Modern Casting articles from October 2005

Modern Casting archives from October 2005

Madison-Kipp to expand diecasting operation.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... Madison-Kipp Corp., Madison, Wis., plans to establish a new facility to expand its operations. The firm will add $47 million in new business during the next two years and expects to hire at least 40 employees during that time. The firm is...

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
October 1, 2005... The August web site question asked, "When searching for new customers, which of the following capabilities (in-house or outsourced) is key to your success?" * 44%--Casting process modeling. * 28%--Machining. * 11%--Rapid...

Steinrucken meets customer demand with custom casting machine.(Product Innovations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Steinrucken Meets Customer Demand with Custom Casting Machine--Steinrucken, Olsberg-Bruchhausen, Germany, was looking for a way to respond to constant demand for higher quality serial parts. The firm sought to offer a wide variety of casting...

Charting a course for ourselves.(EDITORIAL)(federal government actions)(Editorial)
October 1, 2005... I don't understand our federal government. More to the point, I am disheartened and frustrated by some of its actions. These actions aren't the ones you read about on the front page of the newspaper. In fact, these actions barely would end...

Intermet reorganization plan receives court confirmation.(North America)
October 1, 2005... Intermet Corp., Troy, Mich., announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan confirmed the company's plan of reorganization. The confirmation is subject to the entry of a formal confirmation order. Under the...

Madison-Kipp to expand diecasting operation.(North America)
October 1, 2005... With the increased production that will be gained through new customers, Madison-Kipp Corp., Madison, Wis., announced plans to establish a new facility to expand its operations. The firm will add $47 million in new business during the next...

Wescast terminates Brantford plant sale to Gemini.(North America)
October 1, 2005... After a previous agreement made Aug. 4 to sell its metalcasting operation in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, Wescast Industries Inc. announced it has cancelled its plan to sell the property to Gemini Fire Protection Solutions Inc., Brantford,...

Metalcasters storm Capitol Hill to detail Section 332 results to Congress.(North America)
October 1, 2005... On Sept. 21, 15 metalcasters representing 11 key metalcasting states participated in 25 meetings with U.S. Congresspersons and their representatives (as well as the U.S. Dept. of Commerce) to disseminate the information detailed in the U.S....

UWM students, professor assist AFS in analysis of 332 investigation.(North America)
October 1, 2005... When metalcasters presented the results of the Section 332 Investigation, they could not have done it without the assistance from the Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Ben Schultz and J.B. Ferguson (two doctoral candidates at UWM), and...

Jencast expanding capacity to increase capabilities, improve production at casting facility.(North America)
October 1, 2005... As a means to increase its production capabilities, Jencast Inc. (Jensen International Inc.), Coffeyville, Kan., is in the process of augmenting its green sand iron casting facility in South Coffeyville, Okla., a decision spanning back to 1997....

Ashland installs SinterCast CGI Technology.(North America)
October 1, 2005... As part of an agreement announced in March, Ashland Casting Solutions (Ashland Inc.), Dublin, Ohio, installed at its technical center a Mini-System 2000, from SinterCast, Stockholm. The system will allow Ashland to replicate production-caliber...

CISA summer meeting focuses on new market development.(Casting Industry Suppliers Associations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... The Casting Industry Suppliers Assn. (CISA) brought 69 members to its summer meeting, July 24-26, at the La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, N.M. Attendees listened to presentations from an international panel on a variety of topics,...

Alcoa Automotive Castings (Alcoa Inc.), Farmington Hills, Mich., received the Best Supplier Award.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Alcoa Automotive Castings (Alcoa Inc.), Farmington Hills, Mich., received the Best Supplier Award from Delphi Energy & Chassis (Delphi Corp.), Troy, Mich., for its aluminum front and rear knuckles for automotive applications.

Victaulic Co. of America.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Victaulic Co. of America, Easton, Pa., announced it plans to hire 25 employees at its metalcasting facility in Easton.

Ashland Casting Solutions (Ashland Inc.), Dublin, Ohio, entered a marketing agreement with Selee Corp.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Ashland Casting Solutions (Ashland Inc.), Dublin, Ohio, entered a marketing agreement with Selee Corp., Hendersonville, N.C., which gives Ashland the exclusive fights to market Selee products for European and Asian metalcasting firms, and the...

Palmer Manufacturing and Supply Inc., Springfield, Ohio, appointed MetalTech Systems, Pawleys Island, S.C.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Palmer Manufacturing and Supply Inc., Springfield, Ohio, appointed MetalTech Systems, Pawleys Island, S.C., as its sales representative for the Southern U.S. region.

The Hill and Griffith Co., Cincinnati, acquired the B-500X Liquid Parting and Non-Silica Dry Parting.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... The Hill and Griffith Co., Cincinnati, acquired the B-500X Liquid Parting and Non-Silica Dry Parting product lines from Hickman, Williams and Co.'s Black Diamond Div., Cincinnati.

Inductoheat (Inductotherm Group).(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Inductoheat (Inductotherm Group), Madison Heights, Mich., expanded its aftermarket service department.

Stratasys Inc.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Stratasys Inc., Minneapolis, received a $3.6 million order from a Fortune 100 firm to advance its fused deposition modeling technology for rapid prototyping applications.

Bohler-Uddenholm Corp.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Bohler-Uddenholm Corp., Rolling Meadows, Ill., opened a new Steel Store, supplying tool and die steels in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Alcan Inc., Montreal, announced it invested $4.7 million to increase its share.(Newscast)
October 1, 2005... Alcan Inc., Montreal, announced it invested $4.7 million to increase its share of extrusion billet capacity by 28 kilotons/yr. at Aluminerie de Becancour Inc. (Alcoa, Inc.), Becancour, Quebec, Canada.

Quality certifications.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... The following metalcasting and supplier organizations have received recent certifications or passed surveillance audits: Avalon Precision Casting, Brook Park, Ohio, (ISO 9001:2000); Balisco Blades and Castings Inc., Shreveport, La.,...

Turkey--Doktas Dokumculuk Ticaret ve Sanayi A.S., Orhangazi, Turkey.(Around the World--Newscast)
October 1, 2005... TURKEY -- Doktas Dokumculuk Ticaret ve Sanayi A.S., Orhangazi, Turkey, agreed to install a System 2000 process control system for series production of compacted graphite iron from SinterCast, Stockholm, Sweden.

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2005... The Industry News section of the September 2005 issue of MODERN CASTING stated Southern Casting was relocating its operations from Mathiston, Mass. The correct town is Mathiston, Miss.

Using R&D to maintain American metalcasting.(Letterbox)
October 1, 2005... There is an emerging debate about the wisdom of funding research in the U.S. metalcasting industry because some believe it will be offshored out of existence in the near future. Some even have suggested that the U.S. government should fund...

Lufkin Industries.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Lufkin Industries, Lufkin, Texas, announced the election of Suzanne V. Baer to its Board of Directors.

Wescast Industries Inc.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Wescast Industries Inc., Brantford, Ontario, Canada, announced the resignation of Gordon Currie, vice president and CFO, and the appointment of Dave Dean as vice president of finance.

Firth Rixson Ltd.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Firth Rixson Ltd., Sheffield, England, announced it has appointed Jeffrey Yaker vice president of sales and marketing. The position was made available after the retirement of Alan Erickson.

Pacific Cast Technologies.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Pacific Cast Technologies, Albany, Ore., named Fred Grieger vice president of sales and marketing.

Inductotherm Corp.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Inductotherm Corp., Rancocas, N.J., appointed Ying Chen president of the company's China operations in Shanghai and Wuxi.

Foseco Metallurgical Inc.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Foseco Metallurgical Inc., Cleveland, appointed Bill Marchisin to manager of coatings and binders.

Kurtz North America.(Personals)
October 1, 2005... Kurtz North America, Plymouth, Wis., appointed Ruben Figueroa as executive vice president of sales for all three divisions-plastics, foundries and electronics.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
October 1, 2005... Thomas R. Wiltse, Longboat Key, Fla., died July 23. He was 80. Wiltse was the retired general manager of General Motors Corp. Central Foundry Div., Pontiac, Mich. He served as president of AFS from 1975-77 as well as president of the...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
October 1, 2005... October October 16-18--AFS Foundry Executive Management Conference, Hyatt Regency, Newport, R.I. October 16-19--Non-Ferrous Founders Society (NFFS), Annual Meeting, The Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst, N.C. October 20-22--Foundry...

New legislation offers tax write-offs for equipment and software.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
October 1, 2005... Metalcasters owning small businesses should be aware of two new pieces of legislation (H.R. 1388 and H.R. 1678) that have the potential to change the tax code by extending the increased Section 179 expensing limits. This specific section of the...

AFS gathering critical data to evaluate sand usage, disposal and reuse.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
October 1, 2005... In the continued efforts to increase the beneficial reuse of molding sands, U.S. metalcasting firms must help to compile better data about sand usage, disposal and reuse practices for the metalcasting industry. AFS, in partnership with the U.S....

President Bush signs energy bill into law with $14 billion in tax breaks.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
October 1, 2005... On Aug. 8, President Bush signed a comprehensive energy bill (H.R. 6) after a four-year struggle to pass this type of legislation. Pushing the bill through Congress before the August recess had been a major priority of the Bush Administration....

Domestic competitiveness: investigating U.S. casting costs: as a first in a three-part series, this article reviews data revealed by the U.S. ITC Section 332 study that illustrates how U.S. metalcasting operations fared from 1999-2003.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... Few could ignore that the U.S. metalcasting industry took a hit during the economic slowdown in the opening years of the millennium, but there is a great deal of debate as to why the deceleration occurred and what actions the industry (and...

Selecting resin the GM way.
October 1, 2005... Inside This Story: * Resin systems have specific strengths and weaknesses, often forcing a balanced compromise to be made for a particular molding system. * GM's Gen IV V8 aluminum block project needed to select a resin system, but...

Would your additives pass an emissions test?
October 1, 2005... Inside This Story: * Sand additives are necessary in some castings to reduce veining but can emit gases that affect tensile strength and casting quality. * This in-depth study puts four anti-veining additives--red iron oxide, black...

Know your HAPs: with increased regulations for hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, there's an urgent need for HAP factors that can assist iron casting firms in determining their emission levels.
October 1, 2005... When air toxic emission regulations became increasingly stringent in the 1990s, the metalcasting industry saw the need to examine hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) at its facilities. Focus was given to the types and quantities of organic HAPs...

Want cleaner air? As environmental and health standards increase for the U.S. metalcasting industry, two facilities established methods to improve their in-plant air quality.
October 1, 2005... Have you ever been on your melt deck and couldn't see 20 ft. in front of you? This most likely is due to the smoke and dust emitted from the furnaces and molten metal. Your casting facility might have some emissions collection systems, but they...

Charting a course for magnesium: magnesium casting is in an enviable position to enter new and growing markets, but a course of action must be outlined to reach optimal growth.
October 1, 2005... In 2004, the U.S. magnesium casting industry culminated ten years of remarkable growth by shipping nearly 100,000 tons of castings to a wide range of markets, including automotive, aerospace, power tools, sporting goods and electronic and...

A bridge over troubled water.(CEO JOURNAL)
October 1, 2005... A good friend of mine spends quite a bit of time at his lake house in Indiana. While he and his wife constantly seem to be renovating and improving the house and grounds, the lake itself always has been a worry-free source of enjoyment for them...

Northwest Pennsylvania--in September, Pete Satre, Allied Mineral Products.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA -- In September, Pete Satre (I), Allied Mineral Products, is presented with a token cup of appreciation from Barb Lucas, U.S. Bronze Foundry.

Birmingham--in September, Citation Columbiana, sponser of the Birmingham chapter.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: BIRMINGHAM -- In September, Citation Columbiana, sponser of the Birmingham chapter, provided a group of local high school students enrolled in a pre-engineering program at the Shelby County School of...

Wisconsin--in September, Alan Jensen, Miller Compressing Co., presented a speaker's award to Gary M. Gigante.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: WISCONSIN -- In September, Alan Jensen (l), Miller Compressing Co., presented a speaker's award to Gary M. Gigante, ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, for his presentation, "ThyssenKrupp-Waupaca, 50 Years of Teamwork and...

Plains States--in September, Doug Foulton, Grede Foundries.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: PLAINS STATES -- In September, Doug Foulton (l), Grede Foundries, presents a speaker's award to Mark Palmer, Cessna Aircraft.

Central Ohio--Prashar Joshi, Ashland Casting Solutions, greets Cornell Gligor, Praxair Inc.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CENTRAL OHIO -- Prashar Joshi (r), Ashland Casting Solutions, greets Cornell Gligor, Praxair Inc., after his presentation, "Praxair's Intelligent Solutions for the Foundry Industry."

New Jersey--in August, John Mudrak, Carteret Die Casting Corp., greets Keith DiGrazio, Richmond Industries Inc.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: NEW JERSEY -- In August, John Mudrak (l), Carteret Die Casting Corp., greets Keith DiGrazie, Richmond Industries Inc., after discussing common issues facing the metalcasting industry.

Central Michigan--in September, Tom Cobett, OMNI Source.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CENTRAL MICHIGAN -- In September, Tom Cobett (l), OMNI Source, pictured with Mark Noggle, Specialty Castings Inc., accepts a speaker's award for his presentation on "Enhanced Recovery from Low Grade Metal...

Piedmont--in September, Dave Sherman, Conbraco Industries.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: PIEDMONT -- In September, in the photo at left, Dave Sherman (r), Conbraco Industries, presents a speaker appreciation plaque to Jeff Kohn, EPA. In the photo at right, Sherman is pictured leading a meeting...

Chapter meetings.(Calendar)
October 1, 2005... 'BIRMINGHAM Nov. 14--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.; Regular Meeting. Dec. 12--TBA; Christmas Party. Jan. 9--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.; Regular Meeting. Feb. 6--Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.; Regular Meeting. March 13--Wynfrey Hotel,...

Steinrucken meets customer demand with low-pressure sand casting.(PRODUCT INNOVATIONS)
October 1, 2005... Changing markets require metalcasting facilities to constantly identify ways to meet customer demands. As a metalcasting facility that predominantly deals in aluminum and magnesium permanent mold casting for products ranging from door panels...

Continuous mixer takes on performance, serviceability challenge.(Case History)
October 1, 2005... Harrison Steel Castings Co., a producer of steel castings for the construction equipment industry, saw a need to add a third core production line at its nobake facility in Attica, Ind. The firm decided to add a continuous mixer to produce large...

Imaging system.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2005... Lenox Instrument Co. Inc. introduced its Lenox VideoFlex Series videoscope, a high-resolution, remote imaging system featuring 4-way tip articulation and an integrated control/display hand piece with a 6.4-in. (162 mm) LCD display. The...

Desensification processing.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Bodycote now offers an addition to its line of heat treatments with Densal process, a proprietary hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process in which the HIP parameters and the equipment have been modified specifically for the processing of aluminum....

Flaked flux.(Wedron Flux )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Wedron Flux developed Metal Pure AL 3, a homogenized flaked flux that allows total interaction with molten aluminum and produces a very dry dross with a low metallic content. It is designed for use in large reverbratory furnaces that have the...

Travel back in time at the Geddy Foundry.(In case you didn't know ...)
October 1, 2005... The history of casting metal in America is alive and productive at the James Geddy Foundry in Colonial Williamsburg, Va. As part of the historic trades living history program at Colonial Williamsburg, the Geddy Foundry was opened to show how...