PLANT ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITY
U.S. metalcasters must compete in an increasingly productive global industry. A MODERN CASTING STAFF REPORT
changes in U.S. metalcasting capacity and utilization. Utilization had been at 77% in 2007, and it dropped to 51% in 2009. At 16.4 million tons in 2012, utilization had rebounded to 82%. Te U.S. is second in the world in
S
casting shipments based on tonnage. Data secured through the 47th Census (see December 2013) shows China ship-ped 42.5 million metric tons of metal castings in 2012, with India in third at 9.34 million metric tons (see Fig. 1). Following the U.S. and India
ince the economic low point in 2009, our annual “Census of World Casting Produc- tion” has shown significant
are Japan (5.34 million metric tons), Germany (5.21), Russia (4.3), Brazil (2.86), Korea (2.44), Italy (1.96) and France (1.8). Te industry is forecast to continue
its upward trend (see Fig. 2), with growth in U.S. casting sales expected to top $37 million in 2016, in almost all metals. “From our North American custom-
ers, we are seeing an improvement in the number of investment opportunities being evaluated, and some have pro- ceeded forward,” said Richard Stewart, CEO, Roberts Sinto Corp., Lansing, Mich. “However, we do believe there are many more opportunities for both
quality and productivity improvements that are being delayed due to the uncer- tainty of the economic outlook.” Bill Hunter, president and CEO,
Hunter Foundry Machinery Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., noted, “Te domestic supply base typically is better prepared to meet increased casting production and quality market demands compared to foreign competition.” However, much of the capacity
increases are going on elsewhere. “Our company has been involved
in three major foundry projects in the past year; all were major expansions; all were for offshore parent companies,” said Stewart.
Figure 1. The most recent roundup of global casting production figures shows strong growth in the U.S. as well as in China. 32 | MODERN CASTING October 2014
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