Welcome to e-Connections, the weekly AFS email newsletter. In this January 22, 2008, edition:

Investigate Energy Savings at Free Webinar
Selecting the right Energy Service Company (ESCO) also referred to as Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES) for your company can be a daunting task. The marketplace is rife with complicated information which often prevents metalcasters from receiving the full benefit of the promised savings. This results in overpaying for electricity. To further complicate things, every ARES has multiple contracts and pricing structures.

AFS recognizes that metalcasters could use assistance in this arena, and is producing a free webinar focusing on the benefits of the AFS Energy Solutions program. Scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 24, at 11 a.m. EST, this 45-minute webinar will educate you on reducing the impact energy supply (electricity and gas) has on your bottom line. Other Energy Solutions benefits discussed include access to the low-cost provider of energy with typically 10-25% savings, simple pricing model with no surcharges or hidden costs, flexible contract terms available, consultation on deregulation and more. To register for this webinar, visit www.afsinc.org/energysolutionswebinar. For more information contact Dave Krugman, AFS PR and marketing coordinator, at dkrugman@afsinc.org.

Attend the Environmental 101 Seminar in February
The Environmental 101 seminar will be held February 18-19, at the Crown Plaza Atlanta Airport Hotel, Atlanta, Ga. The focus of this seminar will be for attendees to learn about basic environmental issues and concerns facing the metalcasting industry in the U.S., including permitting and reporting, testing, pollution control and environmental management.

Specific topics discussed include air quality laws and regulations, quantifying foundry air emissions, source testing, air toxics, air permits, emission control systems, iron and steel foundry MACT requirements, waste management laws and regulations, typical foundry waste sources, waste permits recordkeeping and reporting, beneficial reuse options and recycling, water quality laws and regulations, agency inspections including training and licensing, PCB requirements, asbestos requirements, pesticides, how to prepare for an inspection at your facility and more.

Special room rates at the Crown Plaza Atlanta Airport Hotel are available to those who pre-register before Jan. 27. Mention the seminar when registering to receive preferential rates. For more information, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here to download a brochure.

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.

Northwest Regional Coming in March
The 2008 American Foundry Society (AFS) Northwest Regional Conference will be held March 13-15 at the Hilton Tower Downtown, Portland, Ore. The theme for this year's event is "New World, New Thinking People, Process and Profits."

Fourteen speakers from world-class organizations will be included in this year's program, covering topics including:

"Challenges of a Green Field Foundry in China," Perry Chang, ESCO;
"U.S. Metalcasting: Competing in a Global Marketplace," Alfred Spada, Editor Publisher MODERN CASTING/Engineered Casting Solutions magazines, AFS Director of Marketing, PR & Communications;
"Global Competition, the Economic Outlook," Raymond Monroe, executive vice president, Steel Founders' Society of America;
"Elyria Foundry, Yesterday and Today," L. Kim Bevington, vice president of operations, Elyria Foundry;
"Observational Based Safety," Gary Woods, manager, safety health and security, Evraz Oregon Steel Mills;
"Changing Chemical Analysis of Steel Scrap That is Used in Iron and Steel Foundries," senior foundry metallurgist, Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium America;
"Making Money with Low Emission Processes," Greg Sanders, engineering sales and marketing, Hormel Foods Specialty Products;
"Raw Materials; Cost Trends for the Foundry Consumables," John Griffin, Foseco.

Special room rates at the Hilton Tower Downtown are available to those who pre-register before Feb. 12. Mention the conference when registering to receive preferential rates. For more information, visit the AFS Oregon chapter website at www.afsoregon.com, or contact Kurt Ball, conference chairman, at 503/778-6553 or kurt.ball@escocorp.com.

Participate in the CMI Chapter Course Competition
The Cast Metals Institute (CMI) is currently holding a competition for AFS Chapters that co-sponsor CMI courses. The chapter with the highest attendance from within their chapter area will win $1,000 and three complimentary course registration certificates. Second place will receive $500 and two course certificates and third place receives $250 and one course certificate. To qualify for the competition, the chapter must have at least 10 attendees. The contest will end in June, and entries must be submitted at that time.

For more information, including course schedules and locations, visit the CMI website at www.castmetals.com, or contact Jennifer Head, CMI special projects and course coordinator, at 800/537-4237 or jhead@afsinc.org.

Take the Automatic Molding Flask Survey
The AFS Green Sand Committee (4-M) is conducting a survey on the quality and maintenance of tight flasks used for horizontally parted molding machines. This data will be used to benchmark industry practices for inspection, qualification and maintenance of molding flasks. All those responding to the survey will receive a copy of the final report. All information will be confidential and proprietary, and your company will not be named in any way without your consent.