Modern Casting articles from September 2006

Modern Casting archives from September 2006

Question of the month.(moderncasting.com)
September 1, 2006... The July web site question asked, "How are you currently performing casting cleaning and finishing in your facility?" Manual 85.7% Grinding Automated 10.7% Trim Presses Manual Loading/ Automatic ...

Worth repeating.(HOTLINE)
September 1, 2006... "Every company has to decide what it wants to be good at and then be the best. Don't just do something to be doing it. If you don't have the intention of being world-class, then you shouldn't be doing it."--Joe Farrar, president, Farrar Corp.

Learning to smile.(EDITORIAL)
September 1, 2006... Despite the recovery of our industry the last two years and the forecasted growth in shipments expected to occur through 2008-09, I don't sense an overwhelming feeling of happiness among North American metalcasters. Despite the high capacity...

Cullman Casting company builds vacuum process metalcasting facility from the ground up.(North America)
September 1, 2006... A new, 118,000-sq.-ft., metalcasting facility capable of producing 50,000 tons of castings per year will be in operation by the end of this year in Cullman, Ala., if all goes according to Cullman Casting Corp.'s plan. "A lot of things go...

Edelbrock foundry to expand into second plant.(North America)
September 1, 2006... Edelbrock Foundry, San Jacinto, Calif., soon will add a sister company, Edelbrock Permanent Mold Inc., to its production line of aftermarket car parts. The 110,000-sq.-ft. plant primarily pours aluminum intake manifolds, cylinder heads and...

Intermet awarded patent for new ferrous material.(North America)
September 1, 2006... Intermet Corp.'s Domestic Ferrous Group, Troy, Mich., has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for machinable austempered ductile iron (MADI), a new ferrous material that provides improved strength compared to...

Eagle's re-engineered Internet tracking system takes flight.(North America)
September 1, 2006... When steel caster Eagle Alloy, Muskegon, Mich., developed a website six years ago, it had an idea it hoped would make the company more accessible to customers. "We wanted something interactive, something a little more than a billboard,"...

Goldens' Foundry and Machine Company, Columbus, Ga., ordered a green sand molding system from Savelli S.p.A., Brescia, Italy.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Goldens' Foundry and Machine Company, Columbus, Ga., ordered a green sand molding system from Savelli S.p.A., Brescia, Italy. Savelli recently announced the appointment of MetalTech Systems, Pawleys Island, S.C., as their exclusive sales agent...

Cifunsa, Saltillo, Mexico, has added Arena-flow software.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Cifunsa, Saltillo, Mexico, has added Arena-flow software from Ashland Casting Solutions to their production methods.

Hickory Hardware.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Hickory Hardware will centralize several of its functional operations into a new facility in Nashville, Tennessee.

Asimco Technologies Limited.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Asimco Technologies Limited, Beijing, China, announced that one of its casting facilities was named a Ford Q1 supplier.

Premier Aluminum Inc., Racine, Wis., has been purchased by Ligon Industries LLC.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Premier Aluminum Inc., Racine, Wis., has been purchased by Ligon Industries LLC, Birmingham, Ala., which has tentative plans to expand Premier's headquarters.

Buhler, Uzwil, Switzerland, took over IdraPrince, Holland, Mich.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Buhler, Uzwil, Switzerland, took over IdraPrince, Holland, Mich., expanding its diecasting division.

EOS, Munich, Germany, said that Morris Technologies Inc., Cincinnati, has expanded its applications for direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS).(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... EOS, Munich, Germany, said that Morris Technologies Inc., Cincinnati, has expanded its applications for direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) with a new superalloy material, EOS Cobalt-Chrome MP1.

Applied Manufacturing Technologies Inc.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Applied Manufacturing Technologies Inc., Orion, Mich., has opened a new regional office in San Antonio.

Express Pattern, Vernon Hills, Ill., has signed an agreement that will make Remet Corporation, Utica, N.Y.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Express Pattern, Vernon Hills, Ill., has signed an agreement that will make Remet Corporation, Utica, N.Y., its nationwide representative for direct pattern services.

Disa SERF, Caudan, France, has appointed Equipment Merchants International Inc., Cleveland.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Disa SERF, Caudan, France, has appointed Equipment Merchants International Inc., Cleveland, as exclusive sales representative for the U.S. and Canada.

Wexford Sand Co., Harrietta, Mich., was given the World Excellence Award.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Wexford Sand Co., Harrietta, Mich., was given the World Excellence Award by Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich.

Amafond.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... Amafond, Milano, Italy, an association of industrial suppliers, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

North American Die Casting Association.(Newscast)
September 1, 2006... The North American Die Casting Association, Wheeling, Ill., is now accepting entries for the 2007 International Die Casting Competition.

See green, not red.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I fail to see any correlation between the July editorial ("Are You a Worthy Metalcaster of the Year?") and the June column ("Where is Your Casting of the Year?") that would make people "see red." Throughout my tenure in casting, I've seen...

Tensile variation outstanding, not just acceptable.(Letterbox)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... In regard to the question posed in "Casting Answers & Advice," August 2006 ("What is the normal variation for tensile strength results, and how do you reduce the variation? For gray iron G3000, we have tensile results of 31 ksi to 34 ksi. Is...

Intermet Corp.(Personals)
September 1, 2006... Intermet Corp., Troy, Mich., has made William H. Whalen vice president of finance and chief financial officer.

AP Suzhou.(Personals)
September 1, 2006... Josh Keough was named interim general manager of AP Suzhou, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.

Applied Manufacturing Technologies.(Personals)
September 1, 2006... Chris Lohr was made regional sales manager for Applied Manufacturing Technologies, Orion, Mich., responsible for the Midwest and southeast.

Farr Air Pollution Control.(Personals)
September 1, 2006... Farr Air Pollution Control, Jonesboro, Ark., appointed John Dauber North American sales manager.

Jimmy Lo joined Thixomat, Ann Arbor, Mich.(Personals)
September 1, 2006... Jimmy Lo joined Thixomat, Ann Arbor, Mich., as its Asian Pacific marketing representative.

Foseco Metallurgical Inc.(Personals)
September 1, 2006... Foseco Metallurgical Inc., Cleveland, moved Jeff Weeks to chief executive for its U.S. and Canada metalcasting products business unit.

Obituaries.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
September 1, 2006... William P, Shulhof, Saginaw, Mich., died August 4, 2006. He was 77. Shulhof held several positions during a 26-year career with General Motors Central Foundry Division, chaired the AFS Technical Council and Research Board and received the AFS...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... September September 10-12--AFS Foundry Executive Management Conference, Silverado Resort, Napa Valley, Calif. September 17-19--AFS 18th Environmental Health & Safety Conference, Sheraton Music City Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. ...

EPA releases report on metalcasting industry environmental performance.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
September 1, 2006... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new report on the environmental performance of the metalcasting industry and other sectors participating in the agency's Sector Strategies Program. Through voluntary...

EPA, U.S. customs crack down on illegally imported engine parts.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
September 1, 2006... In the last nine months, federal agencies have seized or turned away more than 11,000 substandard parts for gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment, according to the U.S. EPA. In addition, the importers of these parts have been...

GOP lawmakers offer immigration compromise bill.(WASHINGTON ALERT)
September 1, 2006... In an attempt to unify Republicans in Congress over the contentious issue of immigration reform, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) have introduced the Border Integrity and Immigration Reform Act. The House...

Wind's cast crop: after a record breaking year of new wind energy capacity in the U.S., manufacturers are clamoring for more metal castings.(Cover story)
September 1, 2006... Drive down a stretch of highway in Iowa past acres of cornfields or through the open ranchlands of Texas past miles of cattle and you might find yourself in the middle of one of the newest types of farms in the U.S.--the wind farm. A far...

Turn down the heat: Pacific Steel Casting Co. has seen energy cost reductions in three of its plant's electric arc furnaces with the use of a demand meter.(power demand controlllers)
September 1, 2006... The modern electric arc furnace (EAF) combines four major technologies: high power electrical generation and transmission, advanced electrical and mechanical furnace design, high performance manufactured-graphite electrodes and improved...

10 ways to improve melting: achieving perfection may be too much to ask from your aluminum melt department, but adhering to the quality procedures and tips listed here can help you close the gap.
September 1, 2006... Your aluminum melt department may be operating without a hitch, but even the best metalcasting facilities have room for improvement. However, improvement doesn't automatically mean spending cash for new equipment or technology. Several...

Machine shop survival: thinking of offering machining services to your customers? These six DOs and DON'Ts will help you formulate your plan.
September 1, 2006... In the days of Henry Ford, manufacturers lined up to supply their services much like the assembly lines introduced in that era. Each step in the manufacturing process was handled vertically as parts moved up the chain from raw material to...

Near future to hold minimal change for casting shipments: material conversions will have a significant effect on individual casting markets in the next two years, but overall, only a 0.2% decrease in shipments is forecast.
September 1, 2006... A slight economic expansion will cause a general increase of casting shipments to many end markets in 2007, according to interviews with consumers of metal castings and econometric experts. However, significant material conversions in other,...

Controlling your aluminum melt.(CASTING FACTS: AFS Technical Dept., Schaumburg, Illinois)
September 1, 2006... Molten aluminum has characteristics that can be controlled in the melting process to enhance the properties of the final casting. It combines with oxygen to form aluminum-oxides that can become trapped in the casting, has an affinity for...

AFS addressing aircraft structural casting manufacturing questions.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
September 1, 2006... The U.S. metalcasting industry may have hit a bump in the runway. Several questions have been voiced in recent months regarding the applicability of castings in airframe structures. Some of the concerns regard statistical variability, costly...

New research to improve prediction of investment casting process.(AFS/CMI NEWS)
September 1, 2006... Predicting physical changes that occur in the wax pattern, shell and solidifying metal during investment casting could soon be possible according to results from a collaborative research project in which the AFS 4-L Investment Casting Committee...

CMI course schedule.(AFS/CMI NEWS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... CMI Course Schedule Sept. 20-21 Foundry Leadership Schaumburg. Ill. Skills Workshop (13-07) Sept. 26-28 Analysis & Reduction of Aluminum Permanent Mold Casting ...

AFS Chapter news.
September 1, 2006... More than 70 representatives from 34 chapters convened in Elk Grove Village, Ill., Aug. 10-11, for this year's AFS Chapter Officers Conference. This year's theme was "Growing the Chapter Community." The program included opening speeches by AFS...

Chapter meetings.(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... CENTRAL NEW YORK Oct. 11--TBD; Joint Meeting with NADCA Chapter 9. Nov. 8--Abigail's, Seneca Falls, N.Y.; General Meeting. Dec. 15--Comfort Inn, Liverpool, N.Y.; Holiday Party. CHESAPEAKE Sept. 22--Mittal Steel USA, Baltimore, Md.; Plant...

Small plant's automatic investment returns big results.(Case History)
September 1, 2006... AFW Foundry, Lannon, Wis., an aluminum and copper-base green sand caster, wanted to find a way to update its largely manual shop in order to gain a wider variety of customers with a wider variety of needs. The company decided to completely...

Inoculation system ends Neenah's search for reliability.(Case History)
September 1, 2006... Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, Wis., had been on a quest for a more reliable inoculation system when it discovered the Koins automatic inoculation system (AIS) at the 2005 CastExpo in St. Louis. "We've been trying to get as foolproof of an...

Hardfacing for sand mixer blades.(Technogenia)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Technogenia has developed a tungsten-carbide powder, Spherotene, for hardfacing sand mixer blades. The powder is an anti-abrasion solution for frequently-used wear parts in sand regeneration and casting mold production. Tungsten-carbide...

Energy loss program.(METALCASTING SUPPLIES)(The Schaefer Group Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Schaefer Group Inc. now offers the Halt Energy Loss Program (HELP), designed to measure and control energy costs for nonferrous melting and holding furnaces and molten metal delivery systems. The program measures and controls BTUs per...

Abrasive wheels for grinding.(Carborundum Abrasives Co.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Improvements in Carborundum's Carbo Goldcut depressed center wheel extended the life of the wheel by 25%, increased productivity and lowered total grind cost. The wheels are used on right-angle grinders and are available in 4.5-in., 5-in. and...

Walla Walla wine gives nod to metalcasting.(SHAKEOUT: In case you didn't know ...)
September 1, 2006... Wine connoisseurs looking for a taste of industry might want to try Mark Anderson's Foundry Vineyards cabernet sauvignon. Made with fruit from the Walla Walla valley in Washington State, the 2003 vintage wine may not emit the aroma of molten...

Induction melting.
September 1, 2006... Ajax TOCCO Magnethermic Corporation designs and manufactures induction heating and melting equipment. Ajax TOCCO's advanced technologies are used for the melting and holding of ferrous and nonferrous metals. Melting applications are suited for...

Core systems.
September 1, 2006... Still running shell? Get your core costs down! We have been in the core machine business for 3 generations-we can take you from slow, expensive shell cores using an easy transition to coldbox. We'll use your existing vertical &...

Automated Vision finishing.
September 1, 2006... The Vision Finish[TM] 1200 from Mossner Reich, for medium to large castings, is a standard, compact, affordable machine for identifying and finishing parts. The systems' open control allows the integration of modular tools for flash removal...

Rotary Foundry Machinery.
September 1, 2006... DIDION designs, engineers, and manufactures a full range of Rotary Sand Reclaimers, Rotary Sand Screens, Sand Blending/Cooling Drums, Rotary Lump Crushers/MetalReclaimers, Rotary Sand Casting Separators, and Rotary Media Drums. With the lowest...

The latest and greatest.(Editorial)
September 1, 2006... All of us at MODERN CASTING are pleased to bring you this very special 2006-07 Metalcasting Equipment, Products and Services supplement. For the metalcasting industry to continue to prosper, ait is vital that it keep abreast of the latest...

Spectrometers.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... The Angstrom V-950 is a laboratory type spectrometer that can be set-up to analyze and certify virtually any type of foundry metal. The V-950 is based on traditional PMT technology, offering the best performance available for rapid foundry...

Heat treating system.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... Can-Eng Furnaces' New Basketless Heat Treating System has been engineered to meet on-going and ever increasing production challenges. Can-Eng's BHTS eliminates the need for product conveying baskets, carriers, trays or fixtures which require...

Automated pouring.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... Electromagnetic pumps for non-turbulent, fully automated. metered molten metal delivery to your casting line. Our pumps have no moving parts which cause the turbulence of typical pumps. Our PG-300 pump is utilized in gravity pouring lines where...

Tilting tower furnace.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... The Stotek tilting tower furnace combines exceptional efficiency with ease of use. Aluminum is poured via a teapot spout, so that the metal is drawn from near the bottom of the furnace, and the floating dross is left behind. Porous plugs cast...

Cupola Emission Reduction and Treatment System.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... A leader in Cupola installations and modifications as well as Cupola Emission Reduction and Treatment Systems guaranteed to meet all Iron and Steel MACT requirements, EC&S and GMD with team members WRIB, Escher, and the Kodiak Group take a...

Aluminum furnaces.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... Does your furnace need H.E.L.P.? The Halt Energy Loss Program is a brand new service from The Schaefer Group that measures your heat losses and designs ways to save that heat. Choose a basic or extended energy audit. Today, no other aluminum...

Continuous temperature sensor.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... The Heraeus Electro-Nite Contitherm lite sensor measures the temperature of molten iron in auto-pour systems and cupola runners. Benefits of continuous temperature measurement include enhanced process control, reduced energy consumption,...

Automatic pouring.(MELT QUALITY/POURING/REFRACTORIES)
September 1, 2006... The Econo-Pour[TM] Automatic Pouring System has one objective, to reduce your pouring costs. The Econo-Pour[TM] is a proven tool to help foundries compete by lowering labor costs, providing a better yield- Features include, a pouring profile...

Vibratory process equipment.(SAND PREPARATION/CONDITIONING/TESTING)
September 1, 2006... Whatever your need for vibratory process equipment, you'll find the answers in heavy-duty, custom engineered General Kinematics solutions. General Kinematics is the leading design and manufacturer of vibratory process equipment for the foundry....

Sand reclamation.(SAND PREPARATION/CONDITIONING/TESTING)
September 1, 2006... GMD's THERMO-SCRUBBER[R] is purported to be the only sand reclaimer that can process 100% clay-bonded sand, 100% chemically bonded sand or any random mixture of both sands, producing a reclaimed sand as good as or better than new sand, suitable...

Turnkey green sand systems.(SAND PREPARATION/CONDITIONING/TESTING)
September 1, 2006... New from Hunter Automated Machinery Corp-Hunter Automated now offers the complete line of sand equipment designed by Space SRL. an internationally renowned designer of state of the art green sand technology. For your green sand needs, Hunter...

Core and molding sands.(SAND PREPARATION/CONDITIONING/TESTING)
September 1, 2006... Unimin offers the industry an engineered portfolio of core and molding sands, clays and preblends including INCAST[R] silica and INCAST[R] LE olivine core and molding sands. CUSTOMIX[R] greensand preblends and VANTAGE[R] fire clays. Our...

Matchplate molding.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... Specially developed for short and varied production runs, the DISA MATCH 130 with a mold size of 20" x 24" offers fast match-plate change, low match-plate costs, and the ability to easily use existing match-plates. It has proven to be durable...

Turnkey Foundry engineering.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... For 44 Years EFS has been recognized as the go to TEAM for Turnkey Foundry Projects. EFS can provide the Engineering, Fabrication, and Installation services to meet your needs: Sand Systems, Mold Handling, Core Rooms, Environmental Systems,...

Heavy metals and acid gas treatment.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... GMD's Totally Enclosed Treatment System (TETS[TM]) with the unique and proprietary GMD POWDER INDUCTION NOZZLE (PIN[TM]) is supplied for treatment of heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Ch) laden baghouse dusts. It is also used to treat heavy metal...

Matchplate molding machine.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... Hunter Automated Machinery Corp. has earned a reputation for building foundry proven equipment since 1964. The product line has expanded over the years and now Hunter raises the bar with the extraordinary, patented XL Series Matchplate Molding...

Ceramic media.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... CARBOACCUCAST ceramic media possesses superior physical and thermal properties to provide increased media life, casting accuracy and reduced production costs in metal casting applications. Manufactured from readily available raw materials, they...

Automated pouring.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... The Kurtz Foundry Machine spectrum includes tilt pour casting, gravity casting, and low-pressure casting technology. Machine usage ranges from rapid-prototyping to serial casting. Kurtz offers engineering, process development and mold making,...

Heater / Cooler / Classifier.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... Heater/Cooler/Classifier all in one machine. The process of controlled heating, cooling and classification of sand passing through this unit is achieved by the balanced use of air from a supplied blower and heated or cooled water in the form of...

Rotary Foundry Machinery.(MOLD AND COREMAKING)
September 1, 2006... DIDION designs, engineers, and manufactures a full range of Rotary Sand Reclaimers, Rotary Sand Screens, Sand Blending/Cooling Drums, Rotary Lump Crushers/Metal Reclaimers, Rotary Sand Casting Separators, and Rotary Media Drums. With the lowest...

Leader in porosity sealing.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... The Casting Impregnators Group provides cost effective sealing of castings using Loctite[R] Resinol[R] RTC from the Henkel Corporation. We maintain a proactive business partnership with each of our customers. To foster our mutual success, we...

Shakeout Tables.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... Cleveland Vibrator Shakeout Tables have capacities up to 3000 lbs. Our Grid Tables are used to raise flasks off roller conveyors to vibrate & compact sand around patterns. All equipment is designed for your specific application. We carry...

Vibratory foundry equipment.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... Conveyor Dynamics Corporation designs, engineers, and manufactures extra heavy duty vibratory foundry equipment from Furnace Charging Systems, Mold Dump Conveyors, Feeders, Shakeouts, Sand Screens, Casting Cooling Conveyors, and Shotblasting...

Vibratory shakeouts.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... Performance-proven for a wide range of customer applications, General Kinematics high frequency, two-mass vibratory shake-outs remove sand faster and better while helping to reduce casting damage typically caused by rotary shakeouts. Two-mass...

Mercury treatment system.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... In-line Powdered Activated Carbon Injection (PACI) or the Totally Enclosed Treatment System (TETS[TM]) is currently recognized as the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) by the EPA for removing mercury from off-gases from furnaces being...

Shotblast system.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... The versatility of the Wheelabrator MeshBlast design can accommodate a variety of parts--from housings with hard-to-reach areas to simple work pieces. The MeshBlast[TM] System is useful in applications from die cast components and forgings to...

Sand additives--refractory coatings.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... With a reputation for problem solving expertise, IGC Technologies and Egis Industries are leading the way as manufacturers of quality, custom products for the foundry industry. The patented process for Veinseal[R] sand additives, along with...

Rotary Media Drum.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... DIDION became the world leader in Rotary Foundry Machinery through Innovation, Dedication and Perfection. Customers reported that the Rotary Media Drums eliminated shotblasting time and cost prior to grinding, gave superior flash removal,...

Casting grinding.(SHAKEOUT/CLEANING AND FINISHING)
September 1, 2006... Norton SG BLAZE R980 has been developed for off-hand and automated investment casting grinding of metal parts such as jet and turbine blade, medical prosthesis, hand tool, and fabricated metal components. The new product features improved SG...