Modern Casting articles from June 2003

Modern Casting archives from June 2003

'Why do you like this foundry stuff?'. (Editorial).(Editorial)
June 1, 2003... "Why do you like this foundry stuff?" My wife asked me this question recently while we were picking up some supplies at Home Depot for a remodeling project. It came on the heels of me dragging her to see a unique casting application that was...

Iron & Steel MACT: AFS hosts EPA for plant tours to educate officials. (Washington Alert).(American Foundrymen's Society/Environmental Protection Agency /Maximum Achievable Control Technology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... On April 30 and May 1, several AFS corporate member foundries hosted staff from the U.S. EPA for plant tours. These tours were arranged as part of ongoing AFS efforts to work with EPA as the agency develops the National Emissions Standards for...

Legislation on asbestos lawsuits expected to be debated in Congress. (Washington Alert).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Under increasing economic and political pressure to resolve the nation's asbestos litigation crisis, insurance companies, businesses, unions and key members of Congress are working on a plan for a $100 billion nationwide trust fund to pay...

President Bush rules in favor of Chinese steel shirt hangers, rejects ITC. (Washington Alert).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... President George W. Bush announced in April that he has determined not to provide 'relief" against steel wire hanger imports from China. Under a safeguard clause, agreed to by China when it acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in...

Superior Industries wins additional business from Mazda. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Superior Industries International, Inc., Van Nuys, California, has been awarded additional aluminum wheel business from the Japanese-based Mazda Motor Corp. The firm anticipates a significant increase in shipments of 17-in, wheels for the 2004...

Grede Foundries to consolidate, reorganize steel operations. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Grede Foundries, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will consolidate operations at its subsidiary, Milwaukee Steel Foundry, Milwaukee, into a more focused operation that will be known as the Milwaukee Alloy Foundry. By October 1, 2003, Milwaukee...

Golden Casting Corp. Closes, resumes full operations. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Golden Casting Corp., Columbus, Indiana, closed in April after union officials rejected a proposed 20% cut in wages and benefits. Two weeks later, the foundry reopened when the union agreed to the concessions. According to the Courier...

Hayes Lemmerz to soon emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. (Industry News: North America).(Hayes Lemmerz International Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., Northville, Michigan, announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware confirmed the modified plan of reorganization that was filed by the firm. Confirmation of the plan should permit...

U.S. Pipe & Foundry Co. ceases operations at its U.S. Castings Anniston, Alabama plant. (Membership Memo).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... U.S. Pipe & Foundry Co., Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, ceased production and manufacturing operations at its U.S. Castings Plant, Anniston, Alabama, in April. The decision came after several years of declining financial results at the U.S....

U.K. Foundry Hattersley Newman Hender to close. (Around the World).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Hattersley Newman Hender, Ormskirk, United Kingdom, will close due to the loss of business to foreign competition. The business from the foundry and machine shop will be transferred to the Pegler Hattersley Ltd, Doncaster, United Kingdom. ...

Intermet New River Foundry celebrates one millions hours of work without lost-time injury. (Industry News: North America).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The New River Foundry, Radford, Virginia, of Intermet Corp., Troy, Michigan, celebrated one million hours of work without a single lost-time work injury. The firm and its 265 employees passed the mark after 580 days of continuous operation. ...

Metalcasting papers sought for SAE 2004. (Metalcasting Associations).(Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The AFS Technical Dept. is working once again to see that metalcasting will have a prominent role within the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress, the world's largest gathering of transportation engineers. The 2004 event will...

Pacific Cast Technologies. (Newscast).(awarded Preferred Supplier Certification at the Silver Level by Boeing Co.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Pacific Cast Technologies, Albany, Oregon, has been awarded Preferred Supplier Certification at the Silver Level by Boeing Co., Chicago. The award recognizes excellence in product performance, process control and business process.

Lionheart Industries, Inc. (Newscast).(filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 reorganization)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Lionheart Industries, Inc., Bixby, Oklahoma, filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in April.

McWane Corp. (Newscast).(is under criminal investigation)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... According to NBC 13, Birmingham, Alabama, the Alabama-based McWane Corp. is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Dept. for possible safety and environmental violations. McWane President Ruffner Page said he believes the...

ProezaGrede. (Newscast).(installed two 45-cu ft Super V Tumblast machines from Wheelabrator)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ProezaGrede, Monterrey, Mexico, installed two 45-cu ft Super V Tumblast machines from Wheelabrator, LaGrange, Georgia.

Tecumseh Products Co. (Newscast).(will close its diecasting foundry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... According to the Milwaukee Journal--Sentinal, Wisconsin, Tecumseh Products Co., Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, will close its diecasting foundry by September 30, a move that will cost about 250 employees their jobs.

ABB, Inc. (Newscast).(has named Dependable/Redford-Carver a systems integrator for robotics products)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... ABB, Inc., New Berlin, Wisconsin, has named Dependable/Redford-Carver, Tualatin, Oregon, a systems integrator for robotics products.

General Kinematics. (Newscast).(awarded the Liberty Mutual Gold Award for its outstanding safety performance record)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... General Kinematics, Crystal Lake, Illinois, has been awarded the Liberty Mutual Gold Award for its outstanding safety performance record in 2002. The firm maintained a safety record 80% better than the OSHA industry standard with zero lost time...

Foseco Metallurgical, Inc. (Newscast).(recognized for its contributions to the metalcasting program at Kent State University)
June 1, 2003... Foseco Metallurgical, Inc., Cleveland, has been recognized for its contributions to the metalcasting program at Kent State Univ., Kent, Ohio. Fosecos involvement in the program has included co-op employment for students, often leading to...

Wisconsin Pattern Co. (Newscast).(recently celebrated 90 years in business producing tooling)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Wisconsin Pattern Co., Racine, Wisconsin, recently celebrated 90 years in business producing tooling for the cast metals industry.

AFC-Holcroft. (Newscast).(has entered into sales representation agreements with Michael E. Cain and Heat Treat Specialists L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... AFC-Holcroft, Wixom, Michigan, has entered into a sales representation agreement with Michael E. Cain for the state of Ohio, and Heat Treat Specialists, L.L.C., Brownsburg, Indiana, for Indiana and Kentucky.

Cast Metals Federation Awards top U.K. cast components, top Industry Achievement Award. (Around the World).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Cast Metals Federation (CMF), West Bromwich, West Midlands, United Kingdom, awarded the high pressure aluminum alloy Range Rover door casting by Metal Castings, Ltd., Worcester, United Kingdom, and a stainless steel investment cast dental...

Calendar of events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
June 1, 2003... View the Extended Industry Calendar at www.afsinc.org June June 16-21--GIFA 2003, 10th International Foundry Trade Fair with the World Foundry Organization, Dusseldorf, Germany. August August 17-20--AFS 15th Environmental...

Thunder Bay Manufacturing Co. (Personals).(names Joanne Gallagher president)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Thunder Bay Manufacturing Co., Alpena, Michigan, named Joanne Gallagher president, Georgene Hildebrand vice president of administration, Bruce LaFleche vice president of operations and Todd Fowler foundry superintendent.

Obituaries.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
June 1, 2003... Richard W. LeVan, 68, chairman of Wescast Industries, Inc., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, died in April. In 1961, LeVan joined a small firm producing iron stoves and transformed it into Wescast, one of the world's largest suppliers of cast...

2003 casting contest: innovations in Cast Component Design.
June 1, 2003... Representing industries as diverse as automotive, aerospace, tool and die, and agriculture, this year's award-winning components showcase achievements cast in metal. A MODERN CASTING Staff Report Fifteen cast component designs,...

Nobake expansion without physical expansion.(Talladega Castings & Machine Co., Inc.)(Company Profile)
June 1, 2003... In order to stay competitive in today's global marketplace, foundries must continually expand to ensure that they are not left behind by continuing technological advancements. But what happens when a foundry has nowhere to grow into? ...

Grasping the impact of emission factors: this article provides a list of sources for foundry emission factors and shows if new factors could affect whether a foundry is considered a "major" source.
June 1, 2003... Over the last five years, more has been learned about air emissions than in the previous 30. This is due, in large part, to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, as industry groups and government agencies have sought better emission factors in...

Metalcasters convene at 107th casting Congress in Milwaukee. (107th AFS Casting Congress).
June 1, 2003... More than 1200 foundrymen from across the w arid gathered in Milwaukee from April 26-29 for the 107th AFS Casting Congress. This was the first congress held in Milwaukee since 1992. The show featured more than 110 exhibits and 51 technical and...

Edge takes the Rammer. (107th AFS Casting Congress).(H. Arthur Edge Jr.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... At the 107th Casting Congress in Milwaukee, H. Arthur Edge, Jr., vice president and works manager (retired), American Cast Iron Pipe Co. (ACIPCO), Birmingham, Alabama, was sworn in as the new MS president. He is joined in his new position by...

AFS Gold Medal Awards. (107th AFS Casting Congress Milwaukee, Wisconsin).(metalcasting industry awards)
June 1, 2003... April 26-29, 2003 Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal The 2003 Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal was bestowed upon Ezra L. Kotzin, AFS (retired), "for recognition of over 60 years of dedicated service, leadership...

Examining High-Pressure Molding. (Molding Methods & Materiald Silver Anniversary Papers).
June 1, 2003... For his Silver Anniversary Lecture titled, "Molding Sand Systems for the High-Pressure Molding Process" (03-001), H. Roshan, Intellectual Capital Exchange, L.L.C., reviewed research performed on high-pressure green sand molding for the last 25...

Iron foundries: wage a counterattack! (Cast Iron Honorary Lecture).(Cast Iron Honorary Lecture by P. Gerhardt)(Industry Overview)
June 1, 2003... Ductile Iron: At a Crossroads," was the theme of the Cast Iron Honorary Lecture by P. Gerhardt, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium America. Gerhardt traced ductile iron's rapid rise over the last three decades, including a 6% compounded growth rate...

History of Ceramic Foam Filtration. (Aluminum Silver Anniversary Paper).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In his Silver Anniversary Lecture titled, "Clean Castings Through Ceramic Foam Filtration," F. Mollard, Mollard Consulting, gave a historical look at the development of ceramic foam filtration over the last 25 years. According to Mollard,...

Advancements in Mold Feeding System. (Aluminum).
June 1, 2003... The 27 Aluminum Div. panels and presentations offered information on several topics, including porosity, fatigue behavior, sub liquidus casting and low pressure permanent mold technology. In his presentation, "Theoretical Basis for a...

Improving mold integrity. (Molding Methods & Material).
June 1, 2003... The 13 presentations and one panel for the Molding Methods and Materials Div. all had one thing in common: help foundrymen improve mold quality to produce higher quality castings. Whether the focus was on the binders, mold-metal interaction or...

Advancing Iron's properties. (Cast Iron).
June 1, 2003... The 17 presentations and three panels for the Cast Iron Div. were focused on finding ways to improve iron quality and enhance iron casting to produce components better suited to meet the demands of today's and tomorrow's casting end-user. ...

Simplifying simulation software. (Engineering).
June 1, 2003... The Engineering Div. featured seven panels and presentations that focused on a variety of topics, including quality costs, coreless induction furnaces and simulation software. In "Numerical Simulations and Experimental Study of Gassing...

Communicating 'total costs' to purchasers. (Marketing).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... AS indicated by the record attendance, the "Market - Driven Foundries in the 21st Century" session was of great interest to casting marketers. While the session featured three very different topics, each focused on ways to compete vs. low-cost...

Focusing on EPA issues. (Environmental, Health & Safety).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Div. provided Congress attendees with three presentations and two panels. In today's foundry industry, EHS issues are at the forefront of everyone's mind. In a panel "Iron & Steel MACT Update," G....

Understanding Melting operations. (Melting Methods & Materials).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The 7 panels and presentations of the AFS Melting Methods and Materials Div. provided information on a wide spectrum of melting operation issues. In their paper, "Effect of Temperature on the Friability of Silicon Carbide in the Cupola,"...

Expanding software capabilities. (Pattern & Foundry Tooling).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The panel and presentation given by the Pattern and Foundry Tooling Div. focused on new technological developments that will lead toward advancements in metalcasting applications. In a panel, M. Kinney, Cimatron Technologies, spoke on 'New...

Pushing Magnesium to new heights. (Magnesium).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Magnesium Div.'s six presentations covered a wide range of topics including grain structure, molding methods, thermophysical properties and the development of new magnesium casting processes. A presentation by B. Davis, Queen's Univ.,...

Exploring grain refinement in copper. (Copper).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The seven panels and presentations of the Copper Div. provided a variety of information on copper alloys, including two presentations that focused on grain refinement in yellow brass and EnviroBrass III alloys. In the presentation,...

Feeding, heat treating steel. (Steel).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Steel Div. delivered three presentations and one panel to Casting Congress attendees, focusing on heat treating, shrinkage issues and the end-user. In a panel presentation titled, "Specifications: Case Histories Associated with Under...

Examining Lost Foam beads. (Lost Foam).
June 1, 2003... The Lost Foam Div. provided Congress attendees with six presentations and one panel focused on lost foam patterns and molding. In their presentation "Influence of Bead Chemistry on Metal Velocity and Defect Formation in Aluminum Lost Foam...

First quarter improvement seen, 5-6% growth expected by year's end. (Casting Market Trends).
June 1, 2003... Recent interviews with casting consumers indicate that most market sectors experienced a production increase during the first quarter of 2003. While housing starts grew only slightly in the quarter, they are expected to continue to grow as...

Fight the flight to China with lean math. (CEO Journal).
June 1, 2003... I recently received a letter from my friend Jim. In it he discussed the idea of lean math, posing some provocative questions and interesting answers. I thought you'd benefit from his ideas, so I'm repeating his message here. Many in U.S....

General Motors Corp. (AFS Chapter News).
June 1, 2003... TOLEDO--In April, Dale Stoner and Kai Spande, General Motors Corp., gather following Stoner's presentation on his scale model of a Bentley BR2 Rotary Engine.

Mansfield and Assoc., Inc. (AFS Chapter News).
June 1, 2003... PITTSBURGH--In April, the chapter gathered for an Operating and Maintenance seminar. The instructors were: Marshall Mansfield, Mansfield and Assoc., Inc., Sudlir Trikha, HA International, Kevin Crawford, Vulcan Engineering Co., Inc., Jim Young,...

East Jordan Iron Works, Inc. (AFS Chapter News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... TEXAS--In February, Norman Bliss, AFS, receives a speaker's award for his presentation on the work being done by the AFS Trade Commission from Bill Dean, East Jordan Iron Works, Inc.

OSHA Consulting Service. (AFS Chapter News).
June 1, 2003... SOUTHWESTERN OHIO--In April, James Lopez (I), OSHA Consulting Service, receives a speaker's award after his presentation from Bill Jordan, Bimac Corp.

Dave Akers. (AFS Chapter News).
June 1, 2003... CENTRAL ILLINOIS--In April, Dave Akers (I), NASA, congratulates Sandra Magnus, NASA, following her presentation on materials in space.

U.S. Congressman Mark Souder. (AFS Chapter News).
June 1, 2003... NORTHEAST INDIANA--In March, U.S. Congressman Mark Souder is pictured with student scholarship recipients Ginger Connin, James Foreman, Jr., and Aimee Nagy, Tri-State Univ.

Benton Foundry, Inc. (AFS Chapter News).
June 1, 2003... KEYSTONE--In April, Thomas Brown (I), Benton Foundry, Inc., is presented a speaker's award following his presentation on the status of national AFS activities by Mark Bidoli, Hickman, Williams & Co.

Chapter meetings.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
June 1, 2003... CENTRAL MICHIGAN June 21--Golf Outing, Alwyn Downs, Marshall, Michigan. CENTRAL NEW YORK August 23--Golf Outing, Greenview Golf Course, West Monroe, New York. DETROIT-WINDSOR June 14--Golf Outing, Fellows Creek, Canton, Michigan. ...

Prototyping for direct metal casting: data to castings in 12 hours. (Product Innovations).
June 1, 2003... One of the hurdles facing today's foundries as they try to grow market share is lead time. Customers want sample cast parts today to fit into their product designs for form, fit and function. If the foundry can't deliver, then the customer will...

Reciprocating power grinder reduces finishing time at Kovatch Castings. (Product Innovations).
June 1, 2003... Kovatch Castings, Inc., a 130-employee firm in Uniontown, Ohio, is a producer of ferrous and nonferrous investment castings from more than 150 alloys, ranging in weight from two ounces to 15 lb. It primarily serves the aerospace and military...

Metallurgical Microscope. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Leco Corp. offers the new LX-31 Inverted Metallurgical Microscope, which uses objectives of 5X, lox, 20X and 50X on a 4-position revolving nosepiece. The co-axial coarse/fine focus handle allows easy focus adjustment without switching hands....

Pneumatic elevator. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Beltech Engineering offers the Bulklift system, a space-efficient, low-maintenance air operated material elevator with no moving parts. The Bulklift system harnesses the hydrostatic pressure of a fluidized material to transport the product in...

X-Ray inspection. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Yxlon International announces new software for fully automatic X-ray inspection of aluminum wheels. Yxlon.AI Rel. 9.0 automatic inspector is based on neural networks and offers a considerably improved user interface compared to the previous...

Precision thickness gauge. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Agfa NDT, Inc., offers the new Krautkramer CL 400 precision thickness gauge, which offers advancements in ultrasonic performance and operation. The gauge displays the thickness in large easy-to-read digits and offers a help window to provide...

Steel indexing plungers. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... J.W. Winco announced the availability of Economy Version Steel Indexing Plungers, which are designed to function well in confined spaces and feature a steel, zinc-plated and blue passivated threaded body. Plungers are available with a stainless...

Aluminum melting furnace. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Thermtronix offers hydraulic tilt energy efficient aluminum melting furnaces in both solid state electric and gas fired models. The furnaces are available in sizes from 400-3000 lb with fully automatic process temperature control assuring high...

Flux. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... ASI International, Ltd., introduced the BE 40L, a new fluoride free flux. While this flux utilizes similar chemical properties as ASI's high performance cupola flux, CF 40, it has been reformulated to allow use as a furnace and ladle flux. It...

Scrubbers. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Dakota International, Inc., offers its new DI-E series of "economy" scrubbers for amine coldbox core machine emissions. Economy scrubbers are designed to provide the same superior removal efficiencies as more sophisticated scrubbers at an...

Non-destructive testing. (Metalcasting Supplies).
June 1, 2003... Insight NDT Equipment, Ltd., has introduced a cost-effective system upgrade to replace the complete electronics of its nondestructive testing systems. This upgrade not only improves the reliability and throughput rate, but also permits the user...

Music to metalcasting's ears. (Shakeout).(composer Alexander Mosolov's controversial piano work, 'The Iron Foundry')(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... While many metalcasters would say that the sounds of a foundry are music to their ears," few outside of the industry would concur. However, not only have the sounds of a foundry been put to music, they represent a pioneering moment in musical...

Materials Science. (Personals).(Univ. of Alabama named Prof. Barry J. Andrews chairman of the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering at the School of Engineering)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, has named Prof. Barry J. Andrews chairman of the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering at the School of Engineering.

2003 Survey of wages and economic benefits in the foundry industry. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... This annual survey of foundries in the U.S. and Canada reports on wage rates for 28 foundry hourly job classifications. These reports cover approximately 500 foundries in 29 geographic areas in the United States and Canada. National reports are...

2003 Confidential salary survey (based on 2002 salaries). (Industry News).(salary surveys of foundries available)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The Confidential Salary Survey is the most current annual salary survey of U.S. and Canadian foundries that have corporate membership in AFS, the Steel Founders' Society of America, NonFerrous Founders' Society or the Canadian Foundry...