Welcome to e-Connections, the weekly AFS email newsletter. In this December 18, 2007, edition:

Metalcasting Career Center Released
On Monday, Dec. 17, AFS launched its web-based Metalcasting Career Center at www.afsinc.org/careercenter. In partnership with JobTarget, AFS is bridging the gap between metalcasting employer and employee, with an initial posting of more than 1,700 metalcasting related positions.

Metalcasters wishing to browse open positions or post a resume may do so at no charge, while employers wishing to post employment opportunities or review resumes will incur a fee. AFS Corporate Members will receive premiere positioning when posting job openings on the website, and also have access to purchasing multiple job postings at a discounted rate.

"AFS is proud to release the first Metalcasting Career Center," said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president. "The website will enhance the metalcasting industry by bringing together employers and employees in a way like never before, once again leading the metalcasting industry."

As part of the Metalcasting Career Center launch, MODERN CASTING and ENGINEERED CASTING SOLUTIONS magazines have redesigned their web-based classifieds for better functionality. Advertisers of used equipment and services now will have an opportunity for enhanced web exposure to accompany their print ads.

For more information, contact Dave Krugman, AFS pr and marketing coordinator, at dkrugman@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237.

Internet Course Survey Available
AFS and its Cast Metals Institute (CMI) are developing short format (1.5-to 2-hour) internet courses. In order to determine the subjects to include, a short survey has been made available. Take a few moments to fill it out, and you will be entered into a drawing to receive a free CMI course.

To take the survey, click here. For more information on this survey, contact Jennifer Head, CMI special projects and course coordinator, at jhead@afsinc.org.

Wisconsin Regional Conference Coming in February
The 2008 American Foundry Society (AFS) Wisconsin Regional Conference will be held Feb. 7-8, 2008, at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. The meeting is hosted by the AFS Stateline and Northeast Wisconsin Chapters, and the Univ. of Wisconsin.

Thirty-eight speakers will be included in this year's technical program, covering a variety of topics, such as "Educational Opportunities in the Foundry Industry," Mark Nagel, director, Cast Metals Institute; "Lost Foam Casting of Steel-Fill Mechanisms and Foam Decomposition Effects," Von Richards, Univ. of Missouri-Rolla; and the featured presentation, "The Future Challenges Facing the Metalcasting Industry," Paul Mikkola, AFS president. A breakfast presentation with AFS Corporate Member Badger Mining also is scheduled.

Special room rates at the Pfister Hotel are available to those who pre-register. Mention the conference when registering to get preferential rates. For more information, contact Donna Nagy at 262/594-2375 or waifs@wi.rr.com.

Submit Your Casting of the Year
Engineered Casting Solutions and the AFS Marketing Div. now are accepting submissions for the 2008 Casting Competition. Each year, dozens of castings are sent in with the hopes of becoming the next Casting of the Year.

Find out if your castings stand up against the elite. All castings submitted receive free publicity in Engineered Casting Solutions magazine. The Casting of the Year receives a free year's license of Magmasoft casting simulation software. Click here to download an entry form. For more information, contact Dave Krugman, AFS PR and marketing coordinator, at dkrugman@afsinc.org.

CMI Offers Statistical Process Control Course
The Cast Metals Institute (CMI) will be offering a Statistical Process Control course Jan. 21-22 at the Eagle's Nest Event Center, Columbia City, IN. This course presents a practical problem-solving approach to controlling a metalcasting facility's processes. Topics include understanding and constructing control charts, issues in control charting, assumptions, software, and process capability including Cp and Cpk indices. For more information, or to enroll in this course, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here.

Vertical Gating Design Course Available
The Cast Metals Institute (CMI) will be offering a Vertical Gating Design course Feb. 26-28 at the California State Poly Univ., Pomona, CA. In this course, students will learn gating and riser design for vertically parted sand and permanent molds. Metal flow, turbulence, solidification, heat transfer, shrinkage, metallostatic pressure effects, gating system and riser design, mold-wall movement and computer modeling are topics that will be discussed. Riser size and gating system calculations, pouring times, placement and feeding distance of risers are also important discussion topics in this course. For more information, or to enroll in this course, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here..

Looking for more information on vertical gating design? The video Vertical Gating Design can help. AFS Special Publications has everything you need to supplement your metalcasting training. Visit www.afsinc.org/estore or call 800/537-4237 for more information.