CAST IN NORTH AMERICA:


BUYERS ARE BACK IN THE GAME With manufacturing business improving, presenters and


attendees of the 116th T


Metalcasting Congress tackled new issues. AN MCDP STAFF REPORT


he buzz surrounding the Cast in North America exhibit at the 116th


Metalcasting Congress indicated casting


users are fully recovered from the economic downturn. In total, the conference drew 2,225 attendees,


including 177 industry suppliers. Now in its third year, the sold-out Cast in North America exhibit included 29 metalcasting companies. Casters and buyers surveyed at the show indicated


they were optimistic about the future of manufactur- ing and attended panels and presentations in large


numbers. As the industry bounces back from its recent economic slump, a new slew of questions and issues for casting buyers and designers has come up. During the educational portion of the conference, capacity was a hot topic. As buyers look to purchase new cast components, they are increasingly met with metalcasters operat- ing at full capacity. Will North American casting suppliers be able to handle the workload as production continues to ramp up? In light of an initiative to increase domestic metal casting production, buyers par-


ticipated in a panel, “Bringing Casting Business Back to North America,” that faced the issue head on. In the ensu- ing open discussions, another common trend emerged—buyers are becoming increasingly aware of quality standards. In some cases, they are willing to take on higher prices for better, consistent qual- ity, according to a representative of John Deere’s Waterloo, Iowa, casting facility. During a ceremony on April 20,


Monarch Industries, Winnipeg, Canada, was honored as the 2012 Casting Competition winner for a casting conversion. Ten other facilities earned “Best-in-Class” or “Honorable Mention” (full coverage on p. 24).


May/Jun 2012 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | 45


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