Modern Casting articles from October 2007

Modern Casting archives from October 2007

TK Waupaca plans $162 million expansion at Tennessee plant.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... ThyssenKrupp (TK) Waupaca Inc., Waupaca, Wis., broke ground on a new expansion at its Etowah, Tenn., metalcasting facility on Sept. 24. The $162 million expansion will add approximately 100 new jobs, bringing employment up to 675 at the...

Domestic casters reusing more than one quarter of spent sand.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... U.S. metalcasters currently dispense 28.18% of their spent metalcasting sands to beneficial reuse programs, but roadblocks to recycling programs remain, according to the results of a recent metalcasting industry benchmarking survey. The recent...

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
October 1, 2007... The August website question asked, "In what area of your facility do you spend the most capital reducing your environmental impact?" Melting 32.5% Molding 25% Coremaking 21.2% Byproduct...

Operators catch a brake with help from a robot.(Product Innovations)
October 1, 2007... Operators Catch a Brake With Help From a Robot--Due to increased volume, Buddy Bar Casting (BBC), South Gate, Calif., investigated a solution for the large amount of manual work required for aluminum railcar service and emergency brake valves,...

Customer receives part quickly via investment casting.(Product Innovations)
October 1, 2007... Customer Receives Part Quickly Via Investment Casting--A customer that produces equipment in the consumer industrial market had one major priority: reduce assembly time to get to market quickly. The solution was a converted casting design by...

Playing the underdog.(EDITORIAL)
October 1, 2007... Like most people, I love the underdog. Whether it is David slaying Goliath or Hickory High School winning the Indiana basketball championship in the movie Hoosiers, I always root for the little guy. Sure, my heart is broken more often than not,...

ThyssenKrupp Waupaca plans $162 million expansion at Tennessee gray and ductile iron plant.(North America)
October 1, 2007... ThyssenKrupp Waupaca Inc., Waupaca, Wis., will break ground on a new expansion at its Etowah, Tenn., metalcasting facility on Sept. 24. According to a company press release, the $162 million expansion will add approximately 100 new jobs,...

Domestic metalcasters sending more than one quarter of spent sand to beneficial reuse programs.(North America)
October 1, 2007... U.S. metalcasters currently dispense 28.18% of their spent metalcasting sands to beneficial reuse programs, but the applications are limited, and roadblocks to recycling programs remain, according to the results of a recent metalcasting...

Pacific Cast Technologies continues expansion with $12 million upgrade.(North America)
October 1, 2007... Pacific Cast Technologies Inc. (PCT) recently announced a $12-million company upgrade, including an expansion of the melting capacity at its Albany, Ore., facility. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladish Co. Inc., Cudahy, Wis.,...

Metals Group buys another aluminum caster.(North America)
October 1, 2007... Advanced Metals Group LLC, Malvern, Pa., recently acquired the business and assets of Ross Muminum Castings, Sidney, Ohio. Ross, a 300-employee aluminum casting facility, was previously controlled by a subsidiary of private equity group...

Ashland Casting Solutions, International Casting, SinterCast form CGI solutions conglomerate.(North America)
October 1, 2007... Ashland Casting Solutions, Dubin, Ohio, International Casting Corp., New Baltimore, Mich., and SinterCast, Stockholm, Sweden, have signed an agreement to provide compacted graphite iron (CGI) product design, development and prototype...

Candian company Dynacast acquires local zinc manufacturer Q-Zip Diecasting.(North America)
October 1, 2007... Dynacast Canada, Quebec, Canada, purchased the assets of a nearby zinc diecaster, adding to its existing diecasting facilities. The small components manufacturer announced the acquisition of Q-Zip Diecasting Inc. (QZD), also of Quebec, and...

Hyundai starts production of new engines with CGI blocks from Sintercast.(Around the World)
October 1, 2007... SinterCast, Stockholm, Sweden, will provide the technology to cast the cylinder blocks for two new commercial vehicle engines by Hyundai Motor Co. Hyundai recently began series production of the 3.9- and 5.9-L engines at its facility in...

TK Aluminum Ltd.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... TK Aluminum Ltd., entered into a purchase agreement to sell its equity interests in TK Aluminum France S.A.S. and Teksid Deutschland GmbH to Bavariaring 0906 GmbH. The parties have not yet disclosed the financial terms of the deal, which is...

Georg Fischer Automotive.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Georg Fischer Automotive, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, has received its first prototype order utilizing new aluminum foam technology. The order was placed by a German-based producer of high performance automobiles. The technology is provided by...

Xenia Foundry and Machine Co.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Xenia Foundry and Machine Co., Xenia, Ohio, recently hit a safety milestone when employees worked 365 consecutive days without a lost or restricted workday accident.

Chinese investment caster gains $1.4 million in contracts from Europe.(Around the World)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... China-based investment caster American Metal & Technology Inc. announced it has received orders from a French brewery equipment distributor and a German food and beverage equipment distributor for an aggregate value of approximately $1.4...

Washburn Iron Works.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Washburn Iron Works, Washburn, Wis., has been named the Ashland Area Development Corporation's Business of the Year for 2007.

Ashland Casting Solutions.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Ashland Casting Solutions, a business group of Ashland Performance Materials, a division of Ashland Inc., Dublin, Ohio, has developed an online training course for coldbox core users. The course takes users through a series of programs that...

General Kinematics.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... General Kinematics, Crystal Lake, Ill., has received its first order utilizing the company's new Ducta-Sprue rotary sprue mill.

Omnisource.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Metal recycler Omnisource, Fort Wayne, Ind. plans to invest approximately $9 million to replace existing shredding operations at its scrap processing and metal shredding facility in Toledo, Ohio.

PSC Metals Inc.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... PSC Metals Inc., Cleveland, announced its third acquisition of 2007, an agreement to gain the assets of the Wooster Iron & Metal Co. Group, Wooster, Ohio.

Stork Materials Technology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, has acquired Professional Metallurgical Services Inc.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Stork Materials Technology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, has acquired Professional Metallurgical Services Inc., Buchanan, Mich., and Materials Testing Technology BV, Herne, Germany.

Meretec Corp.(Newscast)
October 1, 2007... Meretec Corp., East Chicago, Ill., inaugurated a recently-completed, $10-million de-zincing facility in Melbourne, Australia.

Quality certifications.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... The following metalcasting organizations passed a recent surveillance audit: P&W Machine, Menomonee Falls, Wis., (ISO 9001:2000); Waukesha Foundry Inc., Waukesha, Wis., (ISO 9001:2000); Bailsco Blades and Castings, Shreveport, La.,...

General Motors Corp.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... General Motors Corp., Detroit, Mich., promoted Paul Crepeau to GM Technical Fellow.

Citation Corp.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... Paul Suber, has been appointed the vice president of business development at Citation Corp., Novi, Mich. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Hayes Lemmerz International Inc.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., Northville, Mich., promoted James Yost to executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Intermet Corp.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... Intermet Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, moved Anthony Lovell to vice president of diecasting sales and marketing.

RS Owens.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... RS Owens, Chicago, Ill., hired Karen Mannino as regional sales manager for the southwestern U.S. Mary Busch, manager of executive accounts for the company, received Adventures in Advertising's "Best Hard Goods Customer Service Rep or team"...

Hickman, Williams and Co.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... Hickman, Williams and Co., Oak Brook, Ill., elected Robert Gray and Terry Meadors to its board of directors. In addition, Robert Simons has been named president of Hickman, Williams Canada and Robert Davis and Steven Stark have been elected to...

KB Alloys.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... KB Alloys, Reading, Pa., hired two regional sales managers--Marty Barone will operate the Eastern region and Craig Zotkovich will take the Central.

Robert Delaney joined PSC Metals.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... Robert Delaney joined PSC Metals, Cleveland, as director of finance.

Ductile Iron Society.(Personals)
October 1, 2007... James Wood was made executive/ technical director of the Ductile Iron Society, Strongsville, Ohio.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Donald Brunner, Fort Myers, Fla., died Sept. 8, 2007. He was 81. Brunner, who earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Marquette Univ., worked for four years at Brillion Iron Works before becoming plant manager of operations at...

Calendar of events.(Conference news)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... October October 17-19--AFS Labor Relations & Human Resource Conference, Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater, Fla. October 21-23--AFS Midwest Regional Conference, Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Ind. October 23-24--NADCA Die Casting...

New lobbying rules for wining, dining federal lawmakers.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
October 1, 2007... While it is important for metal-casters to reach out to their congressmen and women to educate them on the industry's needs, you should be aware of a new rule that may affect your approach. In early September, President George W. Bush...

EPA proposes new ozone standard.(On the Hill)
October 1, 2007... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed setting a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone. The agency has proposed lowering the current standard of 0.08 parts per million (ppm) of ozone to...

Bush signs competitiveness bill into law.(On the Hill)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... President Bush recently signed into law the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science (America COMPETES) Act, which is an amalgamation of several similar measures introduced following...

Dealing in Steel: casting group AmeriCast Technologies has cast its lot with the steel industry, manufacturing large tonnage structural components.(Cover story)(Company overview)
October 1, 2007... Formed at the end of 2003, AmeriCast Technologies Inc. is fairly new to the steel block. But its history runs back to 1872 with the operation of Atchison Foundry, and its baggage runs back to the early 2000s. Founded with five business...

Practical permanent mold heating & cooling.
October 1, 2007... Inside This Story * In permanent mold casting, part production rate and quality are governed by the rate at which heat energy is transferred from the solidifying casting through the mold material and into the atmosphere. * To gain a...

Avoding accidents: stay up to speed on some of the more common safety hazards in a metalcasting facility, and you can stop them in their tracks.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Accidents happen, to paraphrase a popular bumper sticker. And when you're working with metals in excess of 1,000F (538C) and equipment weighing several tons, you should be as careful as you'd be driving 70 mph down a...

Reinventing shell sand: new shell sand developments have updated the process and offer metalcasters a cure for the common core (and mold).
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since its development in Germany during World War II, the Croning or "shell" metalcasting process has undergone several stages of evolution, today representing a mold and coremaking technology that bears little...

Metalcasting works fore golfers: in the world of golf club making, perception tends to butt heads with reality when comparing cast and forged irons.
October 1, 2007... Forged irons offer golfers more feel than cast irons. Forged irons offer golfers more playability than cast irons. Forged irons suit good golfers better than cast irons. Myths, all of them, say some club makers; there's a fine line between...

China's challenge: a tour of steel metalcasting facilities in China reveals challenges and advantages for the well-being of industry and global partnerships.(Industry overview)
October 1, 2007... China has a long history of casting metal--more than 3,500 years. As a country, it is making great strides in volume, quality and complexity. Any casting producer needs to understand the emerging place of China and plan accordingly. For...

Precision borescopes.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Excellent image quality and two-way articulation make the new Hawkeye Pro Flexible borescope a great combination of quality, function, and value. Quickly inspect, even inside complex castings, for sand, voids, and other defects. Get all the...

Complete Foundry Solutions.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Vulcan's "Complete Foundry Solutions" Multi-Media CD offers a look at our Greenfield foundry capabilities, including a pictorial history 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, 2007... 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, 2007... 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...

Low odor resin-coated sand.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Fairmount Minerals is proud to introduce TechniSand Signature Series, a revolutionary new technology in resin-coated sand. The Signature Series is a new high performance, low odor and smoke resin-coated sand that effectively helps to reduce...

Innovation in shakeout.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... 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...

Enterprise software solutions.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... B&L Information Systems, Inc., located in Bridgman, Michigan, is the leader in enterprise software solutions for the metalcasting industry. Over 350 metalcasters in 35 states and 5 countries have selected B&L to help them increase productivity,...

Rotary media drum.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... 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, 2007... The world's most productive and precise automatic pouring technologies from Inductotherm and DISA (formerly Georg Fischer) have been brought together by Inductotherm. Encompassing the combined experience gained from more than 250 Inductotherm...

Dewaxing Autoclave Systems.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... WSF Dewaxing Autoclave Systems assure uniform ceramic shell heating 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...

Flexible DeGate cell.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Mossner offers a unique technique for the automated removal of aluminum gates and risers as well as casting finishing by combining the speed of a bandsaw and the accuracy provided by the CNC guidance system. Mossner offers a complete line of...

Die casting/foundry supplies.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Established in 1961, DYKAST 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; Nozzle...

Blast cleaning equipment.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... 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, 2007... 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, 2007... ULSTRAMELT 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 furnace.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... The G-C Series Non-Crucible furnace is designed for continuous aluminum melting operations as a durable refractory lined furnace that does not use crucibles. Metal is charged onto a dry hearth charging chamber, avoiding the issue of operators...

The future of process instructions.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Guardian Softcare Systems announces Paperless Routings. Guardian has taken advantage of touch screen technology to allow the viewing of all process instructions directly from the operator's work station. No longer will you need to print the...

Ceramic media.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... CARBO ACCUCAST[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, 2007... 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, 2007... 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, 2007... The VIP[R] Melt-Manager[R] Plus induction power supply combines efficient and V reliable melting cycles with built in melt control. This automation technology provides operator assistance for the complete melting cycle. Melt Manager[R] Plus...

Swingmaster decoring systems.(Literature+PLUS+)
October 1, 2007... Rimrock Corporation is North America's only distributor of the Fill Swingmaster sm3 decoring unit. The sm3 allows for the decoring of a wide range of castings through multi-purpose fixtures and clamping devices. The vibration and rotation...

Finding the right customers.(Marketing Matters)(Interview)
October 1, 2007... Finding new customers first requires an introspective look at one's own company and open communication with existing customers. So, be on guard when receiving outside advice about how to obtain new business. For example, research firms will say...

Leo Baran named AFS director of membership.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(The American Foundry Society )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The American Foundry Society (AFS) announced that Leo Baran has been named its director of membership services. A Chicago-area native, Baran received his BS degree in metallurgical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology,...

EPA pronoses iron and steel metalcasting facility area source rule.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2007... On Sept. 17, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed an area source rule for iron and steel metalcasting facilities that would reduce the amount of particulate matter (PM) that certain plants can emit. The proposed rule...

Millionaires safety award announced in September.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2007... The American Foundry Society (AFS) announced its Millionaires Safety Award in September. The award recognizes AFS Corporate Members that succeed in providing the highest level of safe and healthy workplaces. This annual award recognizes...

Chapter meetings.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... BRITISH COLUMBIA Oct. 28--"Filtration of Metal," Eric Morgan, Foseco, Sheraton Guildford. Dec. 13--AFS Christmas Dinner, Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club. Jan.16-18--CMI Presents: Analysis of Casting Defects, Sheraton Guildford....

Sen John Sununu, industry leaders attend foundry executive conference.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) spoke at the American Foundry Society (AFS) Foundry Executive Conference, held in New Castle, N.H., Sept. 16-18. In his talk to AFS executives, Sununu said he believes his background as the only engineer in the U.S....

New management studies include AFS operational cost, AFS survey of wages and economic benefits.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2007... American Foundry Society (AFS) announced the release of four new management surveys--AFS Executive Salary Survey, the AFS Survey of Wages and Economic Benefits, the National Executive Compensation Survey and the AFS Operational Cost Survey. ...

Neenah Foundry Co. announces $54 million expansion.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
October 1, 2007... AFS Corporate Member Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, Wis., announced it is proceeding with a $54-million project to expand and update its metalcasting facility at the Wisconsin Chapter Meeting Sept. 17. "The addition to our mold line will...

CMI course schedule.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... CMI Course Schedule Oct. 23-Feb. 2 Introduction to Total Quality Management (24-08) Internet Oct. 30-31 Permanent Mold Coating Fundamentals-Aluminum (26-08) ...

Operators catch a brake with help from a robot.(PRODUCT INNOVATIONS)
October 1, 2007... Due to increased volume, Buddy Bar Casting (BBC), South Gate, Calif., investigated a solution for the large amount of manual work required for aluminum railcar service and emergency brake valves. Each set of trucks on a railcar requires a...

Customer receives part quickly via investment casting.(PRODUCT INNOVATIONS)
October 1, 2007... A customer that produces equipment in the consumer industrial industry had one major priority: reduce assembly time to reach the market quickly. The solution was a converted casting design produced by Signicast Corp., Hartford, Wis. The...

Borescope.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2007... Titan Tool Supply Inc. has released the new ES7-1350 Fiberoptic Borescope. The borescope is capable of reaching deep into walls, drains, vents and engine blocks through openings as narrow as 0.3 in. Features include glass-imaging fibers,...

Marking fixture.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2007... The new KwikTurn rotary fixture from Kwik Mark Inc. marks around large or small cylindrical and multisided parts without the use of a PC. The rotary fixture can mark serial numbers, date codes, time stamps, graphics and 2D data matrices. It is...

Crucible.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)
October 1, 2007... The full line of Blasch Precision Ceramics crucibles is now available with cast leak detector holes for use with ground fault type leak detection systems in coreless induction furnaces. The net-shape manufacturing process produces precisely...

Sand mixer.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The DISA SAM series of turbine sand mixers features a deeply submerged turbine in the sand batch mounted on an arm. The arm rotates the turbine in an enclosed bowl to ensure that all sand is passed through the turbine many times. Water is...

Sparks fly at iron casting performances.(Shakeout: In case you didn't know ...)
October 1, 2007... A love of iron and the metalcasting process prompted five Massachusetts College of Art alumni to form the Iron Guild, a molten metal demonstration and artistic performance group, in January '03. Since then, members Josh Dow, Lauren Holmgren,...