINS Foundry Technology.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KOINS is the leading manufacturer of Heated and Unheated POURING UNITS featuring the Laser Based "pourTECH" Automatic Pouring Control System. Featuring our 3D (Line) Laser technology, pourTECH can also be retrofitted...

Pyrotec, Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Learn more about the expansive range of degassing and filtration solutions available from Pyrotek. You will have a chance to see the Metaullics line of molten metal transfer pumps, Pyrotek's patented, light-weight, insulating RFM [R] auto...

ASTECH, Inc.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... We are: The premiere manufacturer of replacement blast Machine components for all O.E.M. applications. We are: The leader in customer satisfaction, professionalism, superior quality and innovation. We are: Committed to developing and sustaining...

Can-Eng Furnaces.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Can-Eng Furnaces' Basketless Heat Treating System (BHTS) reduces energy consumption and floor space requirements when compared to conventional roller hearth aluminum heat treatment systems. The BHTS incorporates a unique material handling...

Bruker Quantron.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Bruker Quantron recently introduced its new Q4 TASMAN advanced CCD-based spark spectrometer, incorporating the latest state-of-the-art technologies to achieve even shorter measurement cycles, improved stability, improved precision, and lower...

Powerit Solutions.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Powerit Solutions is the leader in Intelligent Energy Management technologies, providing foundries with significant energy cost savings. We offer you the only Intelligent Energy Management system specifically designed for the energy-intensive...

Maus.(Casting Technology Showcase 2008)
April 1, 2008... Maus offers a complete range of grinding machines suitable for grinding and cutting parts weighing from 1 kg to 5000 kg. Machines include Sam 300, Sam 600, Sam 1200-L, Sam 1200_U, Sam 2000_U, Sam 3000. During the CastExpo, Maus will display Sam...