Modern Casting articles from May 2007

Modern Casting archives from May 2007

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
May 1, 2007... The March website question asked, "In what ways have you tried to educate your customers on proper casting design and sourcing?" Worked on Specific Parts 50% Provided Literature 33.3% Have Never...

Citation improves NDT for its structural aluminum castings.(Product Innovations)
May 1, 2007... Citation improves NDT for its structural aluminum castings--citation Corp.'s Butler, Ind., metalcasting facility, a primarily automotive supplier, identified the process-compensated resonant test method developed by Magnaflux-Quasar Products,...

New wheels improve lodge's cleaning operations.(Product Innovations)
May 1, 2007... New Wheels Improve Lodge's Cleaning Operations--Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg, Tenn., a manufacturer of cast iron cookware, was experiencing maintenance problems with the wheels on its wire mesh belt machines, and repairing the wheels...

Worth repeating.(HOTLINE)
May 1, 2007... "The web has really revolutionized how to work with foreign companies." --Brad Holmes, Clay and Bailey

Where are you?(EDITORIAL)
May 1, 2007... In the last two months, I attended two trade shows, read a variety of manufacturing magazines, reviewed several sourcing-related web sites and opened a lot of direct mail--all of it aimed at the design engineer and buyer audience. Funny thing...

Diecaster Ryobi increases North American presence with expansion into Mexico.(North America)
May 1, 2007... Ryobi Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan, announced it will establish a new, $44 million diecasting production site in Mexico in order to increase production capacity, in North America. In addition to plants in Japan, Europe and China, the company...

Countervailing duties applied to illegally subsidized Chinese paper imports.(North America)
May 1, 2007... The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced in a March press release its preliminary decision to apply U.S. anti-subsidy law to a select group of imports from China. Metal casting imports will not directly be affected by the one-time...

Nissin brake to benefit from Ohio economic development loan.(North America)
May 1, 2007... Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher announced that loans valued at more than $19 million have been recommended to assist economic development projects at seven companies, including Nissin Brake Inc., Findlay, Ohio. Nissin, which produces...

AmeriCast completes purchase of Atlas castings and technology.(North America)
May 1, 2007... AmeriCast Technologies, Atchison, Kan., announced it has completed the purchase of Atlas Castings and Technology, Tacoma, Wash. Atlas has steel casting and machining facilities in Tacoma and Chehalis, Wash., making products primarily for...

Affinia Group to close Canadian casting facility.(North America)
May 1, 2007... Affinia Group Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich., announced it is closing its metalcasting facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The company called the move a step in the process of "restructuring." "To successfully compete in today's global...

Asahi Tec establishes new joint venture in China with Wheelhorse aluminum casting.(Around the World)
May 1, 2007... Asahi Tec Corp., Shizuoka, Japan, announced its second aluminum wheel manufacturing joint venture with Wheelhorse Aluminum Casting Co. Ltd., Zengcheng City, Guanzhou, China, which will double its production capacity in China. The...

GF to build new plant in China.(Around the World)
May 1, 2007... Georg Fischer (GF), Uzwil, Switzerland, announced plans to build a new metalcasting facility in Kunshan, China, according to a recent press release. The new iron plant will begin operation in the spring of 2009 and will supply the local...

Intermet Corp.(Newscast)
May 1, 2007... Intermet Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, reached a safety milestone at its Archer Creek Plant located in Lynchburg, Va., when its 430 employees worked three consecutive months without a recordable injury.

Riverside Brass & Aluminum Foundry Ltd., New Hamburg, Ontario, commissioned several pieces of equipment aimed at improving its shakeout and sand reclamation systems.(Newscast)
May 1, 2007... Riverside Brass & Aluminum Foundry Ltd., New Hamburg, Ontario, commissioned several pieces of equipment aimed at improving its shakeout and sand reclamation systems. The company awarded Didion International Inc., St. Peters, Mo., an order for a...

FKI Logistex.(Newscast)
May 1, 2007... FKI Logistex, St. Louis, Mo., announced the expansion of its Canadian operations, which will bring together three existing Canadian divisions--Airport, Post & Parcel, Warehouse & Distribution, and Manufacturing Systems--to create a single...

Hickman, Williams & Co., Cincinnati, announced the purchase of Melting Materials Inc., Alloy & Metal Processors Inc. and Alloys & Carbon Inc.(Newscast)
May 1, 2007... Hickman, Williams & Co., Cincinnati, announced the purchase of Melting Materials Inc., Alloy & Metal Processors Inc. and Alloys & Carbon Inc., all doing business as AMP/MMI in Birmingham, Ala.

CMI Equipment and Engineering Inc., Au Gres, Mich., announced it is teaming with Hottinger Maschinenbau GmbH.(Newscast)
May 1, 2007... CMI Equipment and Engineering Inc., Au Gres, Mich., announced it is teaming with Hottinger Maschinenbau GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany, to provide mutual support in North America and Europe.

Wheelabrator Group.(Newscast)
May 1, 2007... Wheelabrator Group, LaGrange, Ga., recently unveiled plans for a multi-million dollar manufacturing facility in Poland. The 377,000-sq.-ft. facility will be located in Wrzesnia, Poland, and will operational by the end of 2007.

Quality certifications.(Industry News)
May 1, 2007... The following metalcasting organizations have passed recent registration or surveillance audits: The Federal Metal Co., Bedford, Ohio, (ISO 9001:2000); Tampa Brass and Aluminum Corp., Tampa, Fla., (ISO 9001:2000): Sloan Valve...

Correction.(Industry News)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2007... The March issue reported that two Hayes Lemmerz facilities, in Bristol, Ind., and Montague, Mich., were purchased by Diversified Machine in Waite Park, Minn. The purchaser of the same name is in fact located in Howell, Mich.

Metaldyne.(Personals)
May 1, 2007... Takao Yoshida, current CFO of Asahi Tec, Shizuoka, Japan, will assume the role of executive vice president and CFO of the joint venture with Metaldyne, Plymouth, Mich. Jim Hudak has been made vice president of sales and engineering in Asia.

Ashland Specialty Chemical's Casting Solutions.(Personals)
May 1, 2007... Scott Hoertz has been named vice president and general manager of Ashland Specialty Chemical's Casting Solutions business group, Dublin, Ohio.

Tim Gilbreath has accepted a position as account manager of metalcasting and industrial sales for Canfield & Joseph, Tulsa, Okla.(Personals)
May 1, 2007... Tim Gilbreath has accepted a position as account manager of metalcasting and industrial sales for Canfield & Joseph, Tulsa, Okla. Gilbreath, who has 17 years of experience in the industry, will be based at the corporate headquarters in Tulsa.

Accuride Corp.(Personals)
May 1, 2007... Accuride Corp., Evansville, Ind., tapped Steve Holt as senior vice president in charge of strategy, growth and technology.

The Schaefer Group.(Personals)
May 1, 2007... The Schaefer Group announced that Ed Lange will be under exclusive contract to represent its equipment and services to the metalcasting industry in Canada and the New England states.

OmniSource Corp.(Personals)
May 1, 2007... Danny Gascoyne has joined OmniSource Corp., Fort Wayne, Ind., as vice president of nonferrous marketing; with the exception of the stainless and alloys divisions, he will be responsible for nonferrous scrap marketing activities, including sales...

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
May 1, 2007... John Brown, Medley, Fla., died February 19, 2007. He was 69. Brown was a longtime member of the American Foundry Society and had a 40-year career in metalcasting management, culminating in an appointment as special projects manager for U.S....

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... May May 15-18--111th Metalcasting Congress, Hilton Americas, Houston. June June 12-16--GIFA, Newcast, Metec and Thermprocess, Dusseldorf, Germany. July July 22-24--Casting Industry Suppliers Association Summer Meeting,...

Solid waste redefined the U.S. EPA is proposing to change the definition of solid waste to exclude recycled hazardous materials.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
May 1, 2007... Metalcasting facilities that recycle certain solvents, metal or other chemicals that fall under hazardous water regulations may see that regulatory burden lifted. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposal to...

DOC to impose duties on China.( Department of Commerce's regulations for countervailing duty to China)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... In April, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) reversed its longstanding practice of not applying U.S. countervailing duty law to China, a nonmarket economy, by announcing a preliminary determination to impose countervailing duties (CVDs) on...

EPA releases reporting software.(On the Hill)
May 1, 2007... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the Reporting Year 2006 TRI-Made Easy reporting software on its website. Under federal law, facilities in certain industries which manufacture, process or use significant amounts of...

Building bridges: when bridges need to stand up to high winds, heavy loads and salty air, castings span the gap.
May 1, 2007... Before the opening credits to the Academy Award-winning movie Crash appear, the logo for Vancouver-based Lionsgate Films flashes on the screen. Most moviegoers don't give it another glance, but for Tom Sherlock, technical sales, Highland...

Reducing pinhole porosity: adjusting, the treatment alloy used with ductile iron can impact the incidence of pinhole defects and lower the operating costs of the metalcaster.
May 1, 2007... Dotson Iron Castings, Mankato, Minn., began to see a rise in the rate of pinhole-related scrap in the production of its engineered ductile iron castings. Fortunately, the association of pinhole defects with specific residual aluminum levels is...

Nemak accelerates on the global track: you don't become the world's largest producer of engine castings without a handle on the most up-to-date technology, but how it's managed is equally critical.
May 1, 2007... Since the day maritime explorers first set out from Europe and began to discern the shape and extent of the world, mercantilist principles (i.e. there's only so much to go around, so grab as much as you can) have maintained a place in the...

Marking global resources: sourcing castings to India and China has helped Clay and Bailey Manufacturing Co. build a firmer foundation for its metalcasting facility in Kansas City, Mo.
May 1, 2007... Four years ago, Clay and Bailey Manufacturing Co., Kansas City, Mo., was concerned that it hadn't received business from a particular customer in a couple of years. So sales manager Brad Holmes went to visit the plant. The customer was...

GIFA 2007 showcases the Bright World of Metals: June 12-16 in Dusseldorf, Germany.(Guide to GIFA)
May 1, 2007... With global casting shipments forecast to reach 90 million tons in 2008 and new developments, markets and applications emerging, GIFA 2007, the 11th International Foundry Trade Fair, is looking to the future of the global metalcasting industry...

Technical forum.(Guide to GIFA)(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... Sponsored by the World Foundrymen Organization, the Technical Forum is held June 12-14 in the Messe Dusseldorf Hall 10. The forum is open to all, and admission is free to those who have a ticket to GIFA valid for that day. Tuesday, June 12...

U.S. exhibitors.(Guide to GIFA)
May 1, 2007... Company Booth Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic 4F41 Allied Mineral Products 4E22 Alu-Cut International LLC 3C17...

Learning from the Starfish, Spider.(The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations)(Book review)
May 1, 2007... One whiff of the sixth principle presented in The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations will have most business owners crinkling their noses. "As industries become decentralized," the authors say, "overall...

Finishing off your casting.(CASTING FACTS)
May 1, 2007... I made a casting, now what do I do with it? When we think of metalcasting technology, our minds go through the typical casting process technologies--melting, metal preparation and cleanliness, molding equipment, sand systems, pouring,...

Casting answers & advice.
May 1, 2007... Q We have a customer that is asking for a finer surface finish from our sand castings than we can provide. Is there an industry standard we can use to tell the customer the typical cast surface finish that can be expected? While there is...

Metalcasters storm Capitol Hill to lobby critical issues.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
May 1, 2007... More than 100 metalcasters gathered in Washington, D.C., March 28-30 to meet with members of Congress as part of the AFS Government Affairs Conference. During these meetings, the metalcasters discussed four primary issues--the industry's...

GM Powertrain hosts Saginaw Valley Educational Seminars.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
May 1, 2007... The AFS Saginaw Valley Chapter held its 2007 Educational Seminars Feb. 8, 15 and 22 at the General Motors (GM) Powertrain training center in Saginaw, Mich. Each session was two hours with two to three speakers. More than 40 attendees per...

AFS member killed in Iraq; friend, co-member critically injured.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
May 1, 2007... American Foundry Society (AFS) member Dave Berry died Feb. 22, 2007, in military action in Iraq, and Jerrod Hays, one of his close personal friends, was critically injured in the incident. Berry, 39, and Hays, 38, both were members of the...

Membership memo.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
May 1, 2007... New AFS Corporate Members (February-March 2007): Excel Foundry & Machine Inc., Pekin, Ill.; Midland Manufacturing Co., Fort Worth, Texas; and TC Industries Inc., Kansas City, Kan.

Birmingham--in February, Diana Waterman, Waterman & Associates, Washington, D.C., discussed current legislative and regulatory issues that are affecting the metalcasting industry.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... BIRMINGHAM -- In February, Diana Waterman, Waterman & Associates, Washington, D.C., discussed current legislative and regulatory issues that are affecting the metalcasting industry. In March, Michael Swartzlander, Ashland Inc., Dublin,...

Central Ohio--in March, Charlie Protzman, Business Improvement Group LLC., Baltimore, discussed lean manufacturing and how American companies can improve their profitability.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... CENTRAL OHIO -- In March, Charlie Protzman, Business Improvement Group LLC, Baltimore, discussed lean manufacturing and how American companies can improve their profitability by paying attention to their workers' contributions and improving the...

Chicago--in March, Roy Lobenhofer, Lobenhofer Consulting Inc., Mount Prospect, Ill, Tim Eilers, Francis & Nygren Foundry Co., Chicago, and Geary Smith, G&W Electric Co., Blue Island, III., presented their views.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... CHICAGO -- In March, Roy Lobenhofer, Lobenhofer Consulting Inc., Mount Prospect, III., Tim Eilers, Francis & Nygren Foundry Co., Chicago, and Geary Smith, G&W Electric Co., Blue Island, III., presented their views on the critical factors...

Detroit-Windsor--in February, Herbert Smeten, Hydro Aluminum Bohn, Adrian, Mich., gave his presentation.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... DETROIT-WINDSOR -- In February, Herbert Smeten, Hydro Aluminum Bohn, Adrian, Mich., gave his presentation, "Casting Processes and Materials in the Clash of Modern Light Weight Engine Design."

Hawkeye--in March, Phil Heston, Miller Compressing Co., Milwaukee, Wis., gave his presentation.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... HAWKEYE -- In March, Phil Heston, Miller Compressing Co., Milwaukee, Wis., gave his presentation, "India: Foundries & Raw Materials."

Northeast Wisconsin--in April, Tom Davies (retired) gave his presentation.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... NORTHEAST WISCONSIN -- In April, Tom Davies (retired) gave his presentation, "Been There, Done That, Now What?"

Northwest Pennsylvania--in March, Jan Hutson, Rimrock Corp., Columbus, Ohio, discussed ways.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA -- In March, Jan Hutson, Rimrock Corp., Columbus, Ohio, discussed ways to reduce production costs.

Oregon--in February, several students and apprentices were honored for their design and metalcasting prowess.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... OREGON -- In February, several students and apprentices were honored for their design and metalcasting prowess. Brent Hernandez, Columbia Steel Casting Co. Inc., Portland, Ore., was awarded first place in the Apprentice Pattern Maker...

Penn-York--in March, John Cory, Andritz Inc., Muncy, Pa., discussed organization.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... PENN-YORK -- In March, John Cory, Andritz Inc., Muncy, Pa., discussed organization in the work place.

Saginaw Valley--in March, several scholarships were awarded to various students from Saginaw Valley State Univ.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... SAGINAW VALLEY -- In March, several scholarships were awarded to various students from Saginaw Valley State Univ., University Center, Mich., and Delta College, University Center, Mich., totaling $8,000.

Twin Cities--in March, Ted J. Schorn, Enkei America Inc., Columbus, Ind., gave his presentation.(Chapter Newscast)
May 1, 2007... TWIN CITIES -- In March, Ted J. Schorn, Enkei America Inc., Columbus, Ind., gave his presentation, "The Improvement of Visual Inspection Considering Human Reliability," which discussed the errors made in inspection procedures and training and...

Chapter meetings.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
May 1, 2007... CENTRAL NEW YORK Aug. 26--Greenview Golf Course, West Monroe, N.Y.; Golf Outing. CENTRAL MICHIGAN May 16--American Colloid Co., Albion, Mich.; Plant Tour. June--Turtle Creek Golf Course, Burlington, Mich.; Golf Outing. July 18--Martell's...

CMI course schedule.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
May 1, 2007... CMI Course Schedule June 5-6 Statistical Process Control (68-07) June 5 July 9 Gating & Riser Design (69-07) June 12-14 Induction Melted Steel Processing (70-07) June 18 July 29 Six-Sigma Green Belt Certification...

Citation improves NDT for its structural aluminum castings.(Case History)
May 1, 2007... Citation Corp.'s Butler, Ind., metalcasting facility produces a variety of permanent mold aluminum castings for primarily automotive applications. As part of its continuous improvement program, the firm identified the process-compensated...

New wheels improve lodge's cleaning operations.(Case History)
May 1, 2007... Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg, Tenn., a manufacturer of cast iron cookware, was experiencing maintenance problems with the wheels on its wire mesh belt machines. The motors on the machines kept giving out due to hub failure on the old...

Flexible Borescope.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
May 1, 2007... The new Hawkeye Pro Flexible Borescope from Gradient Lens Corp. provides highly detailed images of surface finish irregularities, sand, voids and other defects that can seriously affect the quality of products such as engine blocks,...

Spectrometers.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
May 1, 2007... Angstrom's latest line of charge-coupled, device-based spectrometers from Arun Technology, the PolySpek series, can be configured for a variety of applications. An optical system provides complete analytical coverage for almost any...

Mini-robot.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
May 1, 2007... Fanuc Robotics America Inc. introduced its new LR Mate 200iC robot at the Automation Technology Expo, Feb. 12-15. The next generation six-axis mini-robot is lighter and more compact than its predecessor but rates best in class for its wrist...

Beryllium-free copper.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
May 1, 2007... Yamato Alloy Co. Ltd. announced that its NC 25 and NC 50 copper alloys are now available for overseas customers. These new alloys contain nickel, silicon and chromium but no beryllium, which is regarded as an environmentally unfriendly metal....

Blast cleaning system.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
May 1, 2007... The SmartLine Carousel Spinner Hanger blast cleaning system by Wheelabrator Group is capable of cleaning and shot peenin parts that cannot be cleaned in tumble or barrel blast equipment. The blast has a 1,500-lb. per hook capacity and a...

Hawver Aluminum making first car go.(SHAKEOUT: In case you didn't know ...)
May 1, 2007... If you think the first automobiles were invented in the late 1800s, some experts would say you're off by more than 100 years. In 1769, Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot built a steam-powered, self-propelled vehicle that arguably was the tree first...