AFS/CMI NEWS


Marketing Conference: Stable, Diverse Casters Wanted As the nation emerges from the economic downturn,


metal casting end-users speaking at a recent AFS market- ing conference repeatedly voiced a similar desire for metal casting suppliers strong and diverse enough to ensure their long-term viability. The 2010 Marketing & Selling of Castings Conference


Holiday Spectacular, held Dec. 7-8, 2010, at the Hyatt Re- gency Woodfield, Schaumburg, Ill., featured seven speakers representing prominent end-users of metal castings, as well as a number of other presentations on issues pertaining to the marketing and selling of castings. The speakers addressed 160 conference attendees, approximately 28% more than in 2009, the last time the conference was held.


“We’re looking for suppliers that are diversified so we


don’t have to worry about them when we go into a down cycle,” said Wayne Rygel, purchasing director for Navistar Inc., Warrenville, Ill. Several speakers at the conference said their companies


aren’t just chasing price, but long-term relationships, as well. Casting end-users from machine shops, agricultural equipment manufacturers and valve producers mentioned they look for casting suppliers who can deliver consistent quality on time. And when demand spikes, customers want to know their


casting supplier can keep up. It’s one of the reasons Roy Applequist, CEO and owner of Great Plains Manufacturing, Salina, Kan., said he prefers purchasing components made domestically, where lead times are shorter. Jeff Sugarman, a purchaser for valve maker Henry Pratt Co., Aurora, Ill., insists all casting suppliers be cost-competitive on a global basis, but factors such as delivery, inventory and technical expertise are considerations in total cost. At least one speaker said his company is just chasing price. “If you think when prices go up in Asia, the jobs will come


back here, it’s not going to happen,” said Edward Vinarcik, global quality manager, measuring tools division, Robert Bosch Tool Corp., West Lafayette, Ind.


MC


Dan McQuistion, Butler Univ., Indianapolis, gives the keynote pre- sentation “Increasing Your Sales Force’s EQ” at the 2010 Marketing & Selling of Castings Conference Holiday Spectacular.


AFS Issues Call for Papers on Lightweight Casting Solutions


AFS has issued a call for papers for the 2011 fiscal year Achieving Lightweight Casting Solutions (ALCS) program. The ALCS works in tandem with the U.S. Department


of Defense to focus on lightweight metals (aluminum, magnesium and titanium), advanced high strength fer- rous materials (austempered ductile iron, high strength steels), and casting methods and supporting technologies to produce vital defense and commercial components in the shortest possible time. The program is intended to help the U.S. metalcasting industry improve its manufacturing readiness through a variety of production technologies, such as net-shape manufacturing and rapid prototyping, and advancements in metal alloys.


MC


For more information or to submit a paper for the ALCS project, contact Tom Prucha, AFS vice president of technical services, at tprucha@afsinc.org or visit www.afsinc.org/alcs.


MODERN CASTING / January 2011 47


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