Modern Casting articles from October 2004

Modern Casting archives from October 2004

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
October 1, 2004... The August web site question of the month asked, "For the coming year, what percentage of sales is your metalcasting facility budgeting for environmental compliance issues (new technology, training, etc.)?" Top Three Answers: *...

Are you nuts?(casting process modeling/simulation software)(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... This past June, MODERN CASTING posed the following web site question: "If you are not currently using modeling/solidification software on all new jobs, why not?" While we pose a web site question each month on a variety of technical and...

2004 presidential decision: who is best for the metalcasting industry?(Washington Alert)
October 1, 2004... With the presidential election approaching, metalcasters are weighing Republican President George W. Bush and his Democratic rival, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, on the issues. War is a hot topic, but there is a host of domestic issues to...

Dameron establishes new Mexican facility, completes company acquisitions to enhance growth.(North America)
October 1, 2004... Dameron Alloy Foundries, Compton, Calif., has expanded the company's investment casting capabilities through two recent acquisitions as well as established a new casting plant south of the border. DafMex (Dameron Alloy Foundries in...

Citation files for chapter 11 protection.(North America)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... In September, Citation Corp., Birmingham, Ala., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming inabilities to pass higher steal scrap prices on to customers, according to the Birmingham News. The company plans to reorganize under the...

Kolbenco invests in new equipment.(Around the World)(DaimlerChrysler)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... As a result of a recent contract, Kolbenco, Alrode, South Africa, will invest in a multi-million dollar equipment purchase to assist in supplying pistons to divisions of DaimlerChrysler, Auburn Hills, Mich., as reported by Castings SA. ...

Intermet Corp.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Intermet Corp., Troy, Mich., expects to report a third quarter net loss of $19 million $24 million. For the calendar year ending Sept. 30, the company also expects a loss of $33 million-$38 million. Contrarily, top-line growth has improved...

Superior Industries International Inc.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Superior Industries International Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., expects third quarter operating results to have a 5% decline in unit wheel shipments and net earnings of approximately $0.20 per diluted share.

Edelbrock Corp.(Foundry Ticker)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Edelbrock Corp., Torrance, Calif., reported fourth quarter revenue totals of $38 million, an increase of more than $7 million from last year. Net income was also up at $1.3 million, compared with $709,000 the same time in 2003. Further, fiscal...

Wescast exits chassis business, acquires Weslin interest from Linamar.(North America)
October 1, 2004... Wescast Industries Inc., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, announced that it has decided to relieve its chassis production from its facility in Cordele, Ga. and take a broader focus on other segments of the company. Wescast sees a stronger...

Buycastings.com supplies Liberty Bell to ring in opening of Iraq Stock Exchange.(North America)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: To commemorate the opening of the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX), Baghdad, buycastings.com, Dayton, Ohio, in accordance with the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, supplied a cast bronze replica of the Liberty Bell...

UMR working to utilize functionally gradient materials, save energy for casting production.(North America)(University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Univ. of Missouri at Rolla, Mo. (UMR) is currently involved in two developments that may aid metalcasters in the future. Investigations are underway to evaluate the use of functionally gradient materials (FGMs) in diecasting dies, which...

Sun Foundry casts King statue.(North America)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... As part of a project commissioned by the city of Stockton, Calif., Sun Foundry, Burbank, Calif., cast a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., as reported in The Los Angeles Daily News. The art metalcasting facility worked with sculptor Rafael...

Amcast sells assets of aluminum to Park-Ohio.(Acquisitions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... In August, Park-Ohio Holdings Corp., Cleveland, acquired the assets of the aluminum components division of Amcast Industrial Corp., Dayton, Ohio. The sale included the operations of Amcast's facilities in Wapakoneta, Ohio; Richmond, Ind.; and...

ArvinMeritor and Volvo enter alliance agreement, ArvinMeritor to assess control of French foundry.(Acquisitions)
October 1, 2004... ArvinMeritor, Troy, Mich., and Volvo Group, Goteborg, Sweden, entered into a strategic alliance agreement to supply driven and non-driven axles for Volvo's European truck and bus products. Effective at year's end, ArvinMeritor will assume...

Vulcan Engineering Co., Helena, Ala., will design, build and install a new green sand system for the new facility of Production Pattern & Foundry Co. Inc. near Carson City, Nev.(Newscast)
October 1, 2004... Vulcan Engineering Co., Helena, Ala., will design, build and install a new green sand system for the new facility of Production Pattern & Foundry Co. Inc. near Carson City, Nev. Vulcan also will modify the pressurized lost foam casting line at...

Cimetech, Irapuato, Mexico, a collaboration of Cifunsa, Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico, and Metal Technologies Inc., Auburn, Ind., has selected Magma Foundry Technologies.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Cimetech, Irapuato, Mexico, a collaboration of Cifunsa, Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico, and Metal Technologies Inc., Auburn, Ind., has selected Magma Foundry Technologies, Arlington Heights, Ill., to supply simulation software.

Alcan Aluminum Corp.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Alcan Aluminum Corp., Montreal, acquired an enterprise site license for T/Gear DTU and I/Gear Web Framework software for its Sebree, Ky., metalcasting facility.

U.S. Pipe & Foundry.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... U.S. Pipe &: Foundry, Birmingham, Ala., has laid off 50 employees from its Chattanooga, Tenn., Soil Pipe Plant.

Cymat Corp., Toronto, and Brembo S.p.A., Bergamo, Italy, entered an agreement.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Cymat Corp., Toronto, and Brembo S.p.A., Bergamo, Italy, entered an agreement to evaluate lost foam designs for hollow cast components.

Innovance, Albert Lea, Minn., has purchased ALMCO Inc., which also is based in Albert Lea.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Innovance, Albert Lea, Minn., has purchased ALMCO Inc., which also is based in Albert Lea. ALMCO, which manufactures finishing and cleaning equipment, is the seventh company to be owned by Innovance. All staff has remained at the firm.

Stellar Materials, Boca Raton, Fla., acquired the Thermbond Refractory Group.(Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Stellar Materials, Boca Raton, Fla., acquired the Thermbond Refractory Group from John Zink Co. LLC, Tulsa, Okla.

Murray & Roberts Foundries.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... SOUTH AFRICA -- As part of a R250 million ($38.7 million) investment toward upgrades and extensions, Murray & Roberts Foundries, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in July, opened the extensions of Alucast Plant 2, in Port Elizabeth.

DFM Foundries.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DFM Foundries, Kempton Park, South Africa opened its first "mini foundry" this year. The facility is designed to produce 30-40 molds/hr, and pour up to 200 tons of molten ductile iron/mo.

Italy--IMF, Luino, Italy, will supply Uralvagonzavod, Nizhny Tagil, Russia.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... ITALY -- IMF, Luino, Italy, will supply Uralvagonzavod, Nizhny Tagil, Russia, a fast-loop boxless molding and coremaking facility.

Boliden MKM Ltd., Walsall, England, has completed a turnkey contract.(Around the World--Newscast)
October 1, 2004... UNITED KINGDOM -- Boliden MKM Ltd., Walsall, England, has completed a turnkey contract with ABB Ltd., Warrington, England, (Zurich, Switzerland), by installing ABB variable drives.

Rautomead International Ltd., Dundee, Scotland, supplied two horizontal continuous casting machines.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Rautomead International Ltd., Dundee, Scotland, supplied two horizontal continuous casting machines to Noghreh Joosh Sadaf Co., Iran

Germany--Otto Junker GmbH, Simmerath, Germany, will supply three medium-frequency induction furnaces to Akers AB.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... GERMANY -- Otto Junker GmbH, Simmerath, Germany, will supply three medium-frequency induction furnaces to Akers AB, Akers Styckebruk, Sweden, and to MAZ, Minsk, Belarus.

Switzerland--Schmelzmetall, Gurtnellen, Switzerland, and Interguss, Bad Windsheim, Germany, entered into a joint venture.(Around the World--Newscast)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... SWITZERLAND -- Schmelzmetall, Gurtnellen, Switzerland, and Interguss, Bad Windsheim, Germany, entered into a joint venture to launch Optivent die ventilation systems.

Quality certifications.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The following metalcasting and supplier organizations have received recent certifications: Waukesha Kramer Inc., Waukesha, Wis., (ISO 9001:2000); Sloan Valve Co.-Foundry Div., Augusta, Ark., (ISO 9002:1994); Galesburg Castings...

Correction.(Industry News)(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... The Calendar section in the August 2004 issue of MODERN CASTING incorrectly listed the AFS Midwest Regional Conference to be held Oct. 23-25, 2004. The correct date for the event is Oct 23-25, 2005. Mg

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
October 1, 2004... October October 19-21--AFS 2004 International Lost Foam Casting Conference &: Tabletop Exhibit, Toledo, Ohio. November November 3-7--Steel Founders' Society of America, T&O Conference, Hotel InterContinental, Chicago. ...

Kovatch Castings.(Personals)(John Kleinhenz )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Kovateh Castings, Uniontown, Ohio, named Frank Lysiak vice president and CFO, Craig Lanham general manager of plant operations, Shawn Piccone the west regional sales manager and John Kleinhenz regional sales manager in the east.

Intermet Corp.(Personals)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Intermet Corp., Troy, Mich., promoted John D. Rutherford to vice president sales and marketing and member of the Corporate Operating Committee and announced the resignation of John Doddridge from the board of directors.

The Iron Casting Research Institute.(Personals)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Iron Casting Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio, announced the elections of John McGoldrick-president, William LeVan-vice president, Art Boehme-secretary/treasurer, Kris Einsweiler to the 2005 executive committee class and Keith Turner to...

Designed Alloys Inc.(Personals)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Designed Alloys Inc., Aurora, Ill., named Nathan Weibye technical marketing manager.

Citation Corp.(Personals)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Citation Corp., Birmingham, Ala., named Cary B. Wood. group vice president of the company's light metals and machining group.

IMCO Recycling Inc.(Personals)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... IMCO Recycling Inc., Irving, Texas announced the retirement of Richard L. Kerr, president and CEO, and Paul V. Dufour, executive vice president and CFO, when the company merges with Commonwealth Industries, Louisville, Ky. In turn, Steven J....

Linpac Materials Handling.(Personals)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Linpac Materials Handling, Georgetown, Ky., added Jonathan W. Kitchen to its quality assurance and enginnering staff.

Harrison's super size nobake conversion: instead of gradually adding nobake molding lines and phasing out its existing green sand lines, Harrison Steel opted to install the second largest automated nobake molding line in North America and convert all molding over in 18 months.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... The Harrison Steel Casting Co., Attica, Ind., had been contemplating switching its green sand metalcasting facility to a nobake operation for some time. The firm, which produces steel castings primarily for the construction/mining industry,...

Investing with rapid prototyping: with the ability to produce near-net shape engineered cast components in days, the combination of rapid prototyping and investment casting is a key tool for both metalcasters and design engineers.(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... It's Tuesday 4:30 p.m., and a particular engine component needs to be designed, cast and shipped by Friday afternoon. How? The time constraints are too tight, you say. What if the CAD design needs multiple refinements for manufacturability? It...

M/G vs. Z: comparing refractory coatings on shell sand systems.
October 1, 2004... Inside This Story * Directional heating of shell sand composites can burden metalcasters by forcing dimensional changes. * Refractory coatings help assist in reducing such thermal expansion defects. * This article details the...

Discovering hot distortion properties in PUCB cores.(Phenolic Urethane Coldbox)
October 1, 2004... Inside This Story * PUCB cores made from silica sand have the tendency to produce casting defects due to hot distortion errors. * Previous investigations have not evaluated how the cores perform under molten aluminum fill conditions....

History holds keys for future environmental, health & safety issues.(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... Because past experiences can provide a perfect reference tool for solving problems in the future, MODERN CASTING put together a roundtable discussion of environmental, health and safety experts to discuss the drastic changes the specialty has...

One size does not fit all.(metal castings industry)(Column)
October 1, 2004... While many positive results have been achieved over the last 10 years or so as U.S. manufacturers made the transition from "purchasing" to "procurement," there have been some important negative consequences, as well. The negative impact of this...

If you want the best, tell me why.(job analysis)
October 1, 2004... I recently accepted a new office in a volunteer organization. As part of the introduction to the position, I learned of a report I was expected to compile. The report was frustrating on a couple of levels. First, it would not only take a...

Plain states.(AFS Chapter News)
October 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: PLAINS STATES -- In May, Johnny Thornburgh (r), Tonkawa Foundry Inc., presents Nate McLain, CFM Corp., the 2004 past chairman's plaque.

Northeast Ohio.(AFS Chapter News)
October 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NORTHEAST OHIO -- In September, (from I) Jim Wood, Hickman William & Co., Dana Cooper, Ashland Specialty Chemical Co., Kim Bevington, Elyria Foundry, and Dill Vondriska, Equipment Merchants International...

Chapter meetings.(Calendar)
October 1, 2004... CENTRAL MICHIGAN October 20--TBD November 10--TBD; Top Management Night. December TBD--TBD: Spouses Night. January 19--TBD; February 16--TBD; Fundraiser, March 16--TBD; Student Night. April 20--TBD; Education Seminar. May 18--TBD. ...

Induction makes refining gold in office possible.(Case History)
October 1, 2004... When you melt gold on the 8th floor of an office building in downtown Manhattan, you want your operations to be reliable, clean and efficient. That's why Ibrahim Fadl, owner of Express Metal Refining Co., New" York, N.Y., replaced his torch...

Investment casting firm takes lean approach to savings.(Case History)
October 1, 2004... Like many metalcasting facilities in the U.S., Doncasters Medical, Oregon City, Ore., needed a way to remain competitive and improve delivery time to its customers. In 2000, the investment casting firm that casts components for the medical...

Emission spectrometer.(Metalcasting Supplies)
October 1, 2004... Quantron Inc. now offers the Columbus emission spectrometer for laboratory and on-site analysis. The Columbus features Channeltron photomultipliers, a real time readout system with single-spark evaluation, high-resolution vacuum optics and an...

Refractory material.(Metalcasting Supplies)
October 1, 2004... Kyanite Mining Corp. now offers Virginia Kyanite, used to make heat-resistant bricks, mortars and sprays. Kyanite and calcinied kyanite can be used in ferrous and nonferrous metalcasting facilities to produce high-temperature sands, while finer...

Filter cartridge.(Metalcasting Supplies)
October 1, 2004... Parker Hannifin Corp. recently introduced its PT Series of disposable filter cartridges. The patented design offers high-efficiency microglass filtration and low cost installation features. The filters are available in two diameters and lengths...

Artist floats cast iron canoe.
October 1, 2004... Wayne Potratz spends a lot of time in the wilderness when he is not busy teaching his metalcasting of sculpture classes at the Univ. of Minnesota. That's how the professor of 36 years got the idea for his latest sculpture--a canoe. But it's not...