Modern Casting articles from February 2004

Modern Casting archives from February 2004

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
February 1, 2004... The December website question of the month asked, "Metalcasting shipments are projected to increase in the coming year. When do you expect your business to pick up?" Answers: * 43%--Casting shipments have already begun to steadily...

It's about more than the checkbook.(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... To many in this industry, metalcasting is more than just a livelihood. Sure, we all need a paycheck to support our lifestyles, and our facilities need a healthy profit margin to continue operating, but metalcasting has always meant more than...

Panel recommends OSHA not pursue new rule for crystalline silica.(Washington Alert)
February 1, 2004... In December, after the 60-day Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) process had been completed, the Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel, consisting of OSHA officials, the Small Business Administration's (SBA) chief...

U.S. EPA issues proposed rule to modify waste management regulations.(Washington Alert)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The U.S. EPA recently issued a proposed rule to modify its hazardous waste management regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for certain solvent-contaminated materials, such as reusable shop towels, rags, disposable...

Rolls-Royce Naval Marine begins expansion on foundry in Pascagoula, Mississippi.(North America)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Inc., Derby, United Kingdom, began construction for the expansion of its foundry in Pascagoula, Miss., in January. The new facility will enhance manufacturing capabilities and improve production efficiency across a...

Intermet announces plans to close Havana Foundry.(North America)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Intermet Corp., Troy, Mich., announced plans to close its Havana Foundry, Havana, Ill., during the second quarter of this year. According to the firm, closure is necessary to rationalize excess production capacity and reduce costs. The facility...

Citation Corp. completes voluntary restructuring.(North America)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Citation Corp., Birmingham, Ala., has reached an agreement with its lenders to restructure the company's debt and equity, with the company's primary shareholders, Kelso & Co., investing an additional $20 million. The new arrangement provides...

Auburn Foundry could cut 40% of workforce.(North America)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... According to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind., Auburn Foundry, Inc., Auburn, Ind., could lay off more than 200 employees (about 40% of its workforce) as it scales down production and relocates work between its two plants....

Amcast Industrial Corp.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Amcast Industrial Corp., Dayton, Ohio, reported fiscal first quarter sales of $112.9 million compared with $112.2 million during the prior year. Net income for the quarter was $1 million versus a prior year net quarterly net loss from...

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., Northville, Mich., reported third quarter earnings of $13.9 million, with gross profits remaining consistent with the same period the previous year. Net sales for the quarter totaled $530.9 million, compared...

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., Northville, Mich., has reached an agreement with Strick Corp., Monroe, Ind.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., Northville, Mich., has reached an agreement with Strick Corp., Monroe, Ind. The agreement provides that Hayes Lemmerz will supply 100% of all standard, non-specified wheel end components for Strick in 2004 and...

Johnson Atelier Art Foundry.(Newscast)(nonprofit foundry closing due to lack of funds)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... According to www.newsday.com, Johnson Atelier Art Foundry, Trenton, N. J., a nonprofit sculpture foundry, will close in July due to money problems. The foundry is connected to Grounds for Sculpture, a 22-acre sculpture park. The foundry is...

Atchison Casting Corp., Atchison, Kan., and five subsidiaries (comprised of Amite Foundry and Machine, Inc., Prospect Foundry, Inc., Prime Cast, Inc., Acc Global Corp., and London Precision and Tool, Ltd) announce the closing of the sale of their remaining operating assets out of bankruptcy to subsidiaries of AmeriCast Technologies, Inc., New York, N.Y.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Atchison Casting Corp., Atchison, Kan., and five subsidiaries (comprised of Amite Foundry and Machine, Inc., Prospect Foundry, Inc., Prime Cast, Inc., Acc Global Corp., and London Precision and Tool, Ltd.) announced the closing of the sale of...

AFS announces 2004 Taylor, Witt Award winners.(Metalcasting Associations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Honorary Lectures and Papers committee of the American Foundry Society (AFS), Des Plaines, Ill., has announced the winners of the 2004 Howard F. Taylor and Ray H. Witt Awards. The awards are bestowed to papers presented at the annual AFS...

Branchfield Casting, Inc.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Branchfield Casting, Inc., will launch a new foundry in Galva, Ill., in the summer of 2004, which will employ 12-20 people.

Kennedy Valve Co., N.Y., had a modernization project on its cope and drag tight flask molding system completed by Brock Solutions.(Newscast)(Brock Solutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Kennedy Valve Co., Elmira, N.Y., had a modernization project on its cope and drag tight flask molding system completed by Brock Solutions, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

The senior management of Miller & Co., Rosemont, Ill., has purchased the firm from Stinnes Corp., its owner since 1997.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The senior management of Miller & Co,, Rosemont, Ill., has purchased the firm from Stinnes Corp., its owner since 1977. In 2002, Stinnes was purchased by the German firm Deutsche Bahn, which deemed Miller & Co. as non-core to its long-term...

Z Corp.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Z Corp., Burlington, Mass., announced the Z Corp., Metalcasting Program, which aims to establish beneficial relationships with a network of Z Corp., customers, patternmakers and foundries involved in the prototyping of metal parts.

2002 metalcasting industry lost workday injury, illness rates released by U.S. Bureau of Labor.(North America)
February 1, 2004... The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the 2002 Injury and Illness rates. These numbers reflect the lost workday rates as well as OSHA recordable rates for the metalcasting industry. When OSHA decides what firms will be targeted...

Quality certifications.(Industry News)(foundries, suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The following foundry and supplier organizations have received recent certifications: Quad City Die Casting Co., Inc., Moline, Ill. (ISO 9001:2000); Le Claire Manufacturing Co., Bettendorf, Iowa (ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9001:2002); Harrison...

Trumpeting "Buy American".(Letterbox)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... The letter from Michael L. Lenahan of Resource Recovery Corp., that appeared in the Letterbox of the December 2003 issue of MODERN CASTING hit home hard. We have been a representative of one of the larger municipal casting foundries for more...

Applied Process, Inc.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Applied Process, Inc., Livonia, Mich., named Tim Dorn plant manager of Applied Process Westshore, Oshkosh, Wis.

Winsert, Inc.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "Winsert, Inc., Marinette, Wis., named Paul Lemery director-materials management.

Ashland Casting Solutions, Inc.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Ashland Casting Solutions, Inc., Dublin, Ohio, named James J. Archibald senior product manager-coldbox resins for Asia, Andrew D. Busby senior product manager-coldbox systems for Europe, Greg Sturtz senior product manager coldbox resins for...

Bentonite Performance Minerals.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Bentonite performance Minerals, Denver, Colo, named Scott Honeyman sales manager-metal castings group in Brookfield, Wis.

Saveway GmbH.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Saveway GmbH, Langewiesen, Germany, appointed Patrick Leper general manager of its U.S. subsidiary.

D.A. Stuart Co.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... D.A. Stuart Co., Warrenville, Ill., named Colin White vice president of metalworking, William Scheu vice president of metals, John Cutcher vice president of marketing and technology, Charles Santangelo, Jr., vice president of corporate...

NSL Analytical Services.(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... NSL Analytical Services, Cleveland, Ohio, named Gary Schaner metallurgist for its materials and testing failure analysis group.

Hormel Foods Corp.(Industry News)
February 1, 2004... Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., named David Parker sales and marketing manager for GMBond.

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... February February 23-2-6-National Manufacturing Week, McCormick Place, Chicago. March March 8-11--Society of Automotive Engineers 2004 World Congress, Cobo Center, Detroit. March 11-13--AFS Northwest Regional Conference,...

Hayes Lemmerz Montague delivers a permanent solution: established as a casting facility in 2000, this suspension component supplier has taken its vacuum/pressure permanent mold process and surrounded it with automation to enhance production.
February 1, 2004... Imagine the following. The economy is in the middle of a recession. Your casting facility, which used to be strictly a machining operation just a couple years ago, is building its production from scratch with a new vacuum/pressure...

Using simulation for permanent mold casting optimization.
February 1, 2004... Inside This Story: * When Teksid Alumino de Mexico found porosity problems in its low pressure cast aluminum bedplate, the firm used computer simulation to find the cause of the defect. * Once the defect was identified, Teksid Alumino...

Feeling out sand conditioning.
February 1, 2004... Inside This Story: * This article looks at the characteristics metalcasters should be looking for in their sand systems. * Explained within is the role additives play in creating ideal molding sand characteristics. For many...

Identifying a candidate for conversion to casting.
February 1, 2004... Inside This Story: * This article shows how to work with OEMs to identify components worth redesigning into castings for possible cost and weight savings. * Detailed within are strategies to gain insights into another side of the...

Making a reality out of rapid cast prototypes.
February 1, 2004... Inside This Story: * Now with an office outside of Detroit., ACTech is bringing its rapid prototype casting to the U.S. market while maintaining a foundry in Germany. * Discussed within this article is how the firm can deliver...

Veino[R] 2003 increases casting efficiency 50% by eliminating machining time.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Bahr Brothers of Marion, Indiana, produces replacement and original equipment parts for the pulp & paper, railroad, mining and a wide variety of other industries 0PERATION--In addition to a pattern shop and laboratory, the Bahr...

MK5 Rotary Media Drum reduces costs in shakeout and casting cleaning operations.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Gartland Foundry, Terra Haute. Indiana, is a 100 year old foundry specializing in thin walled fragile and complex castings in grey and ductile iron OPERATION--Horizontal green sand molding feeding a DIDION Model MD-80 MK5 Rotary...

CARBO ACCUCAST[R] synthetic ceramic molding media improves casting quality and operation.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Foundries using various casting processes, including Lost Foam, V-Process, No-Bake, replacing silica and specialty sands as backing or core molding material. OPERATION--Jobbing, captive high volume automotive and marine foundries...

Mossner automated finishing cells reduce labor and cost.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Hayes Lemmerz, Montague Operations, Montague, Michigan is a foundry specializing in aluminum automotive suspension components. OPERATION--Hayes-Lemmerz Montague casts multiple suspension components using a VRC/PRC process. These...

Visipour[R] technology enhances casting quality and reduces costs.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg, TN, is a foundry specializing in producing cast iron cookware. OPERATION--The plant has coreless melting furnaces feeding two vertically parted molding lines producing skillets, dutch ovens,...

General Kinematics spiral elevators solve difficult cooling problem in less space.(Technology in Action)
February 1, 2004... USER--Foundries that require better utilization of manufacturing space, reduced casting damage, and a conditioned environment for heating, cooling, drying and other processes. OPERATION--Recent applications for General Kinematics spiral...

Vulcan 120 TPH VertiCooler sand system reduces defects-improves productivity.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Progressive Foundry, Inc. Perry, Iowa is a family owned job shop foundry pouring gray and ductile iron castings. OPERATION--The foundry operation is made up of 2 Hunter 10C molding machines and 2 Hunter 20H molding machines with mold...

New plant addition yields $800,000 a year savings.(Technology in Action)
February 1, 2004... USER--Urick Foundry Company, Erie, PA, Their parent company is Ridge Tool a division of Emerson Electric. The firm specializes in ductile iron castings. OPERATION--Urick Foundry is well known for it's precision castings of complex parts,...

Grinding cells reduce labor shortage problem, increase consistency and throughput.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--Aarrowcast, Inc., Shawano, Wisconsin OPERATION--Aarrowcast is a producer of gray and ductile iron components for off-highway equipment, engines and water and irrigation systems. PROBLEMS--Faced with a labor shortage problem, the...

HI T.E.Q. Mini-Melter[TM] brings melting productivity to the die casting station.(Technology in Action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--A second-generation, family-owned, aluminum and zinc alloy die casting shop in New Jersey has operated for more than 50 years, offering jobbing services. OPERATION--This company produces castings from 1/2 oz. to 6 lbs., cast,...

PBR Columbia utilizes workcell concept to produce brake calipers.(Technology in Action)(C.M.H. Manufacturing Company)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USER--PBR Automotive, Columbia, South Carolina, a subsidiary of Pacifica Group, Melbourne, Australia--a manufacturer of automotive components and friction materials. OPERATION--PBR's Columbia casting plant manufactures a range of aluminum...

Rethinking capacity management.(CEO Journal)
February 1, 2004... Prior to the early 1980s, metalcasting was a growth in dustry. CEOs and their management teams could invest in additional capacity and expect that aggressive pricing and market growth would quickly fill the foundry up. In turn, this new volume...

Casting answers & advice.
February 1, 2004... Q Investment casting maintains the tightest tolerances among all casting processes. What is the most important step in controlling final dimensions? Background: Perhaps more than any other casting process, investment casting has factors...

Spring course schedule: April 1-June 30, 2004.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... For more than 40 years, the Cast Metals Institute in suburban Chicago has provided the foundry industry with timely education courses and seminars on all aspects of the metalcasting process. In fact, CMI's training programs have been attended...

Wisconsin -- in November, George Hartay, Falk Corp., receives a speaker's award.(AFS Chapter News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... WISCONSIN -- In November, George Hartay (l), Falk Corp., receives a speaker's award after his presentation about the Falk Corp., from Gerald Wilkinson, Kohler Co. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Chicago -- in November, Steve Nargang, Simpson Technologies Corp., presents Dean Martin, Hunter Automated Machinery Corp.(AFS Chapter News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- In November, Steve Nargang (l), Simpson Technologies Corp., presents Dean Martin, Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., with a speaker's award following his presentation, "Foundries Around the World." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Canton -- in November, Corey Jarvis, Wellsville Foundry, Inc., congratulates Steve Sikorski.(AFS Chapter News)
February 1, 2004... CANTON -- In November, Corey Jarvis (l), Wellsville Foundry, Inc., congratulates Steve Sikorski, Magma Foundry Technologies, Inc., after his presentation, "New Frontiers in Optimizing Casting Designs and Processes." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Piedmont -- in November, Tom Lenkiewicz, Wheelabrator Cast Products, presents a plaque to Dan Joseph.(AFS Chapter News)
February 1, 2004... PIEDMONT -- In November, Tom Lenkiewicz (r), Wheelabrator Cast Products, presents a plaque to Dan Joseph, Advanced Technology Institute, after his seminar, "DOD/EOE Connections: Opportunities to Embrace Emerging Foundry Technologies." ...

Northeastern Wisconsin -- in October, Hank Menchl, Neenah Foundry Co., presents Andrew Brandt.(AFS Chapter News)
February 1, 2004... NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN -- In October, Hank Menchl (r), Neenah Foundry Co., presents Andrew Brandt, Green Bay Packers, with a plaque after his presentation, "A Day in the Life of an NFL Executive." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Western Michigan -- in November, David Valensi and Greg Lyon, both of Leco Corp., receive speaker's awards.(AFS Chapter News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... WESTERN MICHIGAN -- In November, David Valensi (l) and Greg Lyon, both of Leco Corp., receive speaker's awards after giving a presentation on metalography. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Stateline -- in November, Dean Martin, Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., receives a speaker's award following his presentation.(AFS Chapter News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... STATELINE -- In November, Dean Martin (l), Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., receives a speaker's award following his presentation, "Foundries Around the World," from Wayne Cart, Olson Aluminum Castings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

BIRMINGHAM -- In January, Jeff Fowler (l), Citation Corp., congratulates Charles Bates.(AFS Chapter News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BIRMINGHAM -- In January, Jeff Fowler (l), Citation Corp., congratulates Charles Bates, Univ. of Alabama, following his presentation on quality casting production through research. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Chapter meetings.(AFS Chapter News)(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... BIRMINGHAM March 12--Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Student Night & Golf. April 12--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.; "Update On AFS Research at the Univ. of Alabama," Doru Steranescu, Univ. of Alabama. May 10--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.; Update on FEF,...

Rheocasting helps in the production of high-volume, high-integrity cast components.(New Product)
February 1, 2004... Semi-solid casting technology has not completely caught on in the metalcasting industry because of limitations in process control. But if the technology is correctly harnessed, semi-solid casting can widen the range of cast components produced...

Robot, bottom pour ladle drastically reduce melting labor, scrap costs.(Case History)
February 1, 2004... In the past, melting and pouring by hand at TPi Arcade, Arcade, N.Y., was a difficult job that required two people per shift. Scrap rates were high at the shop, which specializes in V-process aluminum casting. But the implementation of a...

Furnace refractory material.(Metalcasting Supplies)
February 1, 2004... Vulcan Refractories, Ltd., now offers Vulcasil HSC14, a custom made refractory component for aluminum. The material, which is virtually non-wetted by molten aluminum, has low thermal conductivity and high thermal shock resistance. Productivity...

HIP systems.(Metalcasting Supplies)
February 1, 2004... Engineered Pressure Systems, Inc., offers its Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) Production Unit. The system is designed to uniformly apply accurate pressure at elevated temperatures to all surfaces. It densities castings to heal defects and voids,...

Robot accessories.(Metalcasting Supplies)
February 1, 2004... Robotic Accessories has developed a variably-compliant end-of-arm device for burr removal, finishing and polishing operations on metals. The robot comes equipped with a 0.88 horsepower engine and quiet air motor. The machine can continuously...

Metalcasters & the written word.(Shakeout: in case you didn't know ...)(Metalcasters)
February 1, 2004... Metalcasters often are recognized for their talents in molding sand and developing metal alloys. But rarely do you hear about their creative talents away from the casting line. In 2003, two metalcasters--Brian Keene and Stephen...