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foundry Planet attended the 115th Metalcasting Congress Congress in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA

The metalcasting industry was on display at the 115th Metalcasting Congress, held April 5-8 at the Ranaissance Hotel & Convention Center, Schaumburg, Illinois.

Sponsored by the American foundry Society (AFS), the event drew nearly 1,600 attendees, 152 exhibiting industry suppliers and 18 exhibiting metalcasting facilities. In addition, technical and management sessions and workshops offered advice and technical breakthroughs in all areas of metalcasting, including information exclusively for buyers and designers of castings.

In addition to the exhibit floor and sessions, AFS presented several prestigious industry awards at the 115th Metalcasting Congress. They included the William H. McFadden and Joseph S. Seaman Gold Medals, two Awards of Scientific Merit, a Service Citation, the Michael J. Trzecinski CMI Award, the AFS Millionaire's Safety Awards, the AFS/Metal Casting Design & Purchasing Casting of the Year Awards, the Howard F. Taylor Award and the AFS Applied Research Award .

Two AFS Gold Medals were awarded at the Annual Banquet on April 6. John O. Serra, executive vice president, Carpenter Brothers Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., received the William H. McFadden Gold Medal "for contributing to the sustainability of the metalcasting industry through leadership in the development and transfer of nobake technology and for dedicated service to AFS technical committees and chapters," and Dr. Doru Michael Stefanescu, professor emeritus, Ohio State Univ., Columbus, Ohio, was presented the Joseph S. Seaman Gold Medal "for influential contributions to the development of computational modeling of microstructure evolution and mechanical properties in castings, outstanding research on metal penetration in sand casting, on thin wall iron castings and on the casting skin, and commitment to the advancement of the science of solidification and the associated technical and scientific literature."

Two Awards of Scientific Merit, a Service Citation, the Michael J. Trzecinski CMI Award, the AFS Millionaire's Safety Awards and the AFS/Metal Casting Design & Purchasing Casting Competition Awards were presented at the President's Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting on April 8. Jerry Thiel, director, Univ. of Northern Iowa, Metal Casting Center, Cedar Falls, Iowa, was presented an Award of Scientific Merit "for development of new technology to help the industry remain competitive, and for sharing this knowledge through participation in AFS chapters and technical committees." Douglas M. Trinowski, vice president of technology, HA International, Westmont, Ill., received an Award of Scientific Merit "for leadership in the technical development of core sand technology and methods, which has propelled this technology to meet the future demands of the industry through improvements in environmental applications, sustainable raw materials, and foundry education."

A service citation was awarded to David C. Williams, vice president technology, ASI International Ltd., Cleveland, Ohio, "for dedicated service to the American foundry Society and the Melting Methods and Materials Division, which has resulted in meaningful and long lasting improvement to metal melting in foundry operations."

The Michael J. Trzecinski CMI Award was awarded to Ian Kay, Hot Metal Technology, LLC, Mundelein, Ill. The award recognizes one individual each year who has made substantial personal contributions (including service) to the development and continuing successful operation of the Institute and its programs.

The AFS Millionaire's Safety Awards were presented to five metalcasting facilities for safety excellence. They were awarded to John Deere foundry, Waterloo, Iowa, Nemak Tennessee, Dickson, Tenn., Bradken, Amite, La., Charlotte Pipe & foundry Company, Charlotte, N.C., Tyco Fire Protection-Central Castings, Anniston, Ala.

The 2011 AFS/Metal Casting Design & Purchasing Casting Competition Awards were presented to Lethbridge Iron Works Co. Ltd., Lethbridge, Canada, for its truck cab support bracket and Eck Industries, Manitowoc, Wis., for its hybrid bus stator housing.

The AFS President's Luncheon also featured the induction of the 2011-12 class of AFS Officers and Directors. Timothy G. McMillin, Fairmount Minerals Ltd., St. Charles, Ill., was named AFS President; Michael L. Selz, Charlotte Pipe & foundry Co., Charlotte, N.C., took the office of AFS Vice President; and Dennis Dotson, Dotson Iron Castings, Mankato, Minn., took the office of AFS 2nd Vice President.

During the AFS Recognition Luncheon on April 6, the Howard F. Taylor award was presented to Gerard Thiel, Univ., of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Larry Stahl, General Motors Corp., Detroit, Mich., and Shelly Dutler, Magma foundry Technologies, Schaumburg, Ill. The AFS Applied Research Award was presented to Adam Loukus, REL Inc., Calumet, Mich.

"The 115th Metalcasting Congress was a success," said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president. "Management Day, Cast in North America, the workshops and technical sessions were very well attended."

The 116th Metalcasting Congress is scheduled for April 17-20, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio, CastExpo'13 and the 117th Metalcasting Congress will be held April 6-9, 2013 in St. Louis, Mo.

For more information on the 115th Metalcasting Congress, contact Dave Krugman, AFS PR and marketing coordinator, at 800/537-4237 x286 or dkrugmanafsinc.org.

AFS, headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., is a not-for-profit technical and management society that has existed since 1896 to provide and promote knowledge and services that strengthen the metalcasting industry for the ultimate benefit of its customers and society.