Modern Casting articles from January 2003

Modern Casting archives from January 2003

SPX Contech awarded $20 million Ford Light Truck contract. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... SPX Corp., Charlote, NC, announced that its Contech business has been awarded a five-year $20 million annual contract to supply the fully machined aluminum rack and pinion housing, the front axle carrier and the front axle tube used on the next...

Atchison wins contract for Washington, D.C. Metro. (Industry News).(Atchison Casting)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Atchison Casting Corp., Atchison, KS, announced that its Atchison Steel Casting and Machining Div. has received a contract to supply cast steel undercarriages for new mass transit vehicles to be delivered to WMATA (Washington, D.C. Metro).

Proposed MACT rule set for publishing, AFS committee formed. (Industry News).(proposed standards regulating emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants from iron and steel foundries)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In anticipation of U.S. EPA's publishing of the proposed standards regulating the emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) from iron and steel foundries (also known as the MACT standards), AFS has established the 10E MACT Ad-hoc Committee...

Ultrasonic Treatment System. (Product Innovations).(Applied Ultrasonics develops Esonics)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ultrasonic impact technology has been used to treat gears, shafts, wheels and brake components subjected to severe cyclical loading during use to improve physical properties. Specifically for cast metal components, Applied Ultrasonics,...

Semi-solid metal casting. (Product Innovations).(new approach from THT Presses)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The casting of semi-solid metal (SSM) can result in components with details and thin-wall sections similar to die castings but with the integrity, strength and ductility only attainable via squeeze casting or the highest quality permanent mold...

Start with the little things. (Editorial).(observations on metal castings industry)(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... When the ball dropped and the final seconds of 2002 finally were washed away, the collective sigh from U.S. metalcasters nearly knocked me from my couch in the west suburbs of Chicago. A year that stunk to high heaven for the U.S. foundry...

SPX Contech awarded $20 million Ford F150 Light Truck contract. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... SPX Corp., Charlotte, North Carolina, announced that its Contech business has been awarded a five-year $20 million annual contract to supply the fully machined aluminum rack and pinion housing, the front axle carrier and the front axle tube...

Atchison wins contract for Washington, D.C. Metro. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Atchison Casting Corp., Atchison, Kansas, announced that its Atchison Steel Casting and Machining Div. has received a contract to supply cast steel undercarriages for new mass transit vehicles to be delivered to WMATA (Washington, D.C. Metro)....

Proposed MACT rule set for publishing, AFS ad-hoc committee formed to represent industry. (Metalcasting Associations).
January 1, 2003... In anticipation of U.S. EPA's publishing of the proposed standards regulating the emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) from iron and steel foundries (also known as the MACT standards), AFS has established the 10E MACT Ad-hoc Committee...

Howmet Castings wins Investment Casting institute award for Aerospace component. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Howmet Castings (Alcoa, Inc.), Darien, Connecticut, was named a winner in the Investment Casting Institute's 2002 casting contest for a rudder assembly manufactured by Howmet's Bethlehem, Pennsylvania casting plant. The winning casting is...

AFS, NADCA to hold metalcasting expositions concurrently starting in 2004. (Metalcasting Associations).(North American Die Casting Association and AFS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... AFS and the North American Die Casting Assn. (NADCA), Rosemont, Illinois, announced that they will hold their Congresses and expositions concurrently beginning in 2004. The combining of these meetings will produce an annual education and...

Livingston acquires Wheland foundry in bankruptcy court. (Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Livingston Co., Chattanooga, Tennessee, acquired the Wheland Foundry plant, Warrenton, Georgia, through bankruptcy court for $2.25 million. Livingston had earlier tried unsuccessfully to buy the main foundry. Former Wheland officials Ron...

American Colloid International acquires FNG industries. (Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... American Colloid Corp. (AMCOL International Corp.), Arlington Heights, Illinois, has acquired FNG Industries, New Haven, West Virginia, a producer of ferrosilicon and carbon/silicon bricks and briquettes. "FNG's products will carry...

Grupo Industrial Saltillo, S.A. (Foundry Ticker).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Grupo Industrial Saltillo, S.A., Saltillo, Mexico, announced a 2002 third-quarter revenue of $173 million, a 2% increase over the same period 2001. Operating income was $19 million, a 14% decline from 2001.

Superior Industries International, Inc. (Foundry Ticker).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Superior Industries International, Inc., Van Nuys, California, reported a third quarter revenue of $187.4 million, up from $146.4 million in the same period 2001. Net income increased 65% to $17.7 million compared to third quarter 2001.

Haley Industries, Ltd. (Foundry Ticker).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Haley Industries, Ltd., Haley, Ontario, Canada, reported second-quarter earnings of $374,000, compared to $1.1 million in the same period last year. Consolidated sales for the quarter were $14.8 million compared with $19.4 million in 2001.

Amcast Industrial Corp. (Foundry Ticker).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Amcast Industrial Corp, Dayton, Ohio, reported fiscal first quarter sales of $155.8 million, an increase of 15% in the prior year. The net loss for the quarter was $7.2 million, versus a 2001 fiscal first quarter loss of $5.5 million.

Loper receives FEF award. (Metalcasting Associations).(Foundry Educational Foundation, Carl Loper)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... At the 2002 Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) annual College Industry Conference in November, Carl Loper received the E.J. Walsh Award, the foundation's highest honor. Loper is the recently retired FEF Key Professor from the Univ. of...

Ashland Specialty Chemical changes name, creates two new global business units. (Industry News: North America).(Ashland Casting Solutions)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ashland Specialty Chemical Co.'s Foundry Product Div., Columbus, Ohio, announced the creation of two new global business units, a new name for its overall business and a new logo. The company's new name will be Ashland Casting Solutions. ...

OSHA to initiate SBREFA panel for Silica in 2003. (Industry News: North America).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... According to OSHA's semiannual regulatory agenda, the agency plans to initiate the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act (SBREFA) process for crystalline silica in the summer of 2003. This action would lay the ground work for a traditional...

American Cast Iron Pipe Co. (Newscast).(bought Smart Pump pumping systems from MT Systems)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... American Cast Iron Pipe Co., Birmingham, Alabama, purchased two Smart Pump pumping systems from MT Systems, Danville, Illinois.

Michigan Steel, Inc. (Newscast).(buys West Michigan Steel Foundry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Michigan Steel, Inc., Muskegon, Michigan, has finalized the purchase of West Michigan Steel Foundry, Muskegon, formerly a division of TIC United Corp, Dallas. West Michigan Steel will continue operating under the name of Michigan Steel, Inc.

H & H Castings, Inc. (Newscast).(buys FBO IIIS molding system from Roberts Sinto)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... H & H Castings, Inc., York, Pennsylvania, purchased a FBO IIIS molding system from Roberts Sinto, Lansing, Michigan, at CastExpo '02.

Family owned, operated Gartland Foundry celebrates centennial anniversary with employees. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In September, the 85 employees of Gartland Foundry, a gray and ductile green sand caster in Terre Haute, Indiana, celebrated the plant's 100"' anniversary as well as its certification as an ISO 9001:2000 company. "This is a great day for...

PFA releases new Foundry Safety & Health Manual. (Metalcasting Associations).(Pennsylvania Foundry Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Pennsylvania Foundry Assn. (PFA), Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, has published an expanded and revised 200-page edition of The Foundry Manager's Guide to Safety and Health, which was first released in 1987. Revised and approved by...

Letterbox.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2003... Innovations in Metalcasting Technology Abound in November Timeline MODERN CASTING is to be congratulated for the November 2002 article "Timeline of Casting Technology," which reviewed the innovations that have kept our industry serving the...

Calendar of events.(Illustration)(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... January January 22-24--AFS Labor Relations & Human Resource Conference, Bahia Mar Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. February February 1-2--Non-Ferrous Founders' Society, Summit Conference, Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel,...

Winsert, Inc. (Personals).(names Andrew Hoffman)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Winsert, Inc., Marinette, Wisconsin, named Andrew Hoffman research and development lab technician.

Worthington Industries, Inc. (Personals).(names Joe Harden)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Worthington Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, named Joe Harden president of Worthington Steel.

Intermet Corp. (Personals).(names Gary F. Ruff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Intermet Corp., Troy, Michigan, named Gary F. Ruff president and COO, Bytha Mills vice president of administration and Mary Jo Karjala corporate secretary.

Tyler Pipe Co. (Personals).(names Ron Getz)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Tyler Pipe Co., Tyler, Texas, named Ron Getz maintenance general foreman at its North Plant.

RMT, Inc. (Personals).(names Roger M. Bartz)
January 1, 2003... RMT, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, named Roger M. Bartz regional sales manager for its Columbus, Ohio office.

Pall Corp. (Personals).(promotes John K. Duchowski)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Pall Corp., Port Washington, New York, announced the promotion of John K. Duchowski to vice president of technology development for its Machinery and Equipment Div.

Saint-Gobain Abrasives. (Personals).(names Benoit Bazin)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Worcester, Massachusetts, named Benoit Bazin vice president of bonded abrasives.

Sherry Laboratories. (Personals).(names Jennifer Marek)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Sherry Laboratories, Muncie, Indiana, named Jennifer Marek metallurgical director.

Obituaries.(Stanley Bass and Ed Gilbert)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2003... Stanley Bass, 77, retired owner/president of Fort Worth Aluminum, Fort Worth, Texas, died in November. He served as a national director of the AFS class of 1998 and received an AFS Service Citation in 2002. Ed Gilbert, 71, a consultant for...

U.S. casting shipments expected to increase 6.3% in '03. (Cover Story: AFS 2003 Metalcasting Forecast).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... A study of end-use markets shows a moderate expansion in casting shipments next year, with considerable gains projected for aluminum, ductile iron and steel. Despite better than average production of light vehicles and some growth in other...

A holistic approach to improved cleaning room efficiency: a holistic approach to improve cleaning room operations means looking at the entire system by starting at casting design and working through to a review of cleaning room equipment.
January 1, 2003... Many different processes are required by foundries to run efficiently to produce quality castings--especially at a profit. Although cleaning room functions and labor may account for as much as 30% of the casting sales price, it often is the...

What causes electromagnetic pump clogging problems?
January 1, 2003... In the 1990s at the Ford Windsor Aluminum Plant, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, (now Nemak Canada, Windsor Aluminum Plant) clogging problems began to develop with the electromagnetic pump used to deliver molten 319 aluminum to the mold in the...

Establishing new rules for coldbox coremaking: when establishing a method for vent and blow tube placement in coreboxes, foundries must maximize productivity and minimize amine consumption.
January 1, 2003... Previous studies relating to the tooling parameters of coldbox coremaking relied on establishing the total core weight prior to developing the guidelines to be used for proper corebox tooling design. Total vent open area and blow tube area,...

Chilled sand casting process delivers higher strength components. (Technology in Progress).
January 1, 2003... Volvo's "Future Process for Castings" uses chemically bonded sand molds with a water-cooled steel chill to increase casting strength and dimensional stability while reducing environmental concerns. Since 1995, the Swedish automobile and...

www.disagroup.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Founded in 1900, DISA is the world's leading supplier of foundry molding lines, foundry equipment and metal surface finishing systems, and one of the world's largest and most experienced suppliers of air pollution control solutions. With...

www.laempe.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Laempe offers the unique CoreCenter concept combining core shooter, sand mixer and gas generator under a single controller with a Windows based PC. The company has expanded its product line to the economical LL series for the jobbing foundry...

www.hottinger-na.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Hottinger's wide product range comprises: turnkey projects, single and multi-station core shooting, mold dumping machines and mold closing devices, handling equipment using robots and manipulators, customized machines to suit specific...

www.maus.it. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... MAUS has introduced a proven design of automatic grinding of iron and steel castings. The MAUS technique is a repeatable process utilizing rugged CNC platform, precise individual casting position verification, grinding wheel wear verification...

www.ashspec.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Serving your casting needs, one foundry at a time. Ashland offers a complete product package including sand-binding resins systems, refractory coatings, release agents, engineered sand additives, riser sleeves and the tech support and product...

www.generalkinematics.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... General Kinematics vibratory equipment leads the foundry industry in automation, energy efficiency, cost control and increased productivity. Learn more about our dependable products; including shakeouts, conveyors, sand/casting processing...

www.wsf-industries.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Job-proven Dewaxing Autoclave Systems by WSF assure uniform ceramic shell heating for complete process mold dewaxing. Steam pressure build-up to 130 psig achieved in less than five seconds. Shorter cycle times are possible since system...

www.cisa.org. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Nearly 70 supplier companies make up the Casting Industry Suppliers Association. The mission of CISA is to educate its members and work on challenges that are common to all. Such things as labeling, packaging, handling procedures, OSHA and, EPA...

www.didion.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... For more than 25 years, Didion International has been a leading supplier of shakeout and materials handling systems and equipment--with more than 700 machines in 42 countries worldwide. Rotary processing equipment includes sand casting...

www.simpsongroup.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Simpson Technologies manufactures mullers, coolers, core sand mixers and 3818 compactability controllers. Simpson+Gerosa manufactures a complete line of sand testing equipment. Beardsley & Piper manufactures mullers, core machines, scrubbers,...

www.inductotherm.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... Based in Rancocas, New Jersey, Inductotherm is a global leader in the manufacture of induction furnaces for metal producers. With manufacturing facilities in 14 countries, the company has built more than 10,000 melting systems. Inductotherm...

www.mouat.com. (Website Spotlights).
January 1, 2003... The Mouat Company, Inc. has over 76 years of experience in foundry projects, and has a staff of engineers with extensive experience in designing foundry systems. Mouat also has on staff degreed metallurgical engineers, with experience in...

Designing for economical coring. (Casting Design Notebook).(principles to observe when designing cored holes)
January 1, 2003... Part II Cored holes should be designed as simply as possible while satisfying functional requirements. Several basic principles exist that should be observed when designing cored holes: * assure the strength of the core during...

Built to last: successful habits of visionary companies. (Novel Solutions).(Built to Last)(Book Review)
January 1, 2003... Seeing what happened to so many firms over the past two years, this book's title alone (Built to Last, by Harper Business Essentials) tipped the scales in its favor when it came time to choose the third selection in MODERN CASTING's "Novel...

Casting answers & advice.(ductile iron casting hardness )(Column)
January 1, 2003... Q: We occasionally experience significant drops in casting hardness in our ductile iron pearlitic grades. Although we can not identify any changes in melt chemistry or metal processing, the problem comes and goes without warning. What are some...

AFS, modern casting present scholarships at 2002 Foundry Educational Foundation Conference. (AFS/CMI News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Caption: At the 2002 Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) Conference held November 7-9 in Chicago, the AFS/FEF Board Award of $6000 was presented to Pennsylvania State Univ. FEF Key Professor Bob Voigt. Pictured presenting the award to Voigt is...

Hormel Foods Corp. (AFS Chapter News: Hawkeye).(Jeremy Easton receives speaker's award)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Caption: In November, Kris Kuker, Univ. of Northern Iowa, presents Jeremy Eastman, Hormel Foods Corp., with a speaker's award after his presentation on the history of the GMB and binder system.

Magma Foundry Technologies, Inc. (AFS Chapter News: Central Michigan).(Steve Sikorski delivers presentation)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Caption: In November, Steve Sikorski, Magma Foundry Technologies, Inc., gives his presentation, Optimizing Design and Process.

Amsted Industries, Inc. (AFS Chapter News: Canton).
January 1, 2003... Caption: In November, seven past chairman were in attendance. Pictured: Donald Tarver, retired, Ron King, Amsted Industries, Inc., Gary Bresson, Miller and Co., Randy Gallation, Refcotec, Larry Newton, retired, Sue Herb. Bay Metal. Inc., and...

CFM Corp. (AFS Chapter News: Plains States).
January 1, 2003... Caption: In November, Nate McLain, CFM Corp., and Pat Pomeroy, Kansas Castings, Inc., present Randy Sanstrom, Ashland Specialty Chemical Co., with a speaker's award for his presentation on the nobake process.

Chapter Meetings. (AFS Chapter News).(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... BIRMINGHAM February 10--Regular Meeting. March 14--Tuscaloosa, Student Night and Golf. April 14--Regular Meeting. May 12--Regular Meeting. BRITISH COLUMBIA January 17--Westminster Club, New Westminster, British Columbia; Apprentice Contest...

Ultrasonic impact enhances ferrous and nonferrous casting physical properties. (Case History).
January 1, 2003... The use of ultrasonics to impart compressive stresses into metallic parts was originally invented in Russia to reduce welding stresses and deformations, introduce compressive stresses, increase corrosion-fatigue strength of welded joints, and...

New semi-solid metal casting process provides economical option. (New Product).
January 1, 2003... The casting of semi-solid metal (SSM) can result in components with details and thin-wall sections similar to die castings but with the integrity, strength and ductility only attainable via squeeze casting or the highest quality gravity and low...

Sampling System. (Metalcasting Supplies).
January 1, 2003... Spectro Analytical Instruments, Inc., has introduced a high performance sampling system for use with its CIROS ICPAES Spectrometers. The new Spark Ablation Sampling System has a flexible, digitally-controlled spark source that creates a...

Measuring software. (Metalcasting Supplies).
January 1, 2003... Faro Technologies, Inc., has developed the CAM2 Open Measure metrology software to operate on the Unigraphics CAD software engine from PLM Solutions by EDS. This system tie-in allows users to maintain process control from prototyping to...

Tumble blasting. (Metalcasting Supplies).
January 1, 2003... The 45 cu ft Super V Tumblast from Wheelabrator is designed for batch cleaning of castings, deflashing and surface finishing. The machine uses two 15-in, bidirectional wheel assemblies powered by 75 hp motors to blast castings....

Laser measurement sensors. (Metalcasting Supplies).
January 1, 2003... LMI Technologies U.S.A., Inc., has developed the Tap-Out Actuator, which is designed to control the rate of flow of molten metal from a gravity furnace by controlling the control rod in the furnace tap hole. By controlling the lauder level or...

Ceramic crucibles. (Metalcasting Supplies).
January 1, 2003... Leco Corp. offers ceramic crucibles and ladles designed to user specifications using its patented injection molding process, which provides increased erosion resistance, longer refractory lifespans, better control over flow stream and less slag...

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. (Foundries' Starring Roles).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Characters in the Star Wars films have traveled to the far reaches of the galaxy to fight evil, but until recently, they had never ventured into the foundry industry. In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala...

Cobra. (Foundries' Starring Roles).(foundry featured in climactic scene from movie 'Cobra')
January 1, 2003... Sylvester Stallone stars as Lt. Marion "Cobra" Cobretti in Cobra, a film that he both wrote and produced. A hard-as-nails renegade cop, Stallone is investigating a series of murders committed by a serial killer known as "The Night Stalker." The...