Metalcasting Industry Assembles at CastExpo’10 in Orlando, New Successes Include Metalcasting Technology Theater, Cast in North America Pavilion
 |
|
Orlando, Fla
…The global metalcasting industry was on display at CastExpo’10 and the 114th Metalcasting Congress, held March 20-23 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Cosponsored by the American Foundry Society (AFS) and North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), the event attracted nearly 4,500 attendees and more than 300 companies from around the globe showcasing the latest technology, research and services available to the metalcasting industry. The attendees on the show floor came with decision making power—27% were presidents, chief executive officers or owners, 22% were plant managers and 14% were vice presidents. The remaining 53% included engineers, sales representatives, and technical, production and maintenance personnel. “Finite Solutions Inc. found the recent CastExpo show to be a valuable experience,” said David Schmidt, Finite Solutions Inc., Slinger, Wis. “While the number of attendees may have been less than at past shows, the average interest and seriousness of the contacts was way up. We closed two orders on the show floor worth over $50,000, so it was time well spent. We continue to follow up on other leads developed at the show, and expect further positive results in the months to come.” | CastExpo’10 also unveiled a new segment at the show geared towards casting designers and buyers with the Cast in North America Pavilion. This area of the show allowed metalcasting facilities (foundries and diecasters) to showcase their casting capabilities in an unprecedented forum. More than 40 exhibitors had the opportunity to network with casting buyers and designers. This area of the show was complemented by casting design and sourcing education in the Metalcasting Congress sessions.
“Denison Industries is very excited with the opportunities received as a direct result of our exhibiting efforts at the Cast in North American Pavilion at this year’s show,” said Shawn Ingram, Denison Industries, Denison, Texas. “We left CastExpo’10 not only with solid leads, but confirmed meetings with very promising customers that we might not otherwise have been able to schedule.” In addition to the show floor, CastExpo’10 offered technical and management sessions in several different fields of metalcasting including casting design and purchasing, diecasting, engineering, environmental health and safety, human resources, marketing, metals, molding and patterns. | One of the industry’s highest honors, the AFS Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal, was announced at the AFS Annual Banquet on March 21. Dr. Sergio Gallo (ret.), Teksid S.p.A., Torino, Italy, was awarded the medal “for lifetime achievements educating engineers, directing research and development of new metallurgical processes for the production of iron and aluminum castings, and introducing these processes to the automotive industry.” During the AFS President’s Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting on May 23, the AFS Award of Scientific Merit, AFS Service Citations and Millionaires Safety Awards were presented. Roy W. Lobenhofer, Lobenhofer Consulting, Inc., Park Ridge, Ill., received the AFS Award of Scientific Merit “for a career marked by untiring efforts and unique abilities that enabled him to convert complicated technical metallurgical issues to a pragmatic level of understanding that could be productively applied on the operating floors of cast iron foundries, and for utilizing his computer skills and program knowledge to enable small foundries in problem solving and process control.”
|
<link _top external-link-new-window>Click here to view picture gallery
AFS Service Citations are awarded annually to individuals who show outstanding general service to AFS, its chapters and the metalcasting industry. The 2010 winners include:
- Ian M. Kay, Hot Metal Technology LLC, Mundelein, Ill., “for his dedication to education and training excellence in the metalcasting industry, for sharing his knowledge of molding and casting processes, and for serving as an exemplary ambassador for the Cast Metals Institute, AFS and the metalcasting industry.”
- Norris B. Luther, Luther & Associates, Tucson, Ariz., “in recognition of over 55 years of dedication and outstanding professional contributions in time and knowledge to improve the personnel, processes and facilities of the metalcasting industry.”
- Peter C. Reich, Reich Companies, Trussville, Ala., “for dedication and service in advancing the American Foundry Society Birmingham District AFS Chapter, the AFS Southeast Regional, the Alabama Cast Metals Association and the metalcasting industry, exhibited through unconditional giving of time, talents, financial support and his knowledge and passion for the “art of castings.”
- Harley G. Scoggins, Texas Cast Metals Association, Fort Worth, Texas, “for outstanding contributions and service to the American Foundry Society Texas Chapter, the Foundry Educational Foundation and the Texas Cast Metals Association.”
The Millionaires Safety Award recognizes facilities that reach at least one million consecutive man-hours worked without incurring an occupational injury or illness that results in days away from work. John Deere Foundry, Waterloo, Iowa, took home an award with 7 million man hours worked, while Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co., Charlotte, N.C., MetalTek International, Wisconsin Centrifugal Division, Waukesha, Wis., and U.S. Foundry & Manufacturing Corp., Medley, Fla., all won awards with one million man hours worked.
The award for the 2010 Casting Competition, cosponsored by AFS and Meal Casting Design & Purchasing magazine, was given to Dotson Iron Castings, Mankato, Minn., for its Alternator/Air Conditioning Bracket. This award was presented at the AFS President’s Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting on March 23. The President’s Luncheon also featured the induction of the 2010-11 Class of AFS Officers and Directors. Henry W. Lodge, Lodge Manufacturing Co., South Pittsburg, Tenn., took the office of AFS president; Timothy McMillin, Fairmount Minerals Ltd., Weldron, Ill., took the office of AFS vice president; and Michael L. Selz, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co., Charlotte, N.C., took the office of AFS 2nd vice president. The Directors Class 2010-2014 includes Wayne R. Carr, Olson Aluminum Castings, Rockford, Ill., William R. Juergens, TB Wood’s Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., Michael R. May, May Foundry and Machine Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, Jeff Cook, Roberts Sinto Corp., Lansing, Mich. and Richard E. Stewart, Roberts Sinto Corp. | During the NADCA Industry Awards Banquet on March 23, the Committee Member of the Year, Best Paper and Die Casting Industry Awards were presented. The NADCA Technical Committee Member of the Year Award was presented to Peter Ried Jr., Ried & Associates, Portage, Mich., the Best Congress Paper, “Casting Quality Improvement Using a Dynamic Gating System in the Pressure Die Casting Process,” was awarded to Laihua Wang, Maya Gershenzon, Patrick Rohan and Gary Savage, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia. Douglas R. Taylor, Del Mar Industries, Gardena, Calif., and Robert Worthy, The Worthy Company, Grand Ledge, Mich., received the Austin T. Lillengren Award “in recognition of their extraordinary service and loyalty.” Richard H. Bauer, Eastern Alloys Inc., Maybrook, N.Y., received the Herman H. Doehler Award “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the die casting industry and to the art of die casting.” Allied Metal Co., Chicago, received the Edward A. Kruszynski Supplier Excellence Award “in recognition of being a supplier to the die casting industry that has demonstrated a long-standing record of participation in NADCA and support of its activities.” Diran Apelian, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., received the Nyselius Award “in recognition of his exceptional technical contributions to the die casting industry.” Interzinc, Durham, N.C., received the Gullo & Treiber Award “in recognition for their successful marketing activity, resulting in the expansion of knowledge of die casting.” “CastExpo’10 and the 114th Metalcasting Congress was a success,” said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president. “We have already received many positive comments from both attendees and exhibitors alike regarding the additions of the Metalcasting Technology Theater, Metalcasting Advancement Center and Cast in North America Pavilion.” |
"By all accounts from our exhibitors, this show was much better than expected, given the recent economic conditions. Everyone felt that the mix and quality of the attendees was excellent," said NADCA President Daniel L. Twarog. "The joint venture with AFS has made this show a ‘must-attend’ event in North America for the serious metalcasting company."
|
