Modern Casting articles from November 2007

Modern Casting archives from November 2007

Benton Foundry adds space for two new molding lines.(Industry News)
November 1, 2007... Benton Foundry, Benton, Pa., has completed a 15,000-sq.-ft. expansion to make room for the installation of two new molding machines, which it expects to receive in 2008. The company, which now occupies 225,000 sq. ft., will take delivery of a...

Wisconsin metalcaster sold to Alabama equity firm.(Industry News)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Watry Industries, Sheboygan, Wis., was sold for an undisclosed price in late summer to a private equity firm in Alabama. On July 31, Ligon Industries LLC, Birmingham, Ala., purchased Watry, adding the permanent mold...

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
November 1, 2007... The September website question asked, "How do you attract new floor workers?" Contact a Temp Agency 39.1% Advertise in the Local Paper 34.8% Circulate Word of Mouth 17 4% Use Internet Resources ...

To Go where no metalcaster has gone before.(EDITORIAL)
November 1, 2007... Touring the industry gives the opportunity to see the best and worst metalcasting has to offer. But regardless of whether a plant is ferrous or nonferrous, in the U.S. or Europe, or casting via green sand or investment, one constant...

Benton Foundry adds manufacturing space to accommodate two new molding lines.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Benton Foundry, Benton, Pa., completed a 15,000-sq.-ft. expansion one year ago to make room for the installation of two new molding machines, which it expects to receive in 2008. The company, which after the expansion occupies 225,000 sq....

Wisconsin metalcaster sold to Alabama equity firm.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Watry Industries, Sheboygan, Wis., was sold for an undisclosed price in late summer to an Alabama private equity firm. On July 31, Ligon Industries LLC, Birmingham, Ala., purchased Watry, adding the permanent mold aluminum caster to its...

Global diecaster acquires machine supplier.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Diecaster Dynacast Inc., Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 2 acquired Techmire, Montreal, a supplier of diecasting machines. Through the partnership, Dynacast plans to advance its proprietary multi-slide diecasting technology, which is supported by...

Iowa metalcaster introduces proprietary abrasion resistant iron.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Ferrous metalcaster Dexter Foundry, Fairfield, Iowa, recently developed a patent-pending material that offers as-cast properties comparable to those of heat treated castings designed for abrasion-resistant applications. The material, known...

Alcoa to sell automotive castings unit.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, announced it is near a definitive deal to sell its automotive castings unit, as well as its packaging and consumer products division. The aluminum giant first indicated it was interested in selling the business in...

Ohio diecaster wins U.S. DOE's Energy Champion Plant Award.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Empire Die Casting Co., Cleveland, was awarded the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Champion Plant Award on Sept. 21. Out of 700 companies participating in energy reduction programs, 65 won an award. To qualify for the Energy...

Hill and Griffith sells mineral divisions.(North America)(Hill and Griffith Co.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The Hill and Griffith Co., Cold Springs, Ky., sold its mineral divisions in Cincinnati, Chicago, Burbank, Ohio, and Birmingham, Ala. The company will retain its Indianapolis manufacturing location and Cincinnati offices, as well as its...

Steelmaker to acquire scrap metal recycler OmniSource Corp.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Steelmaker Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI), Fort Wayne, Ind., will acquire scrap recycler OmniSource Corp., also of Fort Wayne. According to an agreement, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, SDI will receive all...

GF Automotive adding new research center.(North America)
November 1, 2007... Georg Fischer (GF) Automotive, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, plans to build a new $21.5 million research center at its headquarters. The new building, which will replace the current central laboratory, will house the current R&D unit, the...

Fairmount Minerals wins National Association of Manufacturers Sandy Trowbridge Award.(North America)
November 1, 2007... The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) awarded industrial sand producer Fairmount Minerals, Chardon, Ohio, the first annual Sandy Trowbridge Award for Excellence in Community Service, created in honor of former NAM President Sandy...

Use caution when comparing cultures as different as the U.S., China.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... I read Raymond Monroe's article, China's Challenge (MODERN CASTING, Oct. 2007), with the greatest of interest. While I certainly understand and (mostly) agree with the statements made, I wonder to what extent we can really make a comparison...

Quality certifications.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2007... The following metalcasting organizations have passed recent surveillance audits: Aluminum Conversion Inc., Cromwell, Ind., (ISO 9001:2000).

ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, Waupaca, Wis., has commissioned a sand handling system.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, Waupaca, Wis., has commissioned a sand handling system for its recently announced Etowah, Tenn., expansion from General Kinematics Corp., Crystal Lake, Ill.

Ajax Manufacturing.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Ajax Manufacturing, Western Cape, South Africa, celebrated its 55th anniversary in aluminum metalcasting.

Columbus Steel Castings.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Columbus Steel Castings, Columbus, Ohio, has licensed Odyssey software from B&L Information Systems, Bridgman, Mich., to assist in handling the company's information databases.

Plas-Tec Tool and Dienamics Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wis., a zinc diecaster.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Plas-Tec Tool and Dienamics Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wis., a zinc diecaster, announced a corporate name change to Inventix Manufacturing LLC.

Thresher Industries.
November 1, 2007... Thresher Industries, Hanford, Calif., last month issued an open letter to its investors attempting to explain its recent fall in stock price.

Wheelabrator Abrasives Inc.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Wheelabrator Abrasives Inc., Bedford, Va., has broken a previous safety record of 398 days without a lost time accident by reaching the 417-day mark.

B&L Information Systems.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... B&L Information Systems, Bridgman, Mich., a provider of enterprise software for the metalcasting industry, has achieved Elite Partner Status in the award winning Progress Partner Program launched by the Progress Software Corporation.

Can-Eng Furnaces Global Furnace Systems Group, Niagara Falls, N.Y., supplied a 30 x 36 x 48-in. integral quench furnace.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Can-Eng Furnaces Global Furnace Systems Group, Niagara Falls, N.Y., supplied a 30 x 36 x 48-in. integral quench furnace to the Serov Mechanical Plant, Serov, Russia.

Niles Machine and Tool Works LLC, Livermore, Calif., and Pacific Production Engineering Consulting LLC, Palo Alto, Calif., were merged into one corporate entity as of Oct. 1, 2007.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Niles Machine and Tool Works LLC, Livermore, Calif., and Pacific Production Engineering Consulting LLC, Palo Alto, Calif., were merged into one corporate entity as of Oct. 1, 2007. The new company will be known as Integrated Manufacturing Group...

Senator Technology GmbH.(Newscast)
November 1, 2007... Senator Technology GmbH, Buchholz, Germany, has appointed Equipment Merchants International Inc. (EMI), Cleveland, as exclusive sales representative for the U.S. and Canada.

Calendar of events.(Conference news)(Calendar)
November 1, 2007... November November 12-16--AFS OSHA Compliance Seminar, AFS Headquarters, Schaumburg, Ill. November 14-15--Casting Industry Suppliers Association Fall Business Meeting, Hyatt Regency, Rosemont, Ill. November 27--AFS Research Board,...

Citation Corp.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Citation Corp., Novi, Mich., named Robert Sawyer vice president and CFO.

R.S. Owens.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... David Graham was hired by R.S. Owens, Chicago, as its national sales director.

Makino.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... Makino, Auburn Hills, Mich., added Andre Ey as vice president of its Die Mold Technologies Group.

Alcoa.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... Alcoa, Pittsburgh, hired John Thuestad to be president of its Global Primary Products group in the U.S.

Rio Tinto, London, and Alcan, Montreal, proposed a conditional executive management team to head up the impending Rio Tinto Alcan.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... Rio Tinto, London, and Alcan, Montreal, proposed a conditional executive management team to head up the impending Rio Tinto Alcan, including Dick Evans, Alcan's president and chief executive officer, as CEO, and Steve Hodgson, Jacynthe Cote and...

OmniSource Fort Wayne, Ind.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... After the purchase of OmniSource, Fort Wayne, Ind., by Steel Dynamics Inc., also of Fort Wayne, Danny Rifkin became executive vice president of the newly-formed recycled metals platform and was named to the purchaser's board of directors.

Wheelabrator Group.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... Bill Carver was appointed by Wheelabrator Group, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, to OEM sales rep covering Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. Bjorn Tranebo was promoted to general manager of the Wheelabrator...

The Aluminum Association.(Personals)
November 1, 2007... The Aluminum Association, Tucson, Ariz., elected Kevin Anton, president, AlcoaMaterials Management, Knoxville, Tenn., chairman of the board, and Steven J. Demetriou, chairman and CEO, Aleris International, Beachwood, Ohio, vice chairman. Newly...

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
November 1, 2007... Lawrence Andres, Oconomowoc, Wis., died Feb. 20, 2007. He was 95. Andres was the former owner and president of Lawran Foundry, West Milwaukee, Wis. He was active in the American Foundry Society and the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society.

Rule on chemical safety could affect metalcasters.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
November 1, 2007... The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an interim final rule intended to place federal security regulations on what the department considers high-risk chemical facilities, which also would include metalcasting facilities that...

DHS "no match" program delayed.(On the Hill)(Department of Homeland Security)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... In October, a federal judge delayed the implementation of a role by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would require employers to fire employees within 90 days if no match for their Social Security number was found in a federal...

Rep. Dingell proposes carbon tax.(On the Hill)(John Dingell)(carbon tax proposal )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... In late September, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced a carbon tax proposal that cars for a $50/ton tax on carbon emissions phased in over five years and adjusted for inflation. The tax...

Amended SCHIP legislation vetoed.(On the Hill)
November 1, 2007... This fall, President Bush and Congress have been grappling with the reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The results may affect the Family Medical Leave Act. The president vetoed a $35 billion...

Cutting food down to size: Urschel Labs, a manufacturer of industrial food reduction equipment, relies on in-house metalcasting to support its reputation for quality and customer service.
November 1, 2007... Rick Urschel jokes that his great-grandfather was just two years behind the mechanical genius of Orville and Wilbur Wright, and if he had been born a couple of years earlier... well, who knows? Instead, William E. Urschel used his mechanical...

Pour the perfect cup: to ensure your ferrous thermal analysis cups produce the best possible results, remember twelve pouring and maintenance techniques.
November 1, 2007... American Foundry Society 5-L Committee, Schaumburg, Illinois Thermal analysis of molten iron is used in almost every iron metalcasting facility, whether it is pouring gray or ductile iron. It is a well established, economical process...

Good pouring techniques.
November 1, 2007... 1 The cups need to sit tightly on the contact block. If the cup is loose or wobbles, the electrical contact will be poor (Fig. 2). This will cause erratic measurements. If the fit is not tight, the contact block needs to be changed. ...

Proper system Maintenance.(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... 1 Before each measurement, run a wire brush over the contact block to remove tarnish from the contacts (Fig. 4). 2 Inspect the contact block and wiring regularly. Badly corroded contact blocks (Fig. 5) and wire that does not have good...

Instrumental in making music: whether clearly visible or behind the scenes, metal castings are critical in the manufacture of many musical instruments.(metal casting process)
November 1, 2007... Standing next to the noisy, jarring vibratory shakeout in an average metalcasting facility won't make you think of your favorite rock and roll records. The Beatles, it is not--except for maybe a few songs on Sgt. Pepper. But that shakeout...

2007 Modern Casting editorial index: December 2006-November 2007.(Calendar)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The full text of articles listed in bold is available at www.moderncasting.com. Aluminum, Copper-Base and Other Nonferrous Casting * "AFW's Automation Alteration," S. Kruse, December, p. 33. * Website...

Achieving liquidity with equity recapitalizations.(CAPITAL GAINS)
November 1, 2007... Throughout the life cycle of every business, owners routinely face critical decision points. Among the most critical for closely held companies is the decision to relinquish or transfer ownership. This decision requires business owners to make...

Share and share for cash.(NOVEL SOLUTIONS)
November 1, 2007... In a recent interview for MODERN CASTING magazine, General Motors executive Arvin Jones offered a fitting--though unintentional--introduction to Henry Chesbrough's acclaimed Open Business Models. Why, Jones was asked, are users of the...

AFS presents at CONAF/FENAF in Brazil.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2007... The 2007 CONAF/FENAF, organized by the Brazilian Foundry Association (ABIFA), recently brought together the South American metalcasting industry for technical presentations and an exhibition. Held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from Sept. 25-28,...

IJMC website released.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Website overview)
November 1, 2007... The American Foundry Society (AFS) announced the launch of its newest website, www.metalcastingjournal.com, on Oct. 8 as a companion to the International Journal of Metalcasting (IJMC). The IJMC website includes previous and current issue...

New MSDS forms available.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2007... The American Foundry Society (AFS) has completed an update of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for copper-casting alloys to follow the new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 16-part format. The new forms will help...

Chapter Meetings.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
November 1, 2007... BRITISH COLUMBIA Dec. 13--AFS Christmas Dinner, Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club. Jan.16-18--CMI Presents: "Analysis of Casting Defects," Sheraton Guildford. Jan.17--Apprenticeship Night, Guest Speaker Mark Nagel, CMI, Sheraton Guildford....

CMI releases Metalcasting process DVD.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2007... The new Process of Metalcasting DVD is now available from the Cast Metals Institute (CMI). Updated for 2007, the video provides a comprehensive overview of the metalcasting process and is an excellent tool for new employees. The DVD covers many...

CMI course schedule.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2007... CMI Course Schedule Nov. 27-28 Melt Control for Ni, Co and Schaumburg, Ill. Stainless Steel (31-08) Dec. 4-5 Nonferrous Melting Technology Pittsburg, Kan. (35-08) Dec....

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 suppliers for your much-needed equipment, products and services quicker and easier.
November 1, 2007... In an industry like metalcasting, finding the right source for equipment and products can have a significant effect on not only a facility's costs, but also on the quality of the castings it produces. Realizing that metalcasters rely on MODERN...

Supplier's online.(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... Suppliers Online is a brand-new addition to the Annual Buyer's Guide designed to provide easy access to information from today's leading suppliers. These suppliers of metalcasting equipment, systems, materials and supplies invite you to visit...

Cleaning & finishing.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... As of October 20, 2007 ABRASIVE BRICKS, STONES, FILES ACME ABRASIVE CO, Warren, MI. BANCROFT CO INC, Millersburg, MI. BATES ABRASIVES INC, Burlington, WA. FLOXOVIT USA INC, 1305 Eden-Evans Center Rd, Angola, NY, 14006,...

Consultants, management services & education.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... CONSULTANTS, MANAGEMENT ANDREW J LECHNER, Olympia, WA. BROCKSCHLAGER & ASSOCIATES INC, Brookfield, WI. CK ADAMS & ASSOCIATES, Ellisville, MO. COUNSELOR ENGINEERING. INC., Hudson, OH. ENGINEERED FOUNDRY SYSTEMS, 12981...

Laboratory.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... ABRASIVE DISCS ACME ABRASIVE CO, Warren, MI. ATSCO, Mentor, OH. BANCROFT CO INC, Millersburg, MI. BOSCH POWER TOOLS, Mount Prospect, IL. DELTA INTERNATIONAL, Tupelo, MS. KINDT-COLLINS CO, 12651 Elmwood Ave, Cleveland,...

Maintenance.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... ACCUMULATORS CARRIER VIBRATING EQUIPMENT, INC., PD Box 37070, Louisville, KY, 40233-7070, (502) 969-3171, FAX: (502) 969-3172. CONVEYOR DYNAMICS CORP, 7000 W Geneva Drive, St Peters, MO, 63376-5712, 636/279-1111, FAX: 636/279-1121. ...

Melting, pouring & heat treatment.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... AFTERBURNERS AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL INT'L, Schaumburg, IL. CONSOLIDATED ENGINEERING CC, Kennesaw, GA. GASMAC INC, Guelph Ont. LINDBERG, Watertown, WI. LTG TECHNOLOGIES, Milwaukee, WI. MANSFIELD CO, Walled Lake, MI....

Mold, core & sand preparation.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... ADHESIVES, HOT MELT AREMCO PRODUCTS INC, Valley Cottage, NY. ARKEMA, INC., 2000 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, (215) 419-7080, FAX: (215)419-7501. GE COMPANY, 187 Danbury Rd, Wilton, CT, 06897, 800/295-2392, FAX:...

Packaging & shipping.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... BAGS, SHIPPING CHAMBERLAND ENGINEERING ASSOC, Sheldonville, MA. GRE-BAR LLC, Stone Mountain, GA. UNIDEX GROUP INC, Wheeling, IL. WISCONSIN BOX CO, Wausau, WI. BOXES, STACKING TOTE CHEM-CAST LTD, 1009 Lynch Road,...

Patternmaking.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... ACRYLIC RESINS ARKEMA, INC., 2000 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, (215) 419-7000, FAX: (215) 419-7591. ASHLAND INC., Columbus, OH. CASTING SOLUTIONS, El Dorado Hills, CA. EXPRESS PATTERN, Buffalo Grove, IL. GENERAL...

Safety & environmental.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT AIR TRAC CORPORATION, Niagara Falls, NY. ALB KLEIN TECHNOLOGY GROUP, 8275 Estates Pkwy, Plain City, OH, 43064, 614/873-8995, FAX: 614/873-8996. ALSTOM POWER INC, AIR PREHEATER CO, Wellsville, NY. ...

Software & management systems.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... BAR CODE SYSTEMS B&L INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Bridgman, MI INFOSIGHT CORP, PC Box 5000, Chillicothe, OH, 45601, 740/642-3600, FAX: 740/642-5001. ROBERTS SINTO CORPORATION, 3001 W. Main St., P.O. Box 40760, Lansing, MI, 48901-7960,...

Testing & Inspection.(Product Category Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2007... INSPECTION SERVICES AXILA INC, Farmington Hills, MI. BODYCOTE MATERIALS TESTING, INC, USA Group Office, 7530 Frontage Road, Skokie, IL, 60077, 888/BODYCOTE (888-263-9268), FAX: 978/475-2951. CARL ZEISS IMT CORP, 6250 Sycamore...

Manufacturers index.(Directory)
November 1, 2007... A 3D Systems 36081 Avenue Hall Valencia, California, 91355 Phone: 661/295-5600 Fax: 661/295-0249 deb.buckley@verizon.net www.3dsystems.com 4B Elevator Components Ltd 729 Sabrina Dr East Peoria,...

Metals associations.(Directory)
November 1, 2007... The Aluminum Assn. Inc. 1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22209 Tel: 703/358-2980 Fax: 703/358-2961 Website: www.aluminum.org J. Stephen Larkin, President American Foundry Society Inc. 1695 N. Penny...