Modern Casting articles from March 2003

Modern Casting archives from March 2003

Question of the month.
March 1, 2003... January's website question asked, "If President Bush's proposal to increase the allowance for capital investment expensing is approved, will your foundry increase its capital spending plans this year?" Answers: * 52.6%--Yes *...

Bigger dreams, bigger results. (Editorial).(metalcasters move into the 21st century)(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... "Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor...

EPA enforcement site contains flawed data open for review by March 31. (Washington Alert).(www.epa.gov/echo)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Late last year, the U.S. EPA launched a pilot website that provides the public and industry with searchable, facility-level enforcement and compliance information. EPA's new program-- Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO)--can he...

Research funding slashed in budget. (Washington Alert).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Bush administration officially released its Fiscal Year 2004 budget proposal in February. The U.S. Dept. of Energy is proposing deep cuts for the Industrial Technologies Energy Efficiency program, impacting metalcasting. If the budget...

WTO rules against trade law, Byrd Amendment. (Washington Alert).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... In mid-January, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against a trade provision known as the Byrd Amendment. The international body stated that the U.S. anti-dumping statute violated global trade rules by allowing a portion of the tariffs...

White house OMB seeks comments on federal rulemaking process. (Washington Alert).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is seeking comments on how it can improve the guidance that federal agencies are asked to follow in proposing new rules. OMB is the agency that evaluates the effectiveness of agency...

Weslin to supply Volkswagen, renault exhaust manifolds. (North America).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Weslin Industries, Inc., Oroszlany, Hungary, a joint venture between Wescast Industries, Inc., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and Linamar Corp., Guelph, Ontario, Canada, has been chosen to supply machined exhaust manifolds for Volkswagen's 2.0L...

Amcast to sell three foundries. (North America).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... According to the Small Business Times--Milwaukee, Amcast Industrial Corp., Dayton, Ohio, is putting a portion of its U.S. automotive aluminum production division, including foundries in Cedarburg, Wisconsin; Wapakoneta, Ohio; and Richmond,...

500 attend AFS Wisconsin regional conference. (Metalcasting Associations).
March 1, 2003... Wisconsin foundrymen gathered at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee for the 66th Annual AFS Wisconsin Regional Foundry Conference and Mini-Exposition, February 15-14. Over two days, 30 technical presentations were given under the theme "Building...

71st Annual Southeastern Regional Conference focuses on Global Economy, future. (Metalcasting Associations).
March 1, 2003... The 71st Annual Southeastern Regional Conference was held at the Crown Reef Center and Hotel, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, February 5-7, under the theme "Competing in a Global Economy... The Future is Now." The conference featured 15 technical...

Atchison Casting to sell Inverness Castings. (North America).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Atchison Casting Corp., Atchison, Kansas, announced its intention to market its subsidiary Inverness Castings Group, Inc., Dowagiac, Michigan, for sale. Inverness manufactures aluminum die castings principally for the automotive market. ...

Rail Castings Corp. acquires Buckeye Steel. (Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... According to the Columbus Dispatch, the sale of Buckeye Steel Castings, Columbus, Ohio, to the newly-formed Rail Castings Corp. for $15.2 million has been approved by a bankruptcy judge. At press time, it was unknown when Buckeye Steel would...

Detroit-Windsor Management Night draws 300. (Metalcasting Associations).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... The AFS Detroit-Windsor Chapter's 43rd Annual Management Night drew 300 industry officials to its January meeting. Pictured (from 1) are Ken Brune and Richard Chow-Wah, Daimler Chrysler Powertrain, Doug Trinowski, HA International, and Paul...

Ohio Governor Bob Taft visits Lectrotherm. (North America).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Bob Taft, Governor of Ohio, visited Lectrotherm, Inc., Canton, Ohio, before a technology summit where he discussed program initiatives with local business leaders. The Governor's strategy revolves around Ohio companies rebuilding themselves to...

CHN Global to close Racine-based iron foundry. (North America).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHN Global NV., Lake Forest, Illinois, announced tentative plans to close its Racine, Wisconsin-based iron foundry operations in May 2004. The decision is in line with the company's strategy to streamline its manufacturing operations and focus...

Metso Corp. sells foundry operations in Karistad, Sweden to Akers AB, Metso Paper Karistad AB. (Around the World).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Metso Corp., Helsinki., Finland, will sell its foundry operations in Karistad, Sweden, to a newly established company, which will be owned by the Swedish-firms Akers AB and Metso Paper Karistad AB. The Metso foundry in Karlstad specializes...

J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has completed a $190 million financing transaction.

Grede Foundries, Inc. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Grede Foundries, Inc., Milwaukee, will close its 70-yr-old iron foundry in Tipton, West Midlands, England.

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., has received Court approval to extend the period in which the company has the exclusive right to file or advance a plan of reorganization in its Chapter 11 cases.

The Foundry on the Shoals. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Foundry on the Shoals, Florance, Alabama, is seeking an immediate sale of its foundry business.

Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry Co., Inc. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry Co., Inc., has purchased a jet melter aluminum melting furnace for its new aluminum casting production line from Modern Equipment Co., Port Washington, Wisconsin.

Ward Manufacturing. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Ward Manufacturing, Blossburg, Pennsylvania, has named EC&S, Birmingham, Alabama, and Kodiak Group, Grayling, Michigan, to implement an extensive renovation of its cupola melt facility.

General Kinematics Corp. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... General Kinematics Corp., Barrington, Illinois, began construction on a new world headquarters in January. The new 20,000 sq ft office complex will be located at its current Crystal Lake, Illinois facility.

Roberts Sinto Corp. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Roberts Sinto Corp., Lansing, Michigan, announced two new companies to its representative network: Metzger Enterprises, Cincinnati, serving Ohio; and Bert Smith Assoc., Birmingham, Alabama, serving Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and...

GIFA. world's largest casting expo. set for June 16-21 in germany. (Around the World).(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... Operating on its new four-year cycle, the 10" GIFA International Foundry Trade Fair, the world's largest exposition for the metalcasting industry, will be held June 16-21 at the Messe-Dusseldorf fairgrounds in Dusseldorf, Germany. Through...

Hydro Aluminum Alucast. (ATW Newscast).(Consolidated Engineering Co. selected)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Germany--Hydro Aluminum Alucast, Dillingen, Germany, selected Consolidated Engineering Co., Kennesaw, Georgia, to install a Sand Lion furnace to process V6 engine blocks. The line will process 75 castings/hr.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (ATW Newcast).(opens new service )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Japan--Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, has opened a new service for its plastic injection molding machines in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Quality certifications. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... The following foundry and supplier organizations have received recent certifications: Columbiana Foundry Co., Columbiana, Ohio (ANSI/ISO/ASQC Q9002:1994); Florida Aluminum Casting Co., West Palm Beach, Florida (ANSI/ISO/ASQC Q9002:...

LMI Selcom. (Newscast).(name changed to LMI Technologies (USA), Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... LMI Selcom, Southfield, Michigan, changed its name to LMI Technologies (USA), Inc., effective January 2003.

CM Acquisitions L.L.C. (Newscast).(acquires Pillar Industries )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CM Acquisitions L.L.C., Chicago, has acquired Pillar Industries, Brookfield, Wisconsin, a supplier of induction heating systems, equipment and services.

Dakota Scrubbers, Inc. (Newscast).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Dakota Scrubbers, Inc., Aberdeen, South Dakota, announced that Carpenter Brothers, Inc., Milwaukee, will represent its line of scrubbers for the foundry industry.

The Casting Industry Suppliers Assn. (Newscast).(new members )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Casting Industry Suppliers Assn., Goodyear, Arizona, announced the addition of several new member firms: Cromwell-Phoenix, Alsip, Illinois; Technikon L.L.C., McClellan, California; Selee Corp., Hendersonville, North Carolina; and Ajax Tocco...

The Non-Ferrous Founders' Society. (Newscast).(signs partnership with OSHA)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Non-Ferrous Founders' Society, Park Ridge, Illinois, has signed a formal partnership agreement with the Illinois offices of OSHA to promote safe and healthful working conditions for nonferrous foundry workers in Illinois.

Obituaries.(Frank Timmerman)(Dan "Otto" Van Lyssel)
March 1, 2003... Frank Timmerman, 74, owner of Timmerman Products, Inc., Colona, Illinois, died in January. Dan "Otto" Van Lyssel, 58, project manager at Azco, Inc., Appleton, Wisconsin, died in February.

Session schedule.(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... Hoyt Memorial Lecture April 29, 2003 10:15 AM R. Conner Warren ALUMINUM Saturday, April 26, 2003 3:45 PM Liquid Metal Flow in Thin Sections (03-022) Experimental and Numerical Study of Contraction During...

Howmet laval bursts from its shell.(Howmet Aluminum Casting Ltd.)(Company Profile)
March 1, 2003... Faced with capacity and quality issues at, an overloaded plant, Howmet Laval ramped up the world's largest aluminum investment casting facility to meet the needs of its demanding customer base and its new strategic initiative. A critical...

Developing a 'feact-based' marketing plan: this article provides a framework for preparing a "grounded in the facts" strategy to mobilize your foundry toward new action on the marketing front. (The market-driven foundry - Part II).
March 1, 2003... Most foundries equate marketing to sales. In fact, 20 or 30 years ago, marketing and sales were thought to be interchangeable concepts. In many cases, the casting marketer was a full-time salesperson who handled tactical functions such as...

Experiments in steel gating three foundries report: this article takes a look at three different foundries that have experimented in gating and or risering, and the benefits that they have garnered.
March 1, 2003... With customers asking for shorter lead times and reduced costs, today's foundries must look in all areas to realize savings. One area that several foundries are experimenting in is gating and risering, whether it be in the initial design phase...

6 Steps to reducing inclusion defects.(aluminum castings)
March 1, 2003... Six steps? Nothing is that simple. There are melt procedures, molding methods and coremaking concerns to worry about. How can inclusion defect reduction be reduced to six steps? For today's aluminum foundries, simplicity can be a rule of...

Improving competitiveness through technological development: six AFS development projects aimed at improving quality, reducing cost and shortening lead-times are profiled.
March 1, 2003... In this era of multi-national manufacturing organizations, new business models are molded based on technological capability to meet market needs. As technology continues to expand, the metalcasting industry has aggressively pursued innovations...

Railroad equipment. (Casting Market Focus).
March 1, 2003... Picture a 100-car unit train weighing 260,000 lb (13,150 tons of freight pulled by 12,000 horsepower) rapidly climbing and descending throughout the Rocky Mountains and its picturesque inclines, valleys, and peak-winding, ice-covered tracks....

Carbon alloys. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Desulco,, manufactured by Supenor Graphite Co., is the premier carbon alloy preferred by ductile and gray iron, and high carbon steel producers worldwide. For 25 years this unique material has enabled melt shop managers to consistently and cost...

Furnaces from a "Crucible" company. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Morganite Crucible, Inc., a leading manufacturer of crucibles for the aluminum, copper and copper alloy, steel and precious metals industries now offers a full line of electric, gas and gas/electric dual energy furnaces under the name --...

Crushers to cupolas. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... And everything in between. The engineers from KODIAK with their extensive foundry experience can handle the complete design and management of your project. Capabilities include automation, material handling, dust collection, cupola melting...

Core automation. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Laempe has taken core automation to a new level by integrating reliable robotic handling for core removal, processing and assembly. The company's in-house automation staff utilizes the latest engineering and software technology to lead you...

Casting trim and finishing. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... DISA SERF provides complete finishing systems with accurate and rigid machinery, long lasting quality tooling, automated to fit any application for all ferrous and aluminum metals. The trim process is clamp and cut ensuring no damage to trimmed...

Fast, efficient sand lump reduction. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Full color bulletin introduces a new high energy Vibra-Mill [R] for faster and more efficient reduction of no bake sand lumps. Model VM-64 has more force and fewer components for improved performance and less maintenance. Economical design...

Ceramic gating components. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... The use of Universal ceramic gating components results in consistently better quality castings. Standard items to customize shapes for small production runs to large specials of 100 tons and heavier. UCP staff provide in-house technical support...

Tumble belt Blast machines. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... The Viking 700S and 1400S steel flight tumble belt blasters are the heavy-duty blast machines with wide ranging capability. They handle shot or grit in addition to handling and cleaning light abrasives. The heavy-duty wheel components and lower...

Core room quality assurance. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Hottinger Systems offers innovative IT products and services for core shops and foundries. They specialize in information technologies for an intelligent collection, processing and evaluation of process data to increase productiyity and...

Casting engineering services. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Besides being the world leader in casting simulation software, MAGMA provides an extensive amount of casting engineering services for OEM and foundries alike. These services support foundrymen in the reduction of defects and help with yield...

Heat treating furnaces and equipment. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Can-Eng provides heat treating furnaces and equipment for non-ferrous and ferrous foundries. Products include continuous and batch equipment for solution heat treating of aluminum castings and annealing equipment for iron foundries. Materials...

Optical emission spectrometers. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Schimadzu's powerful OES-550/6000 spectrometers enable simultaneous determination of multiple elements in ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Element concentration determination and accept-reject decisions arc completed within one minute. PDA...

Rotary media drum. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Didion's rotary media drum offers a new way to achieve better shakeout, sand screening, casting cooling and efficient casting cleaning. The product also can process very delicate castings and reduce shotblast time up to 80%. Its patented design...

Heat treating services. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... We understand that heat treating is an integral part of your production process. So we make sure you're always in control, Our job is to make your job easier whether you have one-of-a-kind or high-volume manufactured parts, aluminum or ferrous,...

Dewaxing Autoclave Systems. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... WSF Dewaxing Autoclave Systems assure uniform ceramic shell heating for complete process mold dewaxing. Manufactured to meet virtually any production specification, the systems may be skid-mounted when size allows, factory piped, wired and...

Non-ferrous equipment & service. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Alfe Systems designs, constructs and repairs entire furnace systems for the commercial market. Alfe Systems offers a complete combustion equipment service. We perform thermal survey services that represent the time and temperature of your...

Protein Sand Binder. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... The GMBOND[R] Sand Binder enables business success with a proven technology. Shakeout studies show that GMBOND[R] maintains better collapsibility. Because it's water soluble, it 5 simplifies core removal and allows sand and binder to be reused....

Free equipment buyers guide. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... The Casting Industry Suppliers Assn. (CISA) has just released its all-new "Foundry Equipment Buyers Guide." This 16-page, four-color guide is designed to help foundry personnel specify, select, install and properly utilize equipment most suited...

Core shooting machines/equipment. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Hottinger offers core shooting machines for all-sized foundries and fully automated systems for turnkey core shops. Only Hottinger provides the unique combination of 50 years of foundry industry experience and modern information management...

Software. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... B&L Information Systems is announcing Odyssey, a Windows NT/2000-based solution for metalcasters. Odyssey is a business control system designed specifically for foundries and includes many features of B&L's flagship product, BLIS-400. The...

Wheelabrator aftermarket parts. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... The leading supplier of quality aftermarket replacement parts for wheelblast equipment, Wheelabrator offers a complete line of quality aftermarket parts for its Wheelabrator[R] and BCP[R] surface preparation equipment. Through its Aftermarket...

Automated pouring. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Inductotherm has released a comprehensive information package describing the advantages of the various types of automated pouring systems. It covers heated and unheated pouring vessels and the various methods of controlling the pouring process,...

Ceramic media. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... CARBOACCUCAST[TM] ceramic media possesses strength, unique thermal properties and a uniform shape to provide increased media life, casting accuracy and production to metal casting applications. Lower production costs, reduced waste and less...

Automatic Matchplate Molding Machines. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Hunter is offering information on its G & H Series Automatic Matchplate Molding Machines--Hunter molding machines have been continuously refined and improved for 35 years. Today's machines are a blend of high technology and a simple,...

MAUS automatic grinding. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... MAUS introduces 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 and...

CoreCenter. (Literature+Plus+).
March 1, 2003... Laempe continues to lead the way with 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...

Earlier forecast confirmed, 6% growth still expected in 2003. (Casting Market Trends).(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2003... Ongoing interviews with major casting end-users reinforce earlier forecasts of 6.3% growth in U.S. casting shipments in 2003. Increases in imports, however, are predicted to reduce shipments in specific product sectors. Light vehicle...

AFS releases new foundry environment manual. (AFS/CMI/News).(Foundry Indoor Air Environment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The AFS Publications Department has released a new manual titled, 'Managing the Foundry Indoor Air Environment. "This manual was prepared under the direction of the AFS Safety and Health Committee (10-Q) to provide foundries with updated...

Membership memo. (AFS/CMI News).(American Foundrymen's Society)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... New AFS Corporate Members (December 2002-February 2003): Applied Process, Inc., Livonia, Michigan; Elwood Engineered Casting Co., Hubbard, Ohio; Joy Mining Machinery, Franklin, Pennsylvania; Palmer Manufacturing Co., Springfield, Ohio;...

CMI thanks instructors, companies. (AFS/CMI News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... This space is to thank the instructors and their companies who have provided their time and expertise for CMI courses held December 1, 2002 - January 31, 2003. Ed Hopkins, Consultant Pete Satre, Allied Mineral Products Sy Katz, S....

AFS, metalcasting industry agree to dismiss secondary aluminum MACT EPA suit. (AFS/CMI News).
March 1, 2003... On December 30, the U.S. EPA issued final revisions to the applicability provisions of its Secondary Aluminum MACT rule (40 C.F.R. part 63, subpart RRR) concerning aluminum diecasters and foundries. The revisions amend the existing regulations...

AFS committee promotes castings to students. (AFS/CMI News).(American Foundrymen's Society)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The AFS Cast Iron Marketing C5 M) Committee held its January meeting at the Univ. of Alabama-Tuscaloosa for the committee's second student presentation of "Wait a Minute! Cast Iron Is a High Tech Material." Following the presentation by...

American Brass & Iron Foundry. (AFS Chapter News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... NORTHERN CALIFORNIA--In January, James "Ted" Ray (I), American Brass & Iron Foundry, and Craig Wilson (r), Production Pattern & Foundry Co., present Jack Zbiegien, Gregg Industries, Inc., with a speaker's award for his presentation on foreign...

Unimin Corp. (AFS Chapter News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... STATELINE--In December, Harry Galloway (ctr), Unimin Corp., presents speaker's awards to Sara Joyce (I), Badger Mining Corp., and Mark Ziegler, Unimin Corp., after their presentations on the reuse of foundry sand.

Galesburg Castings, Inc. (AFS Chapter News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... QUAD CITY--In September, Nick Fox (I), Galesburg Castings, Inc., receives a speaker's award from Jim Hickie, Sivyer Steel Corp.

General Motors Corp. (AFS Chapter News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAGINAW VALLEY--In January, James Bujouves (I) and Dave Buss (r), General Motors Corp., present G. Reginald Bell, Kettering Univ., with a speaker's award.

Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc. (AFS Chapter News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... OREGON--In November, Thom Buckland (I), Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc., congratulates Christof Heisser, Magma Foundry Technologies, Inc., for his presentation.

Anderson Pattern, Inc. (AFS Chapter News).
March 1, 2003... WESTERN MICHIGAN--In December, Don Olson (I), Anderson Pattern, Inc., and John Monette (r), Paragon Pattern & Manufacturing, receive speaker's awards following their presentations on history and trends in the manufacturing of foundry tooling...

ASM International. (AFS Chapter News).
March 1, 2003... BIRMINGHAM--In January, Viola Acoff (I), ASM International, and Todd Lyles (r), Pryor Giggey Co., congratulate Tim McMillin, Magma Foundry Technologies, Inc., after his presentation, "Advances in Metal Castings Design and Production."

CFM Corp. (AFS Chapter News).
March 1, 2003... PLAIN STATES--In January, Nate McLain (I), CFM Corp., and Pat Pomeroy (r), Kansas Castings, Inc., present Will Tinker, Tinker Omega Manufacturing, with a speaker's award following his presentation, "Taking Control of Your Nobake Process and...

Peninsula Alloy, Inc. (AFS Chapter News).
March 1, 2003... ONTARIO--In January, Roger Heise, Peninsula Alloy, Inc., presents a brief history of Peninsula Alloy, the chapter's featured foundry of the month.

Inductotherm Corp. (AFS Chapter News).
March 1, 2003... CENTRAL NEW YORK--In November, Paul Cervellero (I), Inductotherm Corp., presents Jim Felber, Cooper Industries, Inc., with a plaque for his work as past chairman 2001-02.

Southern Centrifugal Div. (AFS Chapter News).
March 1, 2003... TENNESSEE--In January, Rodney Poe (I), Southern Centrifugal Div., presents a $500 check to Allen Jones, director of the Highlander Pipes and Drum Band, as a donation to the Shrine Burn Hospital.