Inside ICI


Spring Management Meeting to Provide Balance Between National Issues & Specific Solutions from Industry The Investment Casting Institute’s


annual Spring Management Meeting is scheduled March 20-23, 2011 at the Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX. Investment Cast ing Inst i tute


Executive Director Michael Perry noted the program will provide a balance between national issues and specific solutions offered by managers in the industry. Dr. Ken Mayland of ClearView


Economics will present the current economic picture while Rick Alaniz of Alaniz & Schraeder will discuss labor laws and how they may affect industry businesses. Presentations from members will


cover such topics as foundry management systems and the Health Care Reform Act and its implications for businesses. Tim Kinney, Poplogix LLC, will give an update on an Institute-sponsored project of collecting interviews with industry pioneers in an effort to collect a history of investment casting in North America. Kinney will also offer a report on enhancements to the Institute's Web site.


Also on the agenda will be a report


on market trends for investment castings in North America, including an industry forecast.


Another highlight will be a summary oaf the annual ”How’s Business Report.”


The report provides information to participating members on industry sales by casting types, wage and salary changes, collection practices, capacity utilizations, safety and health issues, and short and long-term forecasts. The host hotel (Westin Riverwalk)


is located on San Antonio’s historic Riverwalk, an urban sanctuary that winds


along the San Antonio River in central San Antonio, one story below the bustling street level. San Antonio is home to five 18th-century Spanish missions including the famous Alamo. Registration material is on the


opposite page and available on line at www.investmentcasting.org.


Institute Closes 2010 with Record Membership With 28 members being added to


the Institute this year, membership hit a new record of 228. The previous record was 227 in 2008. "Even in a challenging economy,


the membership at large is seeing the value of information sharing at conferences and unique training classes we are offering,"


said Institute Executive Director Michael Perry.


“Some members are returning after


being away for several years, but others are brand new,” he said. “We’ve made an deliberate effort to visit with members and potential members to find out what member benefits they value and obtain feedback on what we can do better.”


11th Annual Certification Course Slated June 1-9 Coursework includes lecture and


The Investment Casting Institute’s


11th annual Certification Training Course is scheduled June 1-9, 2011 at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS. Institute Executive Director Michael


Perry said several have already registered for what is expected to be a full class. En- rollment is limited to 30 students from In- stitute member companies.


laboratory work using foundry equip- ment. Subjects covered include casting design and development; gating, feeding and tooling of investment castings; waxes and slurries; dewaxing and shell firing; melting and metallurgy; heat treating and casting finishing.


Next Process Control Course Planned Sept. 20-22 in Dallas The Investment Casting Institute's


second Process Control Course has been scheduled for Sept. 20-22 in Dallas. The course is unique in that it is to-


The host hotel for the Investment Casting Institute's upcoming Spring Management Meeting is located on San Antonio's picturesque Riverwalk.


4


tally focused on the investment casting process. Organizers note there are other generic process control courses available but nothing else specific to investment casting. The three-day course is expected to be offered annually in various regions around the country to accommodate member companies in various locations.


January 2011


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