Modern Casting articles from May 2005

Modern Casting archives from May 2005

AFS announces 2005 casting competition winners.(Industry News)(ME Global (Elecmetal))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Nine metalcasting firms and OEMs were honored in the 2005 AFS Marketing Div./Engineered Casting Solutions Casting Competition. ME Global (Elecmetal), Duluth, Minn., was awarded Casting of the Year honors for its 2,200-lb. steel tread belt shoe...

Auburn Foundry to gain new ownership.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Auburn Foundry Inc., Auburn, Ind., likely will have new owners after the casting firm held an auction for the sale of its assets in April. Summitbridge National Investments LLC (Summit Investment Management), Denver, entered the highest bid and...

Doncasters wins contracts for aerospace ventures.(Industry News)
May 1, 2005... As the commercial aerospace race continues between Airbus, Toulouse, France, and Boeing, Chicago, for the latest innovations in air transport, Doncasters Group Ltd., Melbourne, Derbyshire, England, has found itself on both sides. During the...

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
May 1, 2005... The March web site question asked, "If you were to invest in new production capacity, what type of metal would you tap into?" * 35%--Aluminum. * 31%--Iron. * 17%--Steel. * 15%--Magnesium. * 2%--Copper-base alloys. ...

Be aggressive, got to be aggressive.(EDITORIAL)(suggestions for metal casting industries to compete in gobal market)
May 1, 2005... Two speeches I listened to recently (one at CastExpo '05 and the other at a small business seminar) refocused some of my thoughts on how U.S. metalcasters can compete in a global market. While we must continue to upgrade our facilities in the...

Association health plan legislation moves out of committee.(WASHINGTON ALERT)(Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities' Small Business Health Fairness Act )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In March, the House Committee on Education & the Workforce passed the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525), which would enable metalcasting facilities to more easily band together to purchase health care at a lower cost. H.R. 525...

New Jersey enacts new Mercury Switch Removal law.(WASHINGTON ALERT)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In March, New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey signed the Mercury Switch Removal Act into law, requiring all mercury switches in convenience lights and anti-lock brake switches to be removed from vehicles before they are flattened or shredded for...

Voluntary greenhouse gas program allows international credits.(WASHINGTON ALERT)(General Guidelines Governing the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program of Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) recently announced that participants in a voluntary greenhouse gas reporting and registry program will be able to count emission reductions occurring outside of the U.S and may register emission cuts as potential...

AFS announces winners of 2005 Casting Competition at CastExpo '05, ME Global wins Casting of Year.(North America)(American Foundry Society)
May 1, 2005... With an assortment of cast components of all shapes, sizes and metals, AFS honored nine metalcasting firms and OEMs in the AFS Marketing Div./Engineered Casting Solutions 2005 Casting Competition. These companies were recognized at CastExpo '05...

Tampa Brass & Aluminum, Raytheon honored with 2005 Nunn-Perry award.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 1, 2005... As part of the 2005 Dept. of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protege Conference held in March in Orlando, Fla., Tampa Brass & Aluminum Corp., Tampa, Fla., and Raytheon Co., Waltham, Mass., were honored with the 2005 Nunn-Perry Award. The award recognizes...

Auburn Foundry to gain new ownership.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Auburn Foundry Inc. (Auburn, New York))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Auburn Foundry Inc., Auburn, Ind., likely will have new owners after the casting firm held an auction for the sale of its assets in April. Summitbridge National Investments LLC (Summit Investment Management), Denver, entered the highest bid and...

Doncasters gains contracts to produce castings for Innovative Boeing, Airbus Ventures.(Around the World)
May 1, 2005... As the commercial aerospace race continues between Airbus, Toulouse, France, and Boeing, Chicago, for the latest innovations in air transport, Doncasters Group Ltd., Melbourne, Derbyshire, England, has found itself on both sides. During the...

MetalTek facility casting benches for Pentagon 9/11 memorial.(North America)(Carondelet Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... As part of a project honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon, the Carondelet Corp. (MetalTek International), Pevely, Mo., is casting the benches to be placed at a new memorial site in Washington, D.C. ...

Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., Northville, Mich., announced that its Dello, Italy, operations received the Supplier Award 2005.(Newscast)(Supplier Award 2005 from Honda UK Manufacturing (Honda Motor Co.))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., Northville, Mich., announced that its Dello, Italy, operations received the Supplier Award 2005 from Honda UK Manufacturing (Honda Motor Co.), Swindon, Wiltshire, England, for its production of aluminum wheels....

Mercury Castings (Brunswick Corp.).(Newscast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Mercury Castings (Brunswick Corp.), Fond du Lac, Wis., now licenses its slurry-on-demand casting process as an alternative to traditional diecasting and semi-solid metalcasting for premium, high-performance metal castings.

Superior Industries International Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., was named by General Motors Corp., Detroit.(distribution contracts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Superior Industries International Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., was named by General Motors Corp., Detroit, as a Supplier of the Year for the fifth consecutive year.

Black & Decker Corp.(facility closed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Black & Decker Corp., Towson, Md., announced it will close its Fayetteville, N.C., plant by December 2006. The company said 250 steel casting and machining positions will be transferred to a facility in Jackson, Tenn., while the other...

Tyler Pipe Co. (McWane Inc.).(layoff)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Tyler Pipe Co. (McWane Inc.), Tyler, Texas, laid off more than 200 employees due to foreign trade pressures. Production will be shifted to other McWane facilities.

Legget & Platt.(financial reports)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Legget & Platt, Carthage, Mo., reported record first quarter sales of $1.3 billion, which is $114 million higher than the 2004 first quarter number, a 9.6% increase. The company claims acquisitions contributed to $14 million of the sales...

Lufkin Industries Inc.(financial reports)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Lufkin Industries Inc., Lufkin, Texas, announced a first quarter net sales increase of 47.7%, from $68.6 million the same time last year to $101.4 million. Net earnings rose from $1.7 million in the 2004 first quarter to $7.4 million this year,...

Superior Industries International Inc.(financial reports)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Superior Industries International Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., reported a first quarter revenue decline of 9.5%, from $234.2 million during the 2004 first quarter to $211.9 million this year. This number reflects a decline in wheel revenue from...

Wescast Industries Inc.(financial reports)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Wescast Industries Inc., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, announced first quarter revenues of $102.3 million (U.S. $82.1 million), a 4% decrease from $106.6 million (U.S. $85.6 million) posted during the same quarter in 2004. The company also...

Ashland Casting Solutions (Ashland Inc.), Dublin, Ohio, agreed to three licenses.(Arena-flow software, Mazda Motor Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., and Yonetani Die & Mold)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ashland Casting Solutions (Ashland Inc.), Dublin, Ohio, agreed to three licenses to supply Arena-flow software to Mazda Motor Corp., Hiroshima, Japan, Toyota Motor Corp., Toyota City, Japan, and Yonetani Die & Mold Co., Kashiwazaki City, Japan....

Equipment Merchants International Inc., Cleveland, received a contract from Indianapolis Casting Corp.(Newcast)
May 1, 2005... Equipment Merchants International Inc., Cleveland, received a contract from Indianapolis Casting Corp., Indianapolis, for a robotic casting handling system.

Magma Foundry Technologies Inc.(relocated)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Magma Foundry Technologies Inc. relocated its headquarters to 10 N. Martingale Rd. #425, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

Koins Corp.(relocated)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Koins Corp. relocated its U.S. operations to 25169 Dequindre Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071.

Greensand Controls LLC, Freemont, Wis., sold a Model ETA 2000.(New London Foundry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Greensand Controls LLC, Freemont, Wis., sold a Model ETA 2000 Compactability Control System to New London Foundry, New London, Ohio.

Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., announced it has entered a global license agreement with Space Srl, Lonate Pozzolo, Italy.(Newcast)
May 1, 2005... Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., announced it has entered a global license agreement with Space Srl, Lonate Pozzolo, Italy, which grants Hunter the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Space equipment throughout the...

Quantum Machinery International Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, sold a 630-ton cold-chamber diecasting machine.(Newcast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Quantum Machinery International Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, sold a 630-ton cold-chamber diecasting machine to General Die Casters Inc., Peninsula Ohio.

Disa Industries Inc. (Disa Group), Oswego, Ill., sold a Match 130 matchplate molding machine.(Newcast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Disa Industries Inc. (Disa Group), Oswego, Ill., sold a Match 130 matchplate molding machine to Benton Foundry, Benton, Pa.

Wheelabrator Group, LaGrange, Ga., launched a new division, Wheelabrator Plus.(Newcast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Whedabrator Group, LaGrange, Ga., launched a new division, Wheelabrator Plus, to focus solely on aftermarket applications to provide solutions for arduous casting cleaning problems and provide equipment modernization programs.

Ube Machinery Inc. (Ube Industries Ltd.).(Newcast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Ube Machinery Inc. (Ube Industries Ltd.), Ann Arbor, Mich., expanded the staff and capabilities of the Rebuild, Retrofit and Remanufacture Group, whose services are now offered to all brands of injection and diecast machinery

Quality certifications.(metal casting companies )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The following metalcasting and supplier organizations have received recent certifications or passed surveillance audits: The Federal Metal Co., Bedford, Ohio, (ISO 9001:2000); LaSalle Foundry and Machine Co., Ferndale, Mich., (ISO...

Atlantis Foundries expanding casting capacity with Gemco.(Around the World)(Gemco Cast Metal Technology)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In order to meet a future sales forecast during the next several years, Atlantis Foundries (Pty) Ltd. (DaimlerChrysler AG), Atlantis, South Africa, soon will double its automotive component productivity to 87,000 tons. The firm casts gray iron...

Ennore to build new facility, increase current plant production.(Around the World)(Ennore Foundries Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... As part of an expansion project of R2.3 trillion ($52.7 million), Ennore Foundries Ltd. (Hinduja Group), Ennore, Chennai, India, announced plans to establish a new greenfield metalcasting facility and expand capacity at its current facility, as...

Steloy, Rely Metpro to control most of South Africa steel market.(Around the World)(Steloy Castings acquires Rely Metpro)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Steloy Castings, Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa, acquired Rely Metpro, Boksburg, South Africa, in March, giving the merged companies 70% of the stainless steel casting market in South Africa, according to Business Day, Johannesburg, South...

ADI Treatments investing in energy market with furnaces.(Around the World)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Seeing business potential in new markets, such as with wind turbine systems, ADI Treatments Ltd. (Hulvershorn Eisengiesserei GmbH), West Bromwich, England, is expanding production by more than 50% as part of a 1 million [pounds sterling] ($1.9...

Denmark--Procuritas Capital Investors III (PCI III), Copenhagen, Denmark.(Around the World--Newscast)(acquires Disa Holding AG)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... DENMARK--Procuritas Capital Investors III (PCI III), Copenhagen, Denmark, acquired all shares of Disa Holding AG, Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

India--Vesuvius India Ltd.(Around the World--Newscast)(capacity to be doubled)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... INDIA--Vesuvius India Ltd., Calcutta, India, proposed plans to double the capacity of its continuous casting refractory plant for R400 million ($9.2 million) to produce 800 refractory pieces per day. The project would be completed by 2008,...

Russia--Zavolzhye Motorny Zavod (SeverstalAuto Co.).(Around the World--Newscast)(metal casting business separated)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... RUSSIA--Zavolzhye Motorny Zavod (SeverstalAuto Co.), Zavolzhye, Nizhnij Novgorod, Russia, announced that its automotive metalcasting business will be separated into a daughter company to operate independently and become competitive in both the...

Slovenia--Livara d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia, purchased Zastava Livnica, Topola, Serbia and Montenegro, Yugoslavia.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... SLOVENIA--Livara d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia, purchased Zastava Livnica, Topola, Serbia and Montenegro, Yugoslavia, for YUN 102 million ($1.6 million).

General Motors (GM) Powertrain Corp.(Walter W. Chaput)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... General Motors (GM) Powertrain Corp., Pontiac, Mich., announced the retirement of Walter W. Chaput, production manager of the Defiance, Ohio, plant, after more than 30 years of service with GM.

Consolidated Metco Inc. (ConMet).(Ken Kelley appointed wheel end product manager)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Consolidated Metco Inc. (ConMet), Portland, Ore., announced the appointment of Ken Kelley to the position of wheel end product manager.

Inductotherm Group.(Douglas R. Brown appointed)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Inductotherm Group, Rancocas, N.J., appointed Douglas R. Brown president of the forging division.

Induction Service Center (Inductotherm Group).(Personals)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Induction Service Center (Inductotherm Group), Columbus, Ohio, appointed Frank C. Veno as company president.

Nabertherm USA.(Personals)(United States Of America)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Nabertherm USA, New Castle, Del., named Chris Pilko president.

B & L Information Systems.(Personals)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... B & L Information Systems, Bridgman, Mich., promoted Matthew Gacek to sales and marketing manager.

Premier Furnace Specialists Inc.(Personals)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Premier Furnace Specialists Inc., Farmington Hills, Mich., hired Bill St. Thomas as its sales manager.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
May 1, 2005... John W. Hoffman, Batavia, Ill., died Jan. 19 of cancer. He was 46. Hoffman founded Designed Alloys Inc., Aurora, Ill., in 1993. Hoffman graduated from North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, N.C., with a degree in metallurgical engineering. He was...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... View the Extended Industry Calendar at www.afsinc.org May May 19-21--AFS Northwest Regional Conference, The Monarch Hotel and Conference Center, Clackamas, Ore. July July 24-26--Casting Industry Suppliers Assn., Summer...

Of capitol importance: congress, ITC look to help metalcasters.
May 1, 2005... Inside This Story: * Recent federal government action and its effect on U.S. metalcasters is examined. * The Section 332 Fact-Finding Study by the U.S. ITC is expected to be completed and issued this month. * Two new sets of...

Putting the brakes on leakers with PCRI.(Technology In Progress)(process compensated resonant inspection and nondestructive testing for metal castings)
May 1, 2005... Inside This Story: * Castings used in safety-critical applications require new approaches to assure defective components do not make it out of a metalcasting facility. * Process compensated resonant inspection (PCRI) is one new...

Semi-solid casting process shows muscle for Mercury Marine.(Technology In Progress)
May 1, 2005... Inside This Story: * Diecasting is a popular process for casting aluminum components due to its high-volume production capabilities at a low cost, but that does not mean the process is perfect. * Semi-solid metalcasting (SSM) is an...

CastExpo '05: gateway to innovations.(American Foundry Society's exhibition)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... Metalcasting Industry Congregates at CastExpo '05 More than 10,000 metalcasters and suppliers convened April 16-19 in St. Louis for CastExpo '05 cosponsored by AFS and the North American Die Casting Assn. (NADCA). The show featured 475...

Showcasing technology advancements at CastExpo '05: this summary of recent innovations showcased at CastExpo '05 provides metalcasters a brief overview of what was new on the show floor in St. Louis.
May 1, 2005... During CastExpo '05, metalcasting industry suppliers congregated to exhibit the latest and greatest advancements in equipment, technology, processes and services to metalcasters worldwide. The 475 exhibitors displayed their products and...

Heat treating iron castings: Part 1.(CASTING FACTS)
May 1, 2005... Many metal castings are designed with relatively uniform wall thickness and section size and therefore experience little significant residual stress and structural variation after solidification. However, iron castings can be prone to retain...

Casting answers & advice.
May 1, 2005... Q A customer took a sample from one of our iron castings and sent it to an independent lab. The report from this lab shows the chemistry to be out of specification, but our own internal quality assurance controls indicate that the chemistry is...

New CMI classroom completed, equipment donated to affiliated colleges and universities.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Cast Metals Institute)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Cast Metals Institute (CMI) held its first class at the new AFS/CMI headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill. The Introduction to Metalcasting course took place April 12-14, just days after the construction of the new classroom was finished. When...

AFS, ECS showcase industry capabilities at conventions.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(American Foundry Society and Engineered Casting Solutions )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... AFS and Engineered Casting Solutions magazine showcased the metalcasting industry recently at the Westec convention in Los Angeles April 4-7 and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit April 11-14. Westec drew...

New AFS Corporate Members (February-March 2005).(Membership Memo)(Calhoun Foundry Company Inc., Seilkop Industries Inc. and Corporate Development of American Foundry Society)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... New AFS Corporate Members (February-March 2005): Calhoun Foundry Co. Inc., Homer, Mich.; Seilkop Industries Inc., Cincinnatti; Corporate Development, Galena, Ill.

Summer course schedule.
May 1, 2005... July 1-September 30, 2005 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...

Thank you.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
May 1, 2005... This space is to thank the instructors and their companies who have provided their time and expertise for CMI courses held Feb. 1-March 31, 2005. Walt Villiers, Moraine Valley Engineering Corp. Matt Granlund, Foundry Systems Control...

Northwestern Pennsylvania--in March, past leaders were recognized during Past Chairmen Night.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA--In March, in the photo at far left, past leaders were recognized during Past Chairmen Night. Pictured (from l) are Mike Sansone, Urich Foundry Co., Jim Markowitz, Erie Bronze and...

New Jersey Metropolitan--in March, Keith DiGrazio, Richmond Industries Inc., presents a speaker's award to Peter Hollis, Vision Power.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NEW JERSEY METROPOLITAN--In March, Keith DiGrazio (r), Richmond Industries Inc., presents a speaker's award to Peter Hollis, Vision Power, after his presentation regarding onsite, independent electrical...

Northeastern Wisconsin--in March, Harry Furman, Badger Mining Corp., congratulates Stephen Lane, Southland Metals Inc.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN--In March, Harry Furman (l), Badger Mining Corp., congratulates Stephen Lane, Southland Metals Inc., for his speech, "What the Marketing Division is Doing for You."

Ontario--in February, scholarship awards were presented to students from Mohawk College, Ryerson Univ. and the Univ. of Windsor.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: ONTARIO--In February, scholarship awards were presented to students from Mohawk College, Ryerson Univ. and the Univ. of Windsor. Pictured (from l to r) are Jeffrey Coulombe, Mohawk College, Richard Borger,...

Canton--in March, Nick Cannell, Emtec, presents a speaker's award to Kurt Braun, Ford Motor Co.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CANTON--In March, Nick Cannell (r), Emtec, presents a speaker's award to Kurt Braun, Ford Motor Co., for his presentation on environmental metalcasting issues.

Texas--in March, Past Chairmen's night was celebrated.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: TEXAS--In March, Past Chairmen's night was celebrated. In the photo above, the chapter honored past chairmen (from l), Clifford Smith, Midland Manufacturing, Ron Hopson, Lufkin Industries, Steve Reynolds,...

Southern California--in March, Glenn Schneider, Sr., Gregg Industries Inc., and Edgar Cruz, Bell Foundry Co., welcome Fred Simonelli, California Cast Metals Assn.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA--In March, Glenn Schneider, Sr. (l), Gregg Industries Inc., and Edgar Cruz (r), Bell Foundry Co., welcome Fred Simonelli, California Cast Metals Assn., who gave a presentation on the...

Twin Cities--in March, John Miller, Prospect Foundry, presents a speaker's award to Mark Nagel, Cast Metals Institute.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: TWIN CITIES--In March, John Miller, Prospect Foundry, presents a speaker's award to Mark Nagel, Cast Metals Institute, for his presentation, "Casting Defect Identification: If You Can't Name the Defect, You...

Detroit/Windsor--in February, the chapter awarded several scholarships and a speaker's award.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: DETROIT/WINDSOR--In February, the chapter awarded several scholarships and a speaker's award. In the left photo, Robin Francis (ctr), Univ. of Windsor, is presented the Kobel Scholaship by Dan Jason (l), HA...

Toledo--in March, three speakers gave presentations about their company's products or services within the metalcasting industry.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: TOLEDO--In March, in the picture above, three speakers gave presentations about their company's products or services within the metalcasting industry. Shown with Dan Wilson (l), General Motors Corp., are...

Chapter meetings.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)(Calendar)
May 1, 2005... CENTRAL MICHIGAN June 18--Turtle Creek Golf Course, Union City, Mich.; Golf Outing. CENTRAL NEW YORK August 27--Greenview Golf Club, West Monroe, N.Y.; Golf Outing. CENTRAL OHIO May 19--TBD; Top Management Night, "Golden Age of...

CastExpo '05 by the numbers.(SHAKEOUT)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In case you didn't know... 3,947 The number of seats retracted at the Edward Jones Dome to accommodate the 475 exhibitors that were spread out between the dome and the America's Center. 60 The number of minutes it took "The...