Forecast Investment Casting Industry in Czech Republic


& Slovakia Getting Better, But Not Yet at 2008 Levels by Milan Horacek, Professor Brno University of Technology Although investment casting sales


2008 was the best year ever for


in the Czech Republic and Slovakia are getting better and better, figures are not likely to reach 2008 levels in the near future. Nevertheless, some investment casters have reported a silver lining be- hind the economic cloud which has shad- owed the industry for the past couple of years. Leaner economic times have led to greater efficiencies and in some cases, even improved quality.


production of investment casting in the Czech Republic, with turnover at about $80 million U.S. dollars. Although no "official" statistics for the industry exist, contacts with various industry leaders indicate sales figures took a nose dive in 2009 with a whopping 30% drop. The situation began a turn around in 2010, but still stands at considerably below 2008 levels.


The Czech economy follows very


closely economies of neighboring west- ern countries such as Germany, and their


development is positive at the moment, so the forecast is quite optimistic. Nev- ertheless there is still a little doubt, so foundries are cautious regarding new in- vestments. Additionally, loans from the banking sector are difficult to obtain. Some investment casters have re-


ported that tougher economic times have actually resulted in greater efficiencies and quality improvements. Sometimes you hear that running at


a lower percentage of capacity is better because using the foundry's capacity to the maximum level very often resulted in higher scrap, and this less profit. The reduction of the staff led to the


improvement of labor efficiency in nearly in all foundries, resulting in a better turn- over employee ratio. Also the process of reducing the workforce was easier under the crisis conditions compared to the pre- vious non-crisis time when it was politi- cally difficult to reduce staff because of trade unions rules. There are a dozen investment casters


in the Czech Republic and another five in Slovakia.


Investment casting markets can


be generally placed in three categories: about 50% automotive; 15% general en- gineering, and 35% power and aircraft or higher added-value castings.


Investment Casting


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Investment Casting Institute Phone: 201.573.9770 E-mail: ici@investmentcasting.org Web site: www.investmentcasting.org


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Pattern Assembly a training DVD for your foundry from...


Investment Casting Institute 136 Summit Ave.


Fax 201-573-9771


Montvale, NJ 07645-1720 Phone 201-573-9770


www.investmentcasting.org


$69 for members, $98 for nonmembers (Plus shipping) VISA, American Express, Mastercard accepted.


Fax 201-573-9771


13


Investment Casting Wax Pattern Assemby


Investment Casting Pattern Making By Wax Injection


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