based alloys)? What is the position of Europe in terms of powder metal production? Is there any progress differentiation regarding aluminium powder versus NI/CO based metal powder alloys?
A
The volume of production of aluminium powder is quite
stable even if it remains really high. The demand for Ni and Co based powder increases even if some nuances are still in R&D due to their bad welding properties. (IN-713, IN-738, etc). The properties of Al are so different than the one of NI/CO based alloys that we cannot consider it in competition. The applications are totally different.
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Q A
Q A
In terms of cost projection what is the evolution foreseen for
powder metal alloys? Is this effecting or will it effect the competitiveness of investment casting?
Considering the increase of volume of metallic powder that
will be produced in the coming years, the size of the batches will grow and the competition between the producers will drive the general unit price of the metallic powder down. However, it is impossible to measure it as it also depends on the evolution of the value of the raw materials.
Will metal powder effect the competitiveness of investment
castings?
Additive manufacturing today is an R&D technology with long
term possibilities for production in the next decade. For sure there will be an impact on other metal activities like investment casting, but the capabilities of the machines still need to be improved, as well as the properties of the powders.
What is your approach to developing customer relation-
ships?
The key question is to understand what the customer requires. Our
first approach is a technical approach, then the commercial approach may start after all the technical and quality issues are understood. • Type of the part • Specifications • Ratio virgin / revert
®
• Who is the OEM to which the part is destinated, in order to know if my company is fully qualified to supply alloy in the ratio required and the type of alloy
Our relationship is not only with
our direct customers but also with our indirect customer which is the OEM… who are ordering parts from the casting foundries. Frequently meeting with the
customer verifies their needs are met. Understanding the customers’ process, quality, technical, and purchasing requirements is necessary to provide a product that meets the customers’ needs. We like to look at the total value we can bring to our customer.
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What does it mean for your company strategy elements
such as research, innovation and quality?
CM has had an important technology department for many
years with engineers and technicians and a laboratory full of equipment useful for the research and innovation process. CM has dedicated their 500 lb
furnace for R&D, which can develop new chemistries of new alloys which are offered on the market such as: • CMSX 4®
Plus
• IN-718 Plus • CMSX-8® • CM 939 Weldable™ Also, CM has developed new
techniques to reduce sulfur content (extra low sulfur alloy in which sulfur is less than O.4 ppm).
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Q
The digital transformation is effecting our whole society in
many ways. How is your company facing those changes both in terms of operations and business projection?
CM is utilizing the best technology available
to
maximize alloy quality that best suits the customers’ requirements. CM has recently added an alloy reference guide to their website to give users a quick reference to alloy chemistries and specifications, etc.
You have been an active EICF Board member for some years
now. What will be the important
elements you would highlight in relation of the role of associations vs the industry? How do you assess the EICF evolution in relation with the membership and stakeholders needs and requirements?
A
EICF is an opportunity for all people involved in the
investment casting industry to meet at least once a year during the seminar organized by the EICF within Europe. Those companies in attendance
have the possibility to interact with other suppliers and potential customers in an open professional environment. During each seminar set up by
the EICF, 30 to 40 technical papers are presented. During and after the presentations, attendees have the ability to interact and ask questions regarding the topics presented. The EICF provides many great
resources to its members. I encourage the membership to utilize these resources to improve their business and solve some of their technical production issues. Over the past few years, the EICF has worked closer with the North American ICI. This greatly increases the available resources and technical community for which to share information.
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Investment casting has been a continued growing market
since 2009. How do you see the future of the investment casting market?
The near future will be similar, for at least the next ten years. The
development of additive manufacturing will have an impact on some of the less complex parts within the aerospace, IGT, & medical markets. However, for the highly complex, directionally solidified and single crystal parts, I do not see an impact from additive manufacturing.
What will be your advice today for people or companies
interested in investing into the investment casting sector?
I will recommend being extremely careful depending on
the country in which companies want to invest. The key to investing in this industry is to pay particular attention to quality and capabilities.
May 2019 ❘ 17
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