AFS Chapters Collaborate on Funds for OSU Lab
Metalcasting students at Ohio State Univ. (OSU), Columbus, Ohio, are one step closer to their dream material sciences laboratory. After three years of fundraising efforts, enough money has been raised to fund the purchase of an electric induction furnace. The purchase is made possible through donations from the AFS Central Ohio and Central Illinois chapters and Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) funds.

To date, the project has received an estimated $147,000 in cash funding and equipment donations, such as a high-speed continuous mixer, vibration table and casting process modeling software for the lab's computer. To assist with the lab's successful completion, the AFS Central Ohio Chapter is matching donations, up to $35,000, made by any organization, AFS chapter or individual. Recently, the AFS Central Illinois chapter accepted this challenge and donated $5,000 to the OSU project. These funds are earmarked for the purchase of the electric induction furnace.

The lab renovation, spearheaded by Doru Stefanescu, OSU FEF key professor, began in 2005 when the lab's equipment was deemed outdated and in need of replacement. Stefanescu's goal is to renovate and rebuild the current metalcasting lab and to create and equip a new state-of-the-art casting and solidification processing center.

HR Solutions Program Strengthened by Merger
Need assistance creating the best employee benefit package for your company? AFS's HR Solutions program provides a competitive and cost-effective remedy to the soaring costs of employee benefits. The program gives companies access to the experts and resources needed to optimize benefit plans without gouging bottom lines.

Now, AFS's HR Solutions program is even better. Due to a recent merger between AFS's HR Solutions provider, the Metal Casting Practice Group of Thilman Filippini, and Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs (HRH), AFS and HRH have partnered to bring a stronger HR Solutions program to the industry.

The program will benefit from HRH's extensive experience and expertise with the metalcasting industry. With metalcasting clients in 36 states, HRH understands the insurance needs of the industry. "We are pleased to offer our corporate members access to some of the best benefits and services available in the metalcasting association arena," said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president. "Our relationship now with HRH will continue to do just that."

To find out more about the benefits AFS's HR Solutions program can provide your company, visit www.afsinc.org/hrsolutions.

Spring '08 IJMC Mailed, Website Updated
The Spring '08 issue of the International Journal of Metalcasting (IJMC) was mailed to subscribers this week. The issue features four papers and a technical communication, including a follow-up work by Geoffrey Sigworth, Alcoa Primary Metals, "The Modification of Al-Si Casting Alloys: Important Practical and Theoretical Aspects." This paper builds upon his first fundamental work discussing grain refinement. A second paper, "Comparative Study Evaluation of Fatigue Endurance Limit of 4- and 6-mm Thin Wall Ductile Iron," by C. Labrecque, M. Gagne & P. Cabanne, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium, and C. Francois, C. Becret and F. Hoffmann, PSA Peugeot Citroen, describes the practical approach taken and important mechanical properties developed to obtain lightweight ductile iron components for safety critical automobile suspension applications.

In addition, the current issue, issue archive and paper submission areas of the IJMC website have been updated to reflect the current issue. For more information on the IJMC and to download a subscription form, visit www.metalcastingjournal.com or contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237.

Seminar Brings Together Metalcasters, Buyers and Designers
The AFS Metalcasting Solutions seminar will be held April 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn-Chicago O'Hare Airport, Des Plaines, Ill. The focus of the seminar is to bring metalcasters together with casting buyers and designers to discuss casting processes, review the various alloy families, see casting design successes and learn about technological advancements in metalcasting. If you are a buyer, attend this workshop to learn more about what metalcasting can do for you. If you are a metalcaster, show buyers your capabilities.

Induction Melted Steel Processing Course Coming
CMI will be offering an Induction Melted Steel Processing course June 10-12 at Case Western Univ., Cleveland. Informal and practical instruction on induction melting procedures is featured. A review and description of equipment design features and electrical circuitry for the coreless furnace is presented. Metal-slag, metal-metal and metal-refractory interactions are investigated. Deoxidization and degassing procedures and practices are recommended by instructors. A session on refractory selection, installation and maintenance also is included.