Modern Casting articles from October 2006

Modern Casting archives from October 2006

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
October 1, 2006... The August web site question asked, "Does your facility provide tours to the local community?" Yes 71.43% No 28.57% This month's question is available at www.moderncasting.com. For More Information Visit the For More...

Worth repeating.(HOTLINE)
October 1, 2006... "Buck Company believes in capital improvement on a regular basis. We make the money to do it, and I believe that's what has helped us be successful. We invest continuously."--Dick McMinn, president, Buck Co. Inc.

My couch is available.(EDITORIAL)
October 1, 2006... Tell me about your industry. I am invoking the mentality of a psychiatrist in an attempt to open up a forum for communication for our MODERN CASTING readers. While communication is critical to success in most any venture, even more...

Harley-Davidson to purchase cast motorcycle wheel supplier.(North America)
October 1, 2006... Harley-Davidson Inc., Milwaukee, announced that it has entered into a business sales agreement to purchase the majority of the assets of Castalloy, North Plympton, Adelaide, Australia, its supplier of cast motorcycle wheels and hubs. The...

Nissan adds casting operation to Tennessee facility.(North America)
October 1, 2006... Nissan North America Inc. announced a $34.7 million investment to expand its Decherd Powertrain Assembly Plant, Decherd, Tenn., by adding cylinder block casting production in the spring of 2008. The announcement was made while the company...

RHJ International buys U.S. auto parts manufacturer.(North America)
October 1, 2006... RHJ International (RHJI), Brussels, Belgium, announced that Asahi Tec Corp., one of its Japanese consolidated businesses involved in the automotive components industry, has entered into an agreement to acquire U.S.-based Metaldyne, Plymouth,...

Donsco expands Mount Joy melt capacity.(North America)
October 1, 2006... Donsco Inc., Mount Joy, Pa., has doubled its melt capacity with the addition of two new coreless induction furnaces. While the two new furnaces will not double the metalcasting facility's melt tonnage, at 2,500 kW apiece, they will increase...

Ohio casting supplier named finalist for citizenship award.(North America)(Business Civic Leadership Center)(Fairmont Minerals Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) announced that Fairmount Minerals, Chardon, Ohio, has been made a finalist for the Corporate Stewardship Award for small and mid-size businesses. The Corporate Stewardship Award recognizes...

Ashland takes full ownership of Japanese affiliate.(North America)
October 1, 2006... Ashland Inc., Covington, Ky., acquired full ownership of Hodogaya Ashland Co. Ltd. (HAC), Yokohama, Japan, for an undisclosed amount. For more than 20 years, Ashland and Hodogaya Chemical Company Ltd. have operated HAC in Japan as a...

Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg, Tenn., replaced the four bottom wheels on one of its wire mesh belt machines with new wheels from Wheelabrator, LaGrange, Ga.(Newscast)
October 1, 2006... Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg, Tenn., replaced the four bottom wheels on one of its wire mesh belt machines with new wheels from Wheelabrator, LaGrange, Ga. Wheelabrator was recently named a winner of the NADCA 2005 Outstanding Safety...

Intermet Corp.'s Domestic Ferrous group announced its Columbus, Ga., and Stevensville, Mich., facilities have received the 2006 Best Supplier Award.(Newscast)
October 1, 2006... Intermet Corp.'s domestic Ferrous Group announced its Columbus, Ga., and Stevensville, Mich., facilities have received the 2006 Best Supplier Award from Delphi Corp., Troy, Mich.

Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., Northville, Mich., announced its German subsidiary, Hayes Lemmerz Holding GMBH.(Newscast)
October 1, 2006... Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., Northville, Mich., announced its German subsidiary, Hayes Lemmerz Holding GMBH, has entered a license agreement with steel wheel maker Tolyatinskiy Zarod Stalnih Kolyos, Togliatti, Russia.

Applied Manufacturing Technologies Inc. (AMT), Orion, Mich., announced it has entered into an agreement with Denso Robotics.(Newscast)
October 1, 2006... Applied Manufacturing Technologies Inc. (AMT), Orion, Mich., announced it has entered into an agreement with Denso Robotics, Long Beach, Calif., to provide engineering and support services for Denso robots.

Flowserve Corp.(Newscast)
October 1, 2006... Flowserve Corp., Dallas, announced the opening of a quick response center (QRC) in Moerdijk, Netherlands.

Alcoa's Hungary operation ships first order of turbine airfoils.(Around the World)
October 1, 2006... Alcoa, Cleveland, announced that its operation in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, has shipped its first order of turbine airfoils. According to Laszlo Veres, director of manufacturing in Europe/Asia for Alcoa Howmet, the first shipment follows a...

Quality certifications.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2006... The following metalcasting organizations have passed recent surveillance or registration audits: Precision Enterprises Inc., Warrenville, Ill., (ISO 9001:2000); Avalon Precision Casting Co., Brook Park, Ohio, (ISO 9001:2000); P&W...

Doing what they can to keep their image clean.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2006... Amen Brother! You hit it on the head in the August editorial ("Our Image Stinks"). We don't have to be a dirty old foundry, rather a neat and organized metalcasting facility. That is our philosophy at Clow, and we discuss it daily. I hold...

Buyers offer tips to casters.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2006... The July/August Enigineered Casting Solutions editorial asked buyers for advice to metalcasters. Here are some of their answers. I liked the editorial about communication between casting users and suppliers. It started me thinking about...

American Cast Iron Pipe Co.(Personals)
October 1, 2006... Mike Davidson has been made metalcasting facility superintendent by American Cast Iron Pipe Co., Birmingham, Ala.

Tech Cast Inc.(Personals)
October 1, 2006... Tech Cast Inc., Myerstown, Pa., has named two new vice presidents--Andy Oskam, operations, and Shawn McKinney, business operations.

Mancuso Chemicals Ltd.(Personals)
October 1, 2006... Mancuso Chemicals Ltd., Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, has appointed Carlos Maracaja general manager.

Hickory Hardware.(Personals)
October 1, 2006... Three new managers--Barbara Tamkin, human resources, Matt Southards, digital assets, and Robert Shirley, programming--have been installed by Hickory Hardware, Nashville, Tenn.

Foseco Metallurgical Inc.(Personals)
October 1, 2006... Foseco Metallurgical Inc., Cleveland, promoted Dana Coulombe to aluminum business director.

FKI Logistex.(Personals)
October 1, 2006... Tim Fedrigon has become vice president of human resources for FKI Logistex, St. Louis, Mo.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
October 1, 2006... Larry C. Cooper, Flintstone, Ga., died January 7, 2006. He was 71. Cooper was a member of the American Foundry Society (AFS) since 1977 and retired from a career at U.S. Pipe, Birmingham, Ala., in the early 1990s. Gus Smelko, Milton,...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
October 1, 2006... October October 17-18--AFS Marketing and Selling of Castings Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, Des Plaines, Ill. October 22-25--Investment Casting Institute 54th Annual Technical Conference & Expo, Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee. October...

EPA announces voluntary mercury switch removal program.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
October 1, 2006... In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the establishment of the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program a voluntary program designed to remove mercury-containing switches from the U.S. scrap supply and help...

EPA releases tool to streamline waste regulations.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
October 1, 2006... The U.S. EPA has announced a new document intended to clearly explain federal regulations to facilities that generate and manage waste. The web-based tool, Hazardous Waste Generator Regulations: A User-Friendly Reference Document, provides...

Testing relief proposed for industrial facilities during emergencies.(WASHINGTON ALERT)(Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... On Aug. 4, the U.S. EPA proposed amendments to allow for a delay in performance test reporting in the case of a major event that causes "unavoidable performance test delays." Examples of such events are acts of nature, acts of war or terrorism,...

Bucking up to go lean: Buck Co. Inc., Quarryville, Pa., began a significant expansion six months ago, and its experience with lean manufacturing helped pave the way to increased capacity.
October 1, 2006... Just passed the horses and buggies of Amish country in southern Lancaster County, Pa., and right before the city of Lancaster rises out of the hills, sits Buck Co. Inc., a primarily ferrous metalcaster with traditional roots and modern...

Change is in the air: if your ferrous metalcasting facility is a major source of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), you have until next spring to comply with new maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards. If you're a minor source of HAPs, knowing the issues can help you influence the impending changes you may face in the next few years.
October 1, 2006... Industrialists and environmentalists aren't well known for their friendly relations. But inevitably, the winds of change begin to blow, and it becomes necessary for the two groups to reach a compromise. For U.S. metalcasters, those winds are...

No day at the beach: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been threatening to lessen exposure to the respirable crystalline silica in metalcasting sand for more than 10 years. Now, they are finally doing something about it.
October 1, 2006... One thing is certain: most metalcasting facilities cannot operate without silica sand But what exposure to employees can be harmful, and to what extent can it be controlled? This question takes center stage in a drama that has been playing...

Surviving a binder shortage: growing global demand and rising energy costs spelled disaster for the phenolic urethane nobake binder market in 2004-05. Knowing alternative binder options can help stave off blows to production during future supply shortages.
October 1, 2006... Rising feedstock and energy costs in 2004-05, along with tightening global supply and demand, caused significant price increases of dipthenylene methylene diisocyanate (MDD, an ingredient in phenolic urethane nobake and coldbox binders. In the...

What's your company worth?
October 1, 2006... At some point in the near or distant future, you will need more than just a rough estimate of what your casting facility is worth. Whether you are passing the business down to the next generation, establishing an employee stock ownership plan...

SIVEX * FC filters for aluminum castings.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... SIVEX* FC filters are phosphate-free, non-ceramic, reticulated foam filters, ideal for molten aluminum alloys in both sand and permanent molds. Their graphite based formulation provides significant advantages in performance and remelt...

Complete Foundry Solutions.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Vulcan's "Complete Foundry Solutions" Multi-Media CD offers a look at our Greenfield foundry capabilities, including a pictorial Iris tory of our most recent project from start to finish. A review of our facilities, staff and full product line...

Sutter SP Series Core Machine.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... With a wide range of base machine sizes, blow capacities and production configurations, the Sutter SP Series Core Machine is able to provide the best, no-compromise machine configuration for both your present and future core production...

Automated casting finishing systems.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... The most labor intensive area of the foundry is the Cleaning Room. In order to remain competitive in a global market, foundry management needs to consider the advantage of automating the finishing process and still maintain flexibility in...

Core automation.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Laempe has taken core automation to a new level by integrating reliable robotic handling for core removal, processing and assembly. The company's in-house automation staff utilizes the latest engineering and software technology to lead you...

Innovation in shakeout.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... The Carrier Barrel Horse[TM] is a proven one-step solution to casting damage and sand mix problems. Unlike conventional rotary shakeouts, which lift and drop castings, the Barrel Horse action allows castings to swim in the sand bed, constantly...

Spectrometers.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Quantron is a leading manufacturer with new technology in the field of optical emission spectrometry, operating in 27 countries around the world. Dedicated to help customers improve their operation and business with innovative products like...

Rotary media drum.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Didion's rotary media drum offers a new way to achieve better shakeout, sand screening, casting cooling and efficient casting cleaning. The product also can process very delicate castings and reduce shotblast time up to 80%. Its patented design...

Automated pouring.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... The world's most productive and precise automatic pouting technologies from Inductotherm and DISA (formerly Georg Fischer) have been brought together by Inductotherm. Encompassing the combined experience gamed from more than 250 Inductotherm...

Dewaxing Autoclave Systems.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... WSF Dewaxing Autoclave Systems assure uniform ceramic shell beating for complete process mold dewaxing. Manufactured to meet virtually any production specification, the systems may be skid mounted when size allows, factory piped, wired and...

FOXALL[R] Automated Finishing.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Vulcan's FOXALL[R] Automated Finishing Center offers the latest innovations in casting finishing, throughput and precision. For foundries to compete in today's global market, they must reduce labor and increase efficiency throughout their...

Die casting/foundry supplies.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Establisbed in 1961, DY-KAST Supply is a major distributor and manufacturer of non ferrous die casting and foundry supplies. A wide variety of products available include: Ladles; Skimmers; Infrared Die Heaters; Die Clamps; "T" Slot Bolts;...

Blast cleaning equipment.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Pangborn[R] Corporation manufactures a complete line of standard blast machines and custom designed systems that are used for cleaning, deburring, descaling, and peening a wide variety of products. Pangborn[R] systems include state-of-the-art...

Custom and non-standard alloyS.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Brochure describes Milward's capability to develop custom or non-standard alloy products for proprietary applications, including: * exotic welding alloys * nuclear shielding alloys * ultra-high purity aluminum alloys *...

Ultra Melt crucibles.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... ULTRAMELT is a premium quality carbon bonded silicon carbide crucible manufactured by high pressure iso-static pressing. It offers superior performance for aggressive erosive conditions with heavy fluxing in both copper based alloys and...

Aluminum melting.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Thermtronix[R] offers the latest in energy efficient technology applied to their high performance aluminum melting and holding furnaces. Solid state technology allows modern furnaces to precisely measure the exact amount of energy necessary to...

MAUS automatic grinding.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... MAUS introduces a proven design of automatic grinding of iron and steel castings. The MAUS technique is a repeatable process utilizing rugged CNC platform, precise individual casting position verification, grinding wheel wear verification and...

Ceramic media.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... CARBOACCUCAST[TM] ceramic media possesses strength, unique thermal properties and a uniform shape to provide increased media life, casting accuracy and production to metal casting applications. Lower production costs, reduced waste and less...

CoreCenter.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Laempe continues to lead the way with the unique CoreCenter concept, combining core shooter, sand mixer and gas generator under a single controller with a Windows-based PC. The company has expanded its product line to the economical LL series...

Automatic Inoculation System.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... The KOINS' Automatic Inoculation System (AIS) features a stainless steel, heat protected dosing unit with multiple sensors to ensure proper inoculation. It is designed to be a stand-alone unit or integrated into the PourTECH system. In manual...

Automated melt control.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... The VIP[R] Melt-Manager[R] Plus induction power supply combines efficient and reliable melting cycles with built-in melt control. This automation technology pro rides operator assistance for the complete melting cycle. Melt-Manager[R] Plus...

Automatic saw.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2006... Rimrock's new automatic saw is designed to be integrated into a robotic workcell. A servo drive linear actuator slides the casting(s) through the saw blade for accurate, precision cuts of gates, risers and heavy flash. Custom hydraulic fixtures...

The virtues of limited capacity.(CEO JOURNAL)(metal castings management)
October 1, 2006... I wrote the following paragraph years ago and have repeated its message often in this column. I also had occasion to include it in a report sent to a client earlier this month: For metalcasting facilities today, industry maturity...

Co-creating unique value with customers.(NOVEL SOLUTIONS)
October 1, 2006... The Future of Competition, by C.K. Prahald and Venkat Ramaswamy, offers bad and good news. But the bad news is not so bad (you've experienced it all before), and the good news should be heartening. First, the bad news: competition is...

Copper casters, others discuss lead-free legislation.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(American Foundry Society)
October 1, 2006... Recently, the California state legislature passed AB 1953, which further restricts the acceptable level of lead (Pb) used in potable water applications. Performance standards and technologies alrady exist to ensure that the water passing...

CMI course schedule.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
October 1, 2006... CMI Course Schedule Oct. 17-19 Introduction to Metalcasting (19-07) Schaumburg, Ill. Oct. 17 Jan. 27 Melting & Heat Treating of Castings (21-07) Internet...

Pennsylvania metalcasters play host to federal reps.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2006... In August, key staff from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) Office of Manufacturing were given the opportunity to witness the inner workings of three Pennsylvania metalcasting facilities--R.H. Sheppard, Hanover, Pa.; Wilton Armetale, Mount...

Small metalcasters to learn about government opportunities.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2006... As a member of the American Metalcasting Consortium (AMC), AFS is extending an invitation to small metalcasters interested in broadening their business portfolio to include castings sourced through government solicitations. The Defense Supply...

Chapter meetings.(AFS CHAPTER NEWS)(Calendar)
October 1, 2006... Chapter Meetings CENTRAL NEW YORK Nov. 8--Abigail's, Seneca Falls, N.Y.; General Meeting. Dec. 15--Comfort Inn, Liverpool, N.Y.; Holiday Party. CENTRAL MICHIGAN Oct. 18--Firestation, Coldwater, Mich.; Are Flash Awareness. Nov. 20--TBD,...

Case history: rapid casting delivers parts to the Navy with speed.(PRODUCT INNOVATIONS)
October 1, 2006... When the U.S. Navy needs to replace a component, it often doesn't have the luxury of waiting weeks for the tooling to be designed and manufactured and the casting to be poured. In addition, the price tag attached to the tooling for a single...

Case history: Kansas Castings finds payback in upgrading its coreroom.(PRODUCT INNOVATIONS)
October 1, 2006... Metalcasting facilities looking to upgrade their processes in order to maximize their profits often overlook the coreroom, where it historically has been hard to achieve a return on investment. Kansas Castings, Belleplain, Kan., was producing...

Finishing tool.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2006... Flexfinish, an axially-compliant finishing tool for robotic and non-robotic finishing operations, is available from ATI Industrial Automation. The low-speed, high-torque finishing tool has a "floating" motor and spindle arrangement that allows...

High strength alumina composite.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2006... Zircar Refractory Composites Inc. introduced Refractory Sheet Type RS-99, a medium-density, fiber reinforced ceramic composite material with greater than 99% alumina purity. It exhibits good hot strength and creep resistance and is useful up to...

Cellular filter.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2006... Carpenter Brothers Inc. has developed an efficient and cost-effective cellular filter, C-Tech, which is made with an alumina/silicate ceramic blend to meet the demands of tough metal filtration. C-Tech filters produce a nonturbulent flow of...

Casting a speed record.(SHAKEOUT: In case you didn't know ...)
October 1, 2006... When Burt Munro recorded the fastest speed on an Indian Scout motorcycle, it capped a five-decade career of tinkering, engineering, fabricating and metalcasting. A New Zealander with a passion for motorcycles, Munro worked tirelessly on...