Modern Casting articles from November 2003

Modern Casting archives from November 2003

If at first you don't succeed ...(Editorial; casting market)
November 1, 2003... If you feel frustrated by today's casting market, I am here to tell you that you aren't alone. Whether it is offshore competition, over-demanding customers and/or regulatory burden, these pressures are frustrating every U.S. metalcaster. ...

U.S. Dept. of Defense Metalcasting Research signed into law.(Washington Alert)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... President Bush signed the Defense Appropriation Bill for the 2004 fiscal year into law on September 30. The measure includes $2.3 million for a casting component cost and leadtime reduction program that will be managed by the Pentagon's Defense...

OSHA looks at raising permissible exposure limits across the board.(Washington Alert; Occupational Safety and health Administration)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Talk has surfaced in Washington, D.C., about a movement to craft legislation that encourages OSHA to update permissible exposure limits (PELs). OSHA, labor unions and some business groups have suggested that more than 130 PELs be updated. OSHA...

Manufacturing opportunities continue to multiply overseas.(Washington Alert)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... As Congress and the Administration grapple with addressing the struggles of the U.S. manufacturing sector and the mounting unemployment numbers, one key statistic in the debate is missing--the number of jobs that were lost due to offshore...

U.S. EPA challenges America to change a light, change the world.(Washington Alert; Energy Star lightbulbs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The U.S. EPA's Energy Star program is encouraging every household and business to change out the five light fixtures they use most at home (or the light bulbs in them) to Energy Star qualified lighting. If every American household did this, it...

Wescast to supply manifolds for GM's 3800 Series 3 engine.(North America)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Wescast Industries, Inc., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, has been selected by General Motors, Detroit, to supply newly designed cast and machined iron exhaust manifolds for the 3800 Series 3 engine program. The engine will be manufactured at...

Nemak opens new aluminum foundry in Czech Republic.(North America)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Nemak Corp., Windsor, Ontario, Canada, inaugurated its new production facility in Most, Czech Republic, in October. The opening featured several prominent guests, including Vladimir Spidla, the Czech Prime Minister. Construction on the...

Ohio Castings acquires Alliance rail castings foundry.(Acquisitions; ASF-Keystone)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Ohio Castings Co., Canton, Ohio, has reached an agreement with ASF-Keystone, Granite City, Illinois, to acquire its foundry located in Alliance, Ohio. This acquisition follows Ohio Castings' investment in a foundry in Cicero, Illinois earlier...

Aldonas discusses President Bush's manufacturing agenda at AFS Foundry Executive Conference in October.(Metalcasting Associations; Grant Aldonas; American Foundrymen's Society)
November 1, 2003... In October, more than 100 foundrymen gathered in Destin, Florida for the AFS Foundry Executive Conference. The highlight of the conference was the presentation by Grant Aldonas, Undersecretary for International Trade Administration, U,S. Dept....

Precision Castparts to acquire SPS Technologies.(Acquisitions)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC), Portland, Oregon, has acquired SPS Technologies, Inc., Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, a supplier of fasteners and other metal products to the aerospace, automotive and general industrial markets. The total...

FundiExpo 2003 a success as nearly 2000 metalcasters gather in Monterrey, Mexico.(Metalcasting Associations)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FundiExpo 2003, held October 2-4 at the Cintermex convention center in Monterrey, Mexico, was deemed a "success" by its organizing committee as 1996 attendees from around the globe visited 140 exhibitors showcasing the latest machinery,...

Neenah Foundry Co.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, Wisconsin, has completed its previously announced refinancing, satisfying the conditions necessary for its plan of reorganization to become effective. The firm's plan was supported by existing company leaders and...

Auburn Foundry.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... According to the Fort Wayne News Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Auburn Foundry, Auburn, Indiana, has cut 20% of its workforce due to lower levels of business. The foundry, which had previously employed approximately 650 people, cut 130...

Tonkawa Foundry.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Tonkawa Foundry, Tonkawa, Oklahoma, installed new air handling equipment in June to stay ahead of the new MACT standards for iron and steel foundries. The unit is at 270 bag, 27,000 cfm 100hp cleaning unit that removes all smoke and impurities...

Sterling Casting Corp.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... According to the Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sterling Casting Corp., Bluffton, Indiana, shut down its operations in September. The firm, which manufactures gray iron manifold castings for the boating industry, is attempting to...

Cornwall Aluminum Foundry, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, has purchased an FBO-IIIS molding machine.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Cornwall Aluminum Foundry, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, has purchased an FBO-IIIS molding molding with core setting abilities from Roberts Sinto Corp., Lansing, Michigan.

Superior Industries International, Inc.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Superior Industries International, Inc., Van Nuys. California, reported third quarter revenue of $187.3 million, nearly identical to the same period in 2002. Net income was $10.7 million, down from $17.7 million in the third quarter 2002. The...

Amcast Industrial Corp.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Amcast Industrial Corp., Dayton, Ohio, reported fiscal fourth quarter sales of $100.7 million, down 6.3% compared to the same period last year. Net income for fiscal fourth quarter was $1.8 million, up from the net loss of $0.8 million in the...

Intermet Corp.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Internet Corp., Troy, Michigan, reported third quarter sales of $182.1 rail lion, down from $192.6 in the third quarter of 2002. The company also reported a third quarter net loss of S0.05 million, compared with a net loss of $1.0 million...

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., Northville, Michigan, has posted an operating income of $51.6 million for the second quarter 2003, up from a loss of $12.6 million in the same period of 2002. The company reported sales of $502.8 million in...

Quality certifications.(Industry News; foundry industry)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The following foundry, and supplier organizations have received re cent certifications: Avalon Precision Casting Co., Brook Park, Ohio (ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9001:2000); Waukesha Kramer, Inc., Waukesha, Wisconsin (ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9001:2000 and...

India -- According to The Hindu, Maruti Udyog, New Delhi, India, has set up an aluminum foundry, Suzuki Metal India, at Manesar, India, in a joint venture with its parent company, Suzuki Motor Corp., Japan.(Around the World)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... India -- According to The Hindu, Maruti Udyog, New Delhi, India, has set up an aluminum foundry, Suzuki Metal India, at Manesar, India, in a joint venture with its parent company, Suzuki Motor Corp., Japan. The plant will employ 120 people and...

United Kingdom -- Henley Foundries, Halesowen, West Midlands, United Kingdom, will supply Perkins Engines, Peterborough, United Kingdom, with exhaust manifolds for its 4000 Series of engines.(Around the World)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... United Kingdom -- Henley Foundries, Halesowen, West Midlands, United Kingdom, will supply Perkins Engines, Peterborough, United Kingdom, with exhaust manifolds for its 4000 Series of engines. The contract covers three different variants of the...

Germany -- the Switzerland-based George Fischer announced that it will cut a total of 1000 jobs.(Around the World)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Germany -- The Switzerland based George Fischer announced that it will cut a total of 1000 jobs, including the closing of the firm's foundy in Bitterfeld, Germany. This cut of nearly eight percent of the firm's workforce was aimed at increasing...

Straightening out an induction melting misconception.(Letterbox)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... While I found the article "In Pursuit of High Tech: What Foundries Must Consider to Become State-of-the Art," (September 2003 MODERN CASTING) to be very informative, I felt that there was a misleading statement concerning induction melting and...

Why I like this foundry stuff.(Letterbox)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... This letter is in response to the June 2003 MODFRN CASTING editorial, "Why I Like This Foundry, Stuff." Not long after I moved to Illinois to accept a position at Buehler Ltd., a supplier of equipment for metallographic laboratories, I had...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... February February 12-13--AFS Wisconsin Regional Conference, Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. March March 8-11--Society of Automotive Engineers 2004 World Congress, Cobo Center, Detroit. March 11-13--AFS Northwest Regional...

Inductotherm Corp.(Personals)(Satyen Prabhu)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Inductotherm Corp., Rancocas, New Jersey, named Satyen Prabhu president.

3-D Service, Ltd.(Personals)(Michael O'Brien)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... 3-D Service, Ltd., Massillon, Ohio, appointed Michael O'Brien client manager at its service center in Cincinnati.

Hickman, Williams & Co.(Personals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Hickman, Williams & Co., Oak Brook, Illinois, added Prem P. Mohla, manager of research and product development, to the technical support group.

Hormel Foods Corp.(Personals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minnesota. appointed Greg Sanders GMBond sales agent.

Morganite Crucible, Inc.(Personals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Morganite Crucible, Inc., North Haven, Connecticut, named Tom Francesconi inside sales manager.

Tecpro Corp.(Personals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Tecpro Corp., Atlanta, Georgia, appointed John R. Cameli president and CEO

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).(Personals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Troy, Michigan, announced that Alan P. Druschitz, Intermet Corp., was elected to Fellow grade of SAE membership for his contributions in automotive castings.

John "Jay" Gurganus.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
November 1, 2003... John "Jay" Gurganus, retired president of Porter-Warmer Industries. Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, died in September.

Henton Morrogh.(Obituaries; British Cast Iron Research Association )(Brief Article)(Obituary)
November 1, 2003... Henton Morrogh, retired director of the British Cast Iron Research Assn. (BCIRA), Alvechurch, Birmingham, England, died in September. Morrogh was awarded the Andrew Carnegie Gold Medal in 1946 and the AFS William McFadden Gold Medal in 1952.

Building a better Benton Foundry: while many foundries today thrive on the "big deal," Benton Foundry prospers by offering complex castings with quick leadtimes for short and medium production runs.
November 1, 2003... Benton Foundry isn't willing to make every casting that comes their way. In a present day climate where in any foundries are looking for as much work as possible, Benton has the luxury to look for customers that they feel will be a good fit....

The price of pursuing perfection: the process of turning a foundry into a cost-effective, quality-driven environment takes a deliberate effort from all areas of the operation.
November 1, 2003... Inside This Story: * This article describes the four categories typically associated with quality costs, including specific recommendations for reduction of quality costs in the foundry. * This article provides strategies to help...

Starting lost foam from scratch.(metal casting)
November 1, 2003... Inside This Story: * A foundry in Ireland relates its experience in researching whether and how to start-up a lost foam casting operation. * The basis for its research and comparison was a lost foam cast cylinder head, which was...

Ironing out the pouring options.(foundries)
November 1, 2003... Inside This Story: * Selecting the proper iron pouring technique has tremendous effects on all areas of a foundry. * This article breaks down the complete issue of choosing an iron pouring technique by detailing the various options....

Foundrymen see slight dip in salaries in 2002: this confidential AFS salary survey shows that foundry base salaries in 2002 dropped 0.5% and total compensation was down 0.6%.(American Foundrymen's Society)
November 1, 2003... The results of the AFS 2003 Confidential Salary Survey show that 2002 foundry base salaries decreased 0.5% from 2001 while total compensation decreased 0.6%. These results and the data contained in Tables 1 and 2 were obtained through a survey...

Board of Directors gather at Cumberland Foundry.(AFS/CMI News; American Foundrymen's Society)
November 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: In August, members of the AFS Board of Directors gather during a visit to Cumberland Foundry, Cumberland, Rhode Island. Pictured (from I) are Paul Cervellero, retired, Inductotherm Corp., Chris DeWitt,...

Service Awards presented at AFS Environmental Health & Safety Conference.(AFS/CMI News' American Foundrymen's Society)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: During the AFS 15th Environmental Health & Safety Conference held in Indianapolis in August, Jeet Radia (ctr), McWane, Inc., presents service awards to Russ Murray (I), Ohio Cast Metals Assn., and Daniel...

New AFS Corporate Members (July-September 2003).(Membership Memo; American Foundrymen's Society)
November 1, 2003... New AFS Corporate Members July-September 2003): Dolphin, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona; US Castings, L.L.C., Entiat, Washington; XRI Testing, Troy, Michigan; Gregg Industries, El Monte, California; Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, Manitowoc, Wisconsin;...

CMI thanks instructors.
November 1, 2003... This space is to thank the instructors and their companies who have provided their time and expertise for CMI courses held August 1-September 30, 2003. Matt Granlund, Foundry Systems Control Kumar Sadayappan, CANMET/MTL Ted Klemp,...

AFS chapter news.(American Foundrymen's Society)
November 1, 2003... CENTRAL MICHIGAN--In September, (pictured from I) Larry Stahl, Lee Horvath and Scott Giese (all from the AFS 4-F Research Committee) gather after giving a presentation on coatings.--Mark Noggin CANTON--In October, Gary Schroeder (I), Castek...

Chapter meetings.(American Foundrymen's Society)(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... BIRMINGHAM November 17--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala. December 8--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala; Christmas Party. January 12--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala. February 13--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham. Ala. March 12--Tuscaloosa, Ala. Student...

Casting a concert piano.(Shakeout)
November 1, 2003... Making a piano is a complicated process. There are hundreds of tiny sections--front the soundboard to each individual string--that have to be just perfect in order for the instrument to function in tune. To ensure that so many individual...

Inductotherm[R] Group: leading manufacturers of melting, thermal processing & production systems for the metals and materials industry worldwide.(Special Advertising Section)
November 1, 2003... From the brilliant yellow of gold and the warm glow of copper to the cold gray of iron and steel no matter what metal you melt, mold, heat or otherwise process, there's an Inductotherm Group company with the equipment, technology or services...

How to make this year's buyer's guide work for you! Knowing your way around the MODERN CASTING Buyer's Guide will make locating supplier sources for your much-needed equipment, products and services quicker and easier.(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... In an industry like metalcasting. finding the right source for equipment and products can have a significant role on not only a foundry's costs, but also on the quality of the castings it produces, Realizing that foundrymen have relied on...

Product showcase.(Directory)
November 1, 2003... These Suppliers of metalcasting equipment materials and services are offering a variety of free, informative catalogs and brochures to the readers of Modern Casting. The following products can help provide some of the most innovative ways to...

Product category index.(Directory)
November 1, 2003... Cleaning, Finishing & Shipping ABRASIVE BRICKS, STONES, FILES BG13 ABRASIVE DISCS BG13 ABRASIVE FLAPWHEELS BG13 ABRASIVES,...

Cleaning, finishing, & shipping.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... ABRASIVE BRICKS, STONES, FILES Acme Abrasive Co, Warren, MI Bancroff Co Inc. Millersburg, MI Bates Abrasives Inc, Burlington, WA Foundry Service & Supply Co, Bartimore, MD HALECO Inc, Cleveland, OH Kindt-Collins Co,...

General manufacturing, engineering & maintenance.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... ACCUMULATORS Carrier Vibrating Equipment, Inc., PO Box 37070, Louisville, KY, 40233-7070 tel: 502/969-3171 fax: 502/969-3172 Hydac Corp, Bethlehem, PA Miller Fluid Power Div, Bensenville, IL Parker Hannifin Corp, Cylinder...

Melting, pouring & heat treatment.(Afterburners-Pelletizers)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... AFTERBURNERS Albertus Engineering Inc. Malvern. PA American Environmental Int'l. Arlington Heights, IL Carl Mayer Corp, Rocky River, OH Consolidated Engineering Co. Kennesaw. GA EnviroAir. Inc. (CORECO). Genessee Depot, WI...

Melting, pouring & heat treatment.(Phosphor Copper, Shot & Waffle-Zirconium Alloys)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... PHOSPHOR COPPER, SHOT & WAFFLE A. Cesana S.p.A., Pero (Milano) ASi International Inc, 1440 East 39th St, Cleveland, OH, 44114 tel: 216/391-9900 fax: 216/391-9933 Atlas Metal Sales, Denver, CO Avis Metalcasters Service...

Mold, core & sand preparation.(Adhesives, Hot Melt-Core Trucks & Buggies)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... Air Trac Corporation, Niagara Falls, NY Airmatic Inc, Philadelphia, PA ALB Klein Technology Group, 400 E Wilson Bridge Rd, Worthington, OH, 43085 tel: 614/431-0002 fax: 614/431-1349 Best Sand Div., 11830 Ravenna Rd, PO Box 87,...

Mold, core & sand preparation.(Core Wire & Rods-Sand Feed Gates)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... CORE WIRE & RODS Avis Metalcasters Service Ltd, Whittier, CA CRT & Co Inc, Muskegon, MI Fenton Foundry Supply Co, Dayton, OH Foundry Service & Supply Co, Baltimore, MD Milchap Products, Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Chaplet...

Mold, core & sand preparation.(Sand Flowability Additives-Zircon Sand, Flour)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... SAND FLOWABILITY ADDITIVES American Colloid Company, 1500 W Shure Drive, Arlington Heights, IL, 60004 tel: 847/392-4600 fax: 847/506-6199 Ashland Specialty Chemical Co, Casting Solutions, PO Box 2219, Columbus, OH, 43216-2219...

Patternmaking.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... ACRYLIC RESINS Ashland Specialty Chemical Co, Casting Solutions, PO Box 2219, Columbus, OH, 43216-2219 tel: 614/790-3514 fax: 614/790-4359 ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc., Philadelphia, PA Casting Solutions, Upland, CA Express...

Safety & environmental.(Product Index; foundries)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT Aercology Div Donaldson, Old Saybrook, CT Air Trac Corporation, Niagara Falls, NY Alstom Power Inc, Air Preheatar Co, Wellsville, NY American Environmental Int'l, Arlington Heights, IL ...

Testing & laboratory.(Product Index; foundries)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... ABRASIVE DISCS Acme Abrasive Co, Warren, MI Bancroft Co Inc, Millersburg, MI Bosch Power Tools, Mount Prospect, IL Delta International, Pittsburgh, PA Dynabrade Inc, Clarence, NYHALECO Inc, Cleveland, OH Kindt-Collins...

Manufacturers index.(A-Z)(Directory)
November 1, 2003... A & A Mfg Co 2300 S Calhoun Rd New Berlin WI 53151-2708 tel: 262/786-1500 fax: 262/786-3780 E-Mail: sales@gortite.com Web Site: http://www.gortite.com A. Cesana S.p.A Via Turati 23 Pero (Milano) 20016 tel:...

2003 Modern Casting editorial index.
November 1, 2003... (December 2002-November 2003) The full text of articles listed in bold is available at www.moderncasting.com. Aluminum, Copper-Base & Other Nonferrous Casting * "What Causes Electromagnetic Pump Clogging," J.H. Sokolowski, C.A....

6--Metals associations.(Directory)
November 1, 2003... The Aluminum Assn., Inc. 900 19th St., NW Washington, DC 20006-7168 202/862-5100 Fax: 202/862-5164 Website: www.aluminum.org A subcommittee--the Technical Committee on Casting Standards--is responsible for producing a...

State foundry associations.(Directory)
November 1, 2003... Alabama Alabama Cast Metals Assn. Cecilia Surtees PO Box 373 Fairfield, AL 35064 205/788-0060 Fax: 205/788-0091 California California Cast Metals Assn. James Simonelli 1011 St. Andrew's Dr. Ste. I El...

International metalcasting associations.(Directory)
November 1, 2003... Austria Verein Oesterreichischer Giessereifachleute Postfach 2 A-1193 Wien AUSTRIA Tel. 43 1 44 04 963 Fax 43 1 44 04 963 lng.Erich Nechtelberger E-mail: nechtelberger@everyday.com Belarus Belarussian...