Modern Casting articles from August 2006

Modern Casting archives from August 2006

Badger Mining Corp. named best small company to work for.(Industry News)
August 1, 2006... Badger Mining Corp. (BMC), Berlin, Wis., was named the "Best Small Company to Work for in America," by the Society for Human Resource Management during the association's national conference in June. The companies included in the 25-spot list,...

Citation Corp. Butler Division receives two supplier awards.(Industry News)
August 1, 2006... Citation Corp.'s Butler Division, Butler, Ind., has been named a 2006 Best Supplier to Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems, Saginaw, Mich., for the second year in a row. Additionally, the operation has received a 2006 Pinnacle Award from...

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
August 1, 2006... The June web site question asked, "Which area of your casting operation is in greatest need of a technological breakthrough to enhance efficiency and/or improve quality?" Cleaning and Finishing 37.1% Molding/Coremaking 22.9%...

Direct metal laser-sintering makes a speedy delivery.(Product Innovations)
August 1, 2006... Direct Metal Laser-Sintering Makes A Speedy Delivery--Rapid prototyping often can help a metalcasting facility or its customer out of a project ramp-up jam. The time to build the tooling for a new part may be a disadvantage for customers who...

Our image stinks.(EDITORIAL)
August 1, 2006... Image matters. How people perceive us matters. Not because it is important to be viewed as beautiful or attractive, but because people do judge books by their covers and perception is reality. When you walk into a meeting and shake hands...

Badger Mining Corp. named best small company to work for based on worker satisfaction.(North America)
August 1, 2006... Badger Mining Corp. (BMC), Berlin, Wis., was named the "Best Small Company to Work for in America," by the Society for Human Resource Management during the association's national conference in June. The companies included in the 25-spot list,...

NADCA specifications change magnesium content for 380 and A380 aluminum alloys.(North America)
August 1, 2006... The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), Wheeling, Ill., has announced revised specifications increasing the magnesium content to 0.30% from 0.10% for aluminum alloys 380 and A380. The increased level of magnesium will have a...

Spanish metalcasting group makes world's largest furnace order.(Around the World)
August 1, 2006... The Spanish metalcasting group Fagor, part of Mondragon Corp., Mondragon, Spain, is upgrading its melt capabilities through the world's largest single order for melting equipment. The order for three Inductotherm melting furnaces...

Signicast Corp.(AB Volvo and Signicast Corp., ranked)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... During an audit of its Hartford, Wis., facilities by representatives for Volvo, Signicast Corp. earned a rating that was "nothing short of outstanding" for its proprietary Continuous Flow Manufacturing (CFM). According to Volvo officials, the...

Amcast Industrial Corporation.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Amcast Industrial Corporation, Franklin, Ind., closed its Gas City plant, a producer of aluminum automotive wheels.

RMG Foundry.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... RMG Foundry, Mishawaka, Ind., announced that it will be closing sometime later this year.

Atlantic State Cast Iron Pipe Co.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co., Phillipsburg, N.J., donated $122,000 for the refurbishment of the Joseph H. Firth Youth Center, a local recreational facility.

Hickory Hardware.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Hickory Hardware, Nashville, Tenn., announced it has signed a long-term lease for 303,000 sq. ft. at Duke Realty's Nashville Business Center II.

Radial International Corp.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Radial International Corp., Kearny, N.J., for alleged safety and health violations, proposing a total of $136,000 in penalties.

Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., will build and install a new matchplate molding machine for Rochester Metal Products.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., will build and install a new matchplate molding machine for Rochester Metal Products, Rochester, Ind., as well as a matchplate molding machine and two mold handling systems for Progressive...

ATI Metalworking Products, La Vergne, Tenn., an Allegheny Technologies Inc., Pittsburgh, company, has acquired Garryson Ltd.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... ATI Metalworking Products, La Vergne, Tenn., an Allegheny Technologies Inc., Pittsburgh, company, has acquired Garryson Ltd, a provider of abrasive products and carbide burs for weld preparation, deburring and finishing operations.

3-D Service, Massillon, Ohio, announced its authorization by Newage AVK SEG.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... 3-D Service, Massillon, Ohio, announced its authorization by Newage AVK SEG, Oslo, Norway, as a repair and service provider for AVK machinery and associated equipment.

Microfield Group Inc., Portland, Ore., announced that its subsidiary, Energy-Connect Inc., has added a new industrial participant.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Microfield Group Inc., Portland, Ore., announced that its subsidiary, Energy-Connect Inc., has added a new industrial participant, the Whemco Group of Companies, Pittsburgh.

Citation Corp. Butler Division receives two awards for supplier excellence.(Citation Corp.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Citation Corp.'s Butler Division, Butler, Ind., has been named a 2006 Best Supplier to Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems, Saginaw, Mich., for the second year in a row. Additionally, the operation has received a 2006 Pinnacle Award from...

State Senate honors MetalTek International.(North America)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) visited employees of MetalTek International, Waukesha, Wis., and presented them a citation on behalf of the Senate in recognition of MetalTek's receipt of the state's "Export Plus" small business...

Awards should recognize consistency as well as complexity.(Letterbox)
August 1, 2006... The editorial is the first article that I read when MODERN CASTING reaches my desk every month. That said, I would like to contribute some comments on your "Casting of the Year" note. First, I agree with the idea that if casters do not...

Eastman Kodak Company.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., received awards from the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for its Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) group.

CECO Environmental Corp.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... CECO Environmental Corp., Cincinnati, a provider of air pollution control and industrial ventilation systems, announced that it has received new orders totaling approximately $3.1 million.

Martin Engineering Services Group LLC, Kirkland, Wash., the engineering and project management business unit of Martin Engineering.(Newscast)
August 1, 2006... Martin Engineering Services Group LLC, Kirkland, Wash., the engineering and project management business unit of Martin Engineering, has expanded its capabilities with the addition of the employees and hardware assets of Stahura Industrial...

Gibbs Die Casting.(Personals)
August 1, 2006... Kenneth W. Sparks was named president and chief executive officer of Gibbs Die Casting, Henderson, Ky.

Hickory Hardware.(Personals)
August 1, 2006... Hickory Hardware, Chapel Hill, N.C., appointed three sales and marketing executives--Jon Valsvik, first vice president of retail sales, and David Fields and Tina Payne Hunt, channel marketing managers.

Rocky D. Jewell joined L A Aluminum Casting Company.(Personals)
August 1, 2006... Rocky D. Jewell joined L A Aluminum Casting Company, Hayden Lake, Idaho, as quality manager.

Astech Inc.(Personals)
August 1, 2006... Astech Inc., Vassar, Mich., hired Alan Bukach as vice president of operations.

FKI Logistex.(Personals)
August 1, 2006... FKI Logistex, St. Louis, Mo., promoted Lauren Beckmann to director of human resources.

Hickman Williams & Company.(Personals)
August 1, 2006... William A. Snyder has been elected president and chief executive officer of Hickman, Williams & Company, Oak Brook, Ill.

Obituaries.(Wayne E. Martin)(Frederick C. Hammer)(Donald Burnett)(Obituary)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Wayne E. Martin, Fairhope, Ma., died May 13, 2006. He was 94. Martin was a senior metallurgist with Sperry Gyroscope, New York. When his company began supporting the war effort in the early 1910s, Martin was among the youngest American men...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... September September 10-12--AFS Foundry Executive Management Conference, Silverado Resort, Napa Valley, Calif. September 17-19--AFS 18th Environmental Health & Safety Conference, Sheraton Music City Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. ...

U.S. trade & treasury offices see high level staff changes.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
August 1, 2006... The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has experienced significant staff changes in several high-ranking positions. The U.S. Senate confirmed President Bush's nomination of Susan C. Schwab to head the office as U.S. Trade...

Who needs inventory? Signicast Corporation did away with inventory and focused on speed and continuous flow to be able to deliver a part to its customers in 5-10 days.(Cover story)(Company overview)
August 1, 2006... In chemical plants, material flows via pipes from station to station where it is processed with automated controls. It is untouched by human hands, and long waylays at one station or another are avoided. This sounds like something relatively...

Modeling casting on the move.
August 1, 2006... Casting process modeling tools are capable of modeling flow and thermal and structural aspects of the many casting processes. However, most of the modeling work involves fixed mold geometry. Nevertheless, many casting practices involve moving...

Leaping microstructure hurdles with process modeling: beyond simply identifying shrink porosity and fill problems, numerical tools can predict more accurately defects at a microstructure level to help achieve better material properties.
August 1, 2006... Casting process modeling technology has come a long way since the early and mid-1980s, when the design engineer worked with just a 2-D model. The early days focused on the simple quest of identifying hot spots in the casting. As the CAD and...

Turn a rough rider into smooth operator: when you're using a bonded sand casting process, improving your surface finish can be a difficult task. But it also can be invaluable.
August 1, 2006... You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but you can tell a thing or two about its quality. If there are misspellings on the outside, you'll probably find shoddy writing on the inside. If there are visible imperfections on the binding,...

RP checks out fast: no one is going to ask you if you'd like paper or plastic, but if you know where to look, you may be able to fill a rapid prototyping (RP) order without first building a plastic, 3-D model.(rapid-prototyping )
August 1, 2006... This article is Part Two in a two-part series focusing on rapid-prototyping technology. Part One, "Building Your Business in Layers," was published in the July issue of MODERN CASTING. Several prototyping processes can produce a mold or...

Not all costs are bad.(CEO JOURNAL)
August 1, 2006... Over the years, this column has contained countless variations on the theme, "not all sales are good sales." But the same level of attention has not been paid to the equally true proposition that not all costs are bad costs. This can be...

Q What is the normal variation for tensile strength results, and how do you reduce the variation? For gray iron G3000, we have tensile results of 31 ksi to 34 ksi. Is this acceptable?(CASTING ANSWERS & ADVICE)
August 1, 2006... Tensile strength is one of the characteristics most commonly specified by purchasers of metal castings, as it gives a good indication that the part will function as designed. The tensile test verifies the strength of the metal used to make...

Ian M. Kay, longtime director of the Cast Metals Institute, passes torch to successor.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
August 1, 2006... In June, Ian M. Kay, longtime leader of the Cast Metals Institute (CMI), stepped down from his position as Vice President of Education/Secretary. He will continue his affiliation with CMI on a contractual basis by providing assistance in course...

New research to improve prediction of physical changes in investment casting process.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
August 1, 2006... The guesswork of predicting the physical changes that occur during investment casting could soon become a science, according to an ongoing collaborative research project. ProCAST, with the support of the American Foundry Society (AFS) 4-L...

New AFS Corporate Members (June 2006).(Membership Memo)
August 1, 2006... New AFS Corporate Members (June 2006): Laurel Machine & Foundry Co., Laurel, Miss.; Weatherly Casting & Machine Co., Weatherly, Pa.

CMI course schedule.(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... CMI Course Schedule Aug. 22-24 Permanent Molding Aluminum-- Tilt Pour (09-07) Hamilton, Ontario Aug. 29-31 Analysis and Reduction Schaumburg, Ill. of...

Northeast Indiana--in April, Brett Fisher, International Truck & Engine Corp., welcomes technical speaker Nigel Yeomans, Ashland Specialty Chemical, prior to his talk on corebox filling simulation.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
August 1, 2006... Caption: NORTHEAST INDIANA -- In April, at top left, Brett Fisher, International Truck & Engine Corp., welcomes technical speaker Nigel Yeomans, Ashland Specialty Chemical, prior to his talk on corebox filling simulation. At top right, Mark...

Toledo--in May, Jim Gary, General Motors Corp., recognizes Bob Turner, General Motors Corp.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
August 1, 2006... Caption: TOLEDO -- In May, Jim Gary, General Motors Corp., recognizes Bob Turner, General Motors Corp., for 40 years of service to the American Foundry Society during the chapter's Family Night at Fifth Third Field.

Keystone--in April, George Frigm, Heraeus Electro-Nite, congratulates Bruce Harlan, Boose Aluminum Foundry.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
August 1, 2006... Caption: KEYSTONE -- In April, George Frigm, Heraeus Electro-Nite, congratulates Bruce Harlan, Boose Aluminum Foundry, following his presentation, "Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control."

Tristate--in April, Roger Daniels, Acme Foundry Inc., meets with Lee White, Del Sol Services.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
August 1, 2006... Caption: TRISTATE -- In April, Roger Daniels, Acme Foundry Inc., meets with Lee White, Del Sol Services, following his presentation on gas diffusers.

Wisconsin--in May, former Green Bay Packer John Anderson spoke at the chapter's general meeting.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
August 1, 2006... Caption: WISCONSIN -- In May, former Green Bay Packer John Anderson spoke at the chapter's general meeting. Also pictured are Phil Heston, Miller Compressing Co.; Greg Payleitner, Sharp Refractories Inc.; and Tom Stark, Badger Mining Corp.

Chapter meetings.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... CENTRAL NEW YORK Aug. 26--Greenview Golf Course, West Monroe, N.Y.; Golf Outing. Sept. 13--Pier 57, Liverpool, N.Y.; General Meeting. Oct. 11--TBD; Joint Meeting with NADCA Chapter 9. Nov. 8--Abigail's, Seneca Falls, N.Y.; General Meeting. Dec....

Direct metal laser-sintering makes a speedy delivery.(PRODUCT INNOVATIONS)
August 1, 2006... Rapid prototyping often can help a metalcasting facility or its customer out of a project ramp-up jam. For instance, diecasting is a prime manufacturing choice for many end-users looking for something cost-effective and productive. However, the...

Aluminum melting furnace.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
August 1, 2006... The GC-Series Non-Crucible furnace manufactured by Thermtronix Corp. is designed for continuous aluminum melting operations as a durable refractory lined furnace that does not use crucibles. Metal is charged onto a dry hearth charging chamber,...

Digital reconstruction software.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
August 1, 2006... Geomagic has released its Studio 9 digital reconstruction software, which features 3-D feature-base modeling, advanced color texture generation and greater versatility with user-defined patch layouts. Studio 9 automatically processes 3-D scan...

Cermet saw blades.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
August 1, 2006... Running at 110 rpm on 2.625-in. (6.67-cm)-diameter 4320 rolled steel with a 0.033 in. (0.85 mm) chip load, Tru-Cut Saw's Aggressor Phantom cermet saw blades pull 10-11 amps and produce a near mirror finish. The blades cut up to 1,200 surface...

Countries' postage stamps deliver history of metalcasting.(SHAKEOUT: In case you didn't know ...)
August 1, 2006... Archeological finds attest to the importance of the ancient art of casting gold, copper and silver objects. As a means of diffusing information about these findings, some countries have shown the products of this activity on postage stamps. ...