Fact: Certain foundry molding processes cannot be hurried—they just are what they are. But manufacturer designers and buyers, together with their metalcasting suppliers, can prune lead times with technology and good business practices.
10 case studies show how picking the best alloy provides benefits like increased service life, lower weight, higher strength and fewer failures.
Two novel inventions for the oil and gas industry came to life as aluminum castings.
A fall-protection system hinged on a hook that had to be light and super strong—after years of trial and error, what this persistent inventor wanted was a metalcasting “witch doctor.” What he got was metalcasting science at its best.
A five-piece fabricated prototype part was eating up 30 minutes per piece in welding labor, which wasn’t too smart for the genius concept one manufacturer envisioned. But the ‘ah-ha’ decision to make it a casting poured on almost instant ROI and nearly $100K in annual savings.
Two castings exhibited the strengths of the casting industry in different ways to be named winners of this year’s AFS Casting Competition.
The manufacturer of donut-making equipment relies on North American foundries to keep the baked goods coming.
Investment casting offers incredible design freedom, but the design must make best use of its benefits to be cost effective.
Math and accurate data are keys to getting buyers and casting suppliers on the same page.
Whether it’s theft-proofing products, earthquake-resistant pipes, innovative components for fire hydrants, or attractive lighting options, castings are a major part of municipal infrastructure.