MODERN CASTING
LINKEDIN DISCUSSION
On the Foundry and Diecaster Network on LinkedIn, a member asked: “Does your foundry do an audit of its energy consumption? What are the advantages of this for your company?” Below are excerpts of some of the discussion points:
“This audit is necessary. Our metalcasting facility keeps an eye on energy consumption and data is discussed in high level review meetings. However, no audit has been seen yet.” -Rub’Nawaz Ansari, Bolan Castings Ltd.
“There are many low cost activities that can significantly improve the cost of electric- ity in the metalcasting industries. These audits can identify these opportunities. ” -Roberto Seabra da Costa, Consultant
“There is a lot of help out there to be able to do this internally. Join EnergyStar, work with DOE ITP, use ASME Energy Assessment for Process Heating System, TMS and AFS can all help you do this work. It’s well worth doing. Most plants can improve energy efficiency by 3-5% each year with projects that are fairly easy to justify their cost. After a few years, that can be major savings! ” -Cindy Belt , Management Consulting
Editor’s Note: MODERN CASTING does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the LinkedIn discussion. Visit
moderncasting.com for a link to the Foundry and Diecaster Network.
POLL QUESTION The July website question asked:
What percentage of your cast goods do you export?
78%
Less than 10%
14%
More than 75%
7% 51-75%
This month’s question is available at
www.moderncasting.com.
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.com BLOG ROLL
Editor’s Note: After a six-year run with MODERN CASTING, managing editor Shea Gibbs has left to pursue other opportunities. We wish him luck. These are his last blogs.
A Tale of Two Economies When the economy topic comes up these days, it seems I’m living in two worlds. In the world reported by the popular press, it is still struggling. In the manufacturing world, many reports indicate it’s recovering. The latest sign in this case is the story of rapid casting producer Clinkenbeard, featured on a local news channel as a company that has grown despite the fl agging economy. “We have a strategy that should work in any economy,” company Vice President Reg Gustafson told the Rockford, Ill., CBS affi liate. “We’re investing in people. People are the hardest thing to get.”
Gustafson said Clinkenbeard added four full-time employees since October. We can only hope the trend will continue and our two economic worlds will realign in the near future.
Dear Metalcasting Industry I’ve had a nice time getting to know you over the past six and a half years. When I fi rst walked into the AFS
offi ces in February 2006, I didn’t know slag from silica or cores from copes. What a long way we’ve come. I have completed my last day with MODERN CASTING, my work with you feels anything but done.
After all this time exploring the ins and outs, I know one thing is certain— metalcasting is everywhere. When my family climbs into our car, you’ll be there. When I cook, you’ll be there. I know more about manufacturing today than I ever thought I would, and I am a better person for it.
Visit
moderncasting.com to read full blogs and additional entries.
August 2012 MODERN CASTING | 3
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