Modern Casting articles from November 2008

Modern Casting archives from November 2008

Where it's at.(moderncasting.com)
November 1, 2008... Wherever you find the cast metal Where It's At sign (right) in this issue, access additional content exclusively on the web at www.moderncasting.com or the otherwise indicated website: * Table of Contents: Web-only article on gray iron...

Modern Casting blog.(moderncasting.com)
November 1, 2008... MODERN CASTING staff members blog about safety resources online, where investment casters fit in with the rest of us and how metalcasters influenced the 2008 presidential election.

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
November 1, 2008... The September web poll asked: Who is your biggest competition? Low-Cost Countries 57.8% Other Domestic Casters 28.90% Plastics 8.9% Forgers and Welders 4.4% This month's question is...

Worth repeating.
November 1, 2008... "You don't take a weldment and make a casting the same. You unlock the shapes and pockets a [metalcaster] can do and a weld shop cannot."--Chris Witt, Dotson Iron Castings

An R&D initiative.(EDITORIAL)(investment in research and development initiatives)(Editorial)
November 1, 2008... How many of you have significantly invested in research and development initiatives in the last year? How many of you have spent time and money to develop a new manufacturing method or material to solve a problem? My guess is every one of...

Wolverine Bronze wins contract on $2 million supercar.(North America)
November 1, 2008... Wolverine Bronze Co., Roseville, Mich., recently won a contract to sand cast precision parts for the 14-liter, 1200-horsepower, DiMora Volcano V-16 engine. The engine, which will be fitted into the $2 million DiMora Motorcar Natalia SLS 2...

Century Pacific to install new nobake line.(North America)(Company overview)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After two years during which it improved its melt department, core-room, inspection lab and reclamation equipment, Century Pacific Foundry Ltd., Surrey, Canada, is now planning to construct a new nobake loop in its...

Citation reduces workforce by 18%, closes Lufkin plant.(North America)
November 1, 2008... Citation Corp., Novi, Mich., announced it will eliminate 18% of its workforce and shut down its Lufkin, Texas, metalcasting facility, a plant it had previously throttled back to half-capacity. The company announced the changes concurrently...

Tupy adds to growing list of compacted graphite iron customers.(Around the World)
November 1, 2008... Tupy of Brazil, Joinville, Brazil, has won a contract to produce compacted graphite iron (CGI) diesel engine cylinder blocks and heads for DAF Trucks N.V., Eindhoven, Netherlands, building on the company's growing list of CGI customers. ...

Lufkin Industries reaches labor agreement with unions.(North America)
November 1, 2008... Lufkin Industries Inc., Lufkin, Texas, announced it has reached a new labor agreement with the three unions representing the hourly workforce at its main manufacturing facilities, including its metalcasting plant. Lufkin owns several...

Benton Foundry acquires new automatic molder.(North America)
November 1, 2008... Benton Foundry Inc., Benton, Pa., took delivery of a new automatic molding machine on Aug. 15. The company completed an expansion for the new machine, a 28 x 32-in. Disa with adjustable cope and drag height, in the fall of 2007. Benton...

Auto supplier Aisin Seiki spins off second Thai business.(Around the World)
November 1, 2008... Automotive supplier Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., Kariya, Japan, announced it will establish a new diecasting business, Aisin Thai Automotive Casting Co. Ltd., as its second production base in Thailand. According to a press release issued by Aisin,...

Two Advanced Metals Group Companies receive upgrades.(North America)
November 1, 2008... Aluminum metalcasting facility Oberdorfer Aluminum Casting Foundry LLC, Syracuse, N.Y., has brought in-house an impregnation process it had previously out-sourced, and Ross Aluminum Castings LLC, Sidney, Ohio, announced it plans to double its...

Esco Canada plant makes special pour on 50th anniversary.(North America)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Esco Corp., Portland, Ore., saw its Port Coquitlam, B.C., Canada, plant reach a milestone when it poured this manganese steel casting in honor of its 50th anniversary. Esco Corp. produces wear equipment for the...

TDC Filter Manufacturing Inc.(Newscast)
November 1, 2008... Air filtration product manufacturer TDC Filter Manufacturing Inc., Bolingbrook, Ill., announced it has moved into a new "multi-million dollar" facility in Bolingbrook, Ill. The exact cost of the new facility was not disclosed, but the company...

West Penn Testing Group.(Newscast)(a new building in Upper Burrell)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Material testing firm West Penn Testing Group, New Kensington, Pa., recently purchased a new building in Upper Burrell, Pa., to house its spectrochemical testing group and some of its nondestructive testing and material evaluation operations....

Don't let OSHA, EPA scare you.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I'd like to commend MODERN CASTING for the great article on plant safety ("Does This Man Scare You?" Oct. 2008). The article was informative and provides a proactive approach to ensuring safety and training for employees at casting facilities....

Implement a VAT, stat.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... I always enjoy MODERN CASTING's insightful editorials. But it would be most helpful to our industry to provide enlightenment for your readers on the unfairness of our tax code and how it affects world competition. All the countries we...

Vulcan sells European affiliate.(North America)
November 1, 2008... Vulcan Engineering Co., Helena, Ala., has reached an agreement to sell Richards Engineering Inc., Leicester, England, a wholly Owned subsidiary that supplies equipment to a range of metalcasters, to Omega Foundry Equipment, Peterborough,...

Consolidated Engineering Company.(Newscast)
November 1, 2008... An undisclosed international manufacturer of automotive components has signed a contract with Consolidated Engineering Company, Kennesaw, Ga., for a basketless heat treatment system for diesel engine cylinder heads.

Ipsen International GmbH.(Newscast)
November 1, 2008... Ipsen International GmbH, Kleve, Germany, a manufacturer of heat treatment plants for automated hardening of metal components, has acquired the remaining 49% of its Wesman Ipsen joint venture.

Quality certifications.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2008... The following metalcasting organizations have passed recent certification or surveillance audits: Non-Ferrous Cast Alloys Inc., Norton Shores, Mich., (ISO 9001:2000); Avalon Precision Casting Co., Brook Park, Ohio, (ISO...

Calendar of events.(Conference news)(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... November November 19-20--Casting Industry Suppliers Association Fall Business Meeting, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago. November 20-21--FEF College Industry Conference, Drake Hotel, Chicago. December December 3-4--AFS Improving...

Georg Fischer AG.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Josef Edbauer has moved up the ranks of Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to become head of the company's automotive unit and a member of its executive committee. Edbauer, who replaces Ferdinand Stutz, is the former head of the Iron...

Aerocast Inc.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Aerocast Inc., Mesa, Ariz., has appointed Carol Ernst its production control manager and Galen Luth its tooling manager.

Koke Veljasevic, vice president and chief information officer for Citation Corp.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Koke Veljasevic, vice president and chief information officer for Citation Corp., Novi., Mich., has been nominated for the 2008 Data Center Executive of the Year National Awards.

Great Lakes Casting LLC.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Great Lakes Casting LLC, Ludington, Mich., has hired Marty Holzschuh as casting engineering manager.

Mueller Industries.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Mueller Industries, Memphis, Tenn., made Greg Christopher its chief executive officer, as former chief William O'Hagan has moved to a consulting role due to illness.

Kuttner North America.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Kuttner North America, Port Washington, Wis., made three promotions--Joe Fieber is now vice president of business development, Jim Ruka is vice president of engineering and metalcasting sales, and Adel Rahman has become vice president of...

Robert Stransky has joined Fairmount Minerals.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Robert Stransky has joined Fairmount Minerals, Chardon, Ohio, as technical service manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Laser Cladding Services Ltd.(Personals)
November 1, 2008... Laser Cladding Services Ltd., Houston, named James Kowske its new president.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Jack Demeron, Compton, Calif., died Aug. 2. He was 91. Dameron founded Dameron Alloy Foundries, Compton, Calif., in 1946. The organization has since grown into a multi-national company with more than 300 employees. In 1993, Dameron transferred...

Cap-and-trade era dawns: auctioning of carbon dioxide emissions in the power sector has commenced at the state level.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
November 1, 2008... In late September, power plants from Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states participated in the first auction of carbon dioxide emissions, ending years of planning the first auction program of its kind in the U.S. The mandatory program,...

Metalcasters hit with large OSHA fines.(On the Hill)
November 1, 2008... Twelve metalcasting facilities have been fined more than $100,000 so far this year for safety and health citations. Some of the metalcasters cited are located in the state of Ohio and were chosen for inspection as part of a local emphasis...

ADA signed into law.(On the Hill)(Americans with Disabilities Act)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... President Bush signed into law legislation that will clarify and strengthen worker protections guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 passed both the House and Senate in mid September and will go...

Clean up your aluminum melts: understanding and controlling hydrogen absorption, dross formation, metallic and nonmetallic inclusions and oxide buildup is necessary to achieve the proper quality of molten metal.
November 1, 2008... While the types of inclusion material present in melting and holding furnaces and/or transfer ladles vary from casting facility to casting facility, their removal is essential for proper molten metal cleanliness. Aluminum casting facilities use...

Clock is ticking for curbed emissions: the finalization of the Foundry Area Source Rule for iron and steel casting facilities means that metalcasters should have a plan in place to comply.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Iron and Steel Foundries Area Sources (Foundry Area Source Rule), which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized on Jan. 2, requires...

Casting puts out the fire: Dotson Iron Castings converted a multi-piece weldment to several metal castings, reducing the assembly's weight and improving its appearance.
November 1, 2008... The night that precipitated a. conversion to casting for the Agri-Speed Hitch was icy. But it was a fire that was the catalyst. With bitter cold blowing outside, the hitch's manufacturer saw its facility go up in flames when a continuously...

2008 Modern Casting editorial index (December 2007-November 2008).
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The full text of articles listed in bold is available at www.moderncasting.com. Aluminum, Copper-Base and Other Nonferrous Casting * "As Good as Gold," S. Wetzel, December, p. 39. * "Castings Are Closer...

2008 editorial index: Nov./Dec. 2007-Sept./Oct. 2008.
November 1, 2008... The full text of articles listed in bold is available at www.metalcastingdesign.com. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] November/December * Editorial--Metalcasting By the Numbers, A.T. Spada, p. 7. * "Renewable Energy Castings Surge," M....

Capital gains tax increase--are you ready?(CAPITAL GAINS)
November 1, 2008... While uncertainty surrounds the future of the U.S. tax code, particularly the capital gains tax and its impact on merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, there will likely be a different tax policy in the near future. Are you ready? ...

Knowing when to quit.(NOVEL SOLUTIONS)
November 1, 2008... If you're running your business or life on the adage, "Quitters never win," you are denying your chance of becoming the best in the world, according to Seth Godin, author of the dip--a book that "teaches you when to quit and when to stick." ...

Outstanding EHS contribution awards presented at 2008 EHS Conference.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2008... The 20th annual Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Conference was held Aug. 24-27 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, St. Louis. Conference topics included dust explosion hazards, global warming implications for metalcasters, the...

Energy solutions program enhanced for corporate members.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2008... With the high cost of energy affecting the metalcasting industry, the American Foundry Society (AFS) has launched a new, comprehensive set of energy services in conjunction with TDI Consulting, Inc. (TDI), Lemont, Ill., a utility cost...

AFS represents metalcasting industry at SAE Commercial Vehicle Tradeshow.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2008... AFS recently sent staff and corporate members to represent the U.S. metalcasting industry at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2008 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition. The show, which was held Oct. 7-9 in Rosemont,...

Fall IJMC includes quantification of casting skin in DI and CGI.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
November 1, 2008... The fall issue of the International Journal of Metalcasting (IJMC) has been released and is in the mail to subscribers. The lead article in the issue highlights findings of the American Foundry Society-sponsored research project...

Chapter meetings.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT Dec. 8--Annual Christmas Party, The Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala. BRITISH COLUMBIA Dec. 11--AFS Christmas Dinner, Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club, Coquitlam, B.C. Jan. 15--Apprenticeship Night, Sheraton...

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 equipment, products and services quicker and easier.
November 1, 2008... 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.(Metal castings industry)
November 1, 2008... 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 Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... ABRASIVE FLAPWHEELS FLEXOVIT USA INC, 1305 Eden-Evans Center Rd, Angola NY 14006, 800/689-3539, FAX: 888/321-8800 METABO CORPORATION, 1231 Wilson Drive, West Chester PA 19380, 800/638-2264, FAX: 800/638-2261 NORTON ABRASIVES, 1...

Consultants, management services & education.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... CONSULTANTS, MANAGEMENT ANDREW J LECHNER, 2828 Burnaby Park Loop SE, Olympia WA 98501-3884, 360/705-3997, FAX: 360/705-6519 ENGINEERED FOUNDRY SYSTEMS, 12981 Maurer Industrial Drive, St Louis MO 63127, 314/842-5400 FOUNDRY...

Laboratory.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... ABRASIVE DISCS BOSCH POWER TOOLS, 1800 West Central Road, Mount Prospect IL 60056, 773/286-7330, FAX: 773/481-3654 LECO CORP, 3000 Lakeview Ave, St Joseph MI 49085, 269/985-5496, FAX: 269/982-8977 WEAVER MATERIEL SERVICE INC, PO...

Maintenance.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... ACCUMULATORS CARRIER VIBRATING EQUIPMENT, INC., P0 Box 37070, Louisville KY 40233-7070, 502/989-3171, FAX: 502/960-3172 CONVEYOR DYNAMICS CORP, 7000 W Geneva Drive, St Peters MO 63376-5712, 636/270-1111, FAX: 636/279-1121 ROBERTS...

Melting, pouring & heat treatment.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... ABRASIVE RESISTANT LINING MATERIAL BLASCH PRECISION CERAMICS, 580 Broadway, Albany NY 12204, 518/436-1263, FAX: 518/436-0098 COGEBI INC, 14 Faraday Drive, Dover NH 3820, 603/749-6896, FAX: 603/749-6958 HI-TECH CERAMICS, PO Box...

Mold, core & sand preparation.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... ADHESIVES, HOT MELT AREMCO PRODUCTS INC, PO Box 517, Valley Cottage NY 10989, 845/268-0039, FAX: 845/268-0041 MOMENTIVE PERFORMANCE MATERIALS INC., 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany NY 12211, 607/786-8131 SOUTHEASTERN FOUNDRY...

Packaging & shipping.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... LOGISTICS THE HILL & GRIFFITH CO, 1085 Summer St, Cincinnati OH 45204-2037, 513/921-1075, FAX: 859/441-3582 PALLET BOXES CHEM-CAST LTD, 1009 Lynch Road, Danville IL 61834, 217/443-5532, FAX: 217/443-5533 PALLETS & SKIDS ...

Patternmaking.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... ACRYLIC RESINS ASHLAND INC., Casting Solutions, P0 Box 2219, Columbus OH 43216-2219, 614/790-3333, FAX: 614/790-4359 CASTING SOLUTIONS, division of The ACT Group, 2964 Ridgeview Dr, El Dorado Hills CA 95762, 888/480-0680 BEESWAX...

Safety & environmental.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT ALB KLEIN TECHNOLOGY GROUP, 8276 Estates Pkwy, Plain City OH 43064, 614/873-8995, FAX: 614/873-8996 BELTECH ENGINEERING, 4811 King Street E., Beamsville Ontario L0R I B6, Canada, 905/563-8500; FAX:...

Software & management systems.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... BAR CODE SYSTEMS B&L INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 4707 Rambo Road, Bridgman MI 49106-9723, 269/465-6207, FAX: 269/465-6686 INFOSIGHT CORP, PO Box 5000, Chillicothe OH 45601, 740/642-3600, FAX: 740/642-5001 ROBERTS SINTO CORPORATION, 3001...

Testing & inspection.(Product Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... INSPECTION SERVICES BRUKER AXS, 40 Manning Road, Billerica MA 1821, 978/6033660, FAX: 978/667-5993 CARL ZEISS IMT CORP, 6250 Sycamore Lane North, Maple Grove MN 55369, 763/744-2400, FAX: 763/533-0219 CLINKENBEARD & ASSOC INC, 577...

AV Systems Inc--ZYP Coatings Inc.(Manufacturers Index)(Directory)
November 1, 2008... As of October 24, 2008 A A V Systems Inc 4657 Platt Road Ann Arbor MI 48108-7913 Phone: 734/973-3000 Sales@MIRSinfo.com www.mirsinfo.com ABB Analytical 585 Charest Blvd E., Suite 300 Quebec Quebec...

Metal associations.(Directory)
November 1, 2008... The Aluminum Assn. Inc. 1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22209 Tel: 703/358-2960 Fax: 703/358-2961 Website: www.aluminum.org J. Stephen Larkin, President American Foundry Society Inc. 1695 N. Penny...