Welcome to e-Connections, the weekly AFS email newsletter. In this March 17, 2009, edition:
Revised Forecast: Metalcasting Shipments Decrease 2.3 Million Tons in 2009
Recent interviews with casting users indicate that most market sectors are experiencing losses in shipments in the first quarter of 2009 as the domino effect of poor sales has affected markets beyond automotive and housing starts, as reported in the March 2009 issue of MODERN CASTING. These losses indicate that the metalcasting industry will struggle to rebound in the next three quarters to match 2008’s tonnage and sales.
The production of light vehicles fell close to 30% in the first quarter of 2009. Medium to heavy truck and trailer production is expected to fall to about 190,000 units after dropping in 2008, and orders for railroad freight cars in 2009 are expected to fall to 40,000. Based on these and other first quarter statistics, total metal casting shipments are reforecast to decrease 2,300,000 in 2009 versus 2008.
For more detailed information on the 2009 metalcasting industry forecast, visit www.moderncasting.com.
Nominate Your Facility for Plant Engineering Award
The AFS Plant Engineering Committee 1D is accepting nominations for it's 2010 Plant Engineering Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize a company, division or corporation for its achievements in the planning, installation, operation and maintenance of metalcasting equipment and processes. It also encourages the advance of technical expertise and professionalism of metalcasting engineering in the application, operation and maintenance of metalcasting equipment including associated management control and information systems.
The 2010 winner will be awarded during the Divisional Awards Luncheon at CastExpo'10, March 20-23, 2010, in Orlando. To download a nomination form, click here. Nominations should be directed via fax to David Kennedy, AFS plant engineering committee 1D vice chairman, at 815/479-9102, or email dkennedy@generalkinematics.com. Plant nominations are due October 31.
How Will Climate Change, Card Check Legislation Affect You?
The 2009 Metalcasting Industry Government Affairs Conference, which will be held May 4-5 at the Capitol Hilton, Washington, D.C., will feature a critical sessions facing the metalcasting industry including climate change and card check legislation.
The Obama administration and congressional leaders are pressing for passage of an ambitious economy-wide climate change bill this year. William Kovacs, vice president for the Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will provide an overview of the key energy and cap-and-trade provisions being touted in Congress and how it will impact your metalcasting facility.
The debate over card check legislation is heating up with the reintroduction of the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 1409 / S. 560) by U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.) and U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). The legislation that could overturn nearly 70 years of federally supervised secret ballot representation in union elections is organized labor’s number one issue and President Obama has indicated that he will sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.
A new national agenda is forming, and you have the power to help shape it when you come to Washington. The 2009 Government Affairs Conference is your opportunity to meet face-to-face in pre-scheduled meetings with your Senators and Representatives in Washington to discuss the impact climate change, card check, and health care reform legislation will have on your facility and metalcasting industry.
Now, more than ever, is the time to attend the Government Affairs Conference. Be sure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill. For more information or to register, contact AFS customer service, at 800/537-4237.
AFS Corporate Members Receive Discounted In-Plant EHS Services
Concerned about an OSHA safety inspection? Need an update on new safety guidelines? One of the many Corporate Member benefits AFS offers is discounted Environmental, Health & Safety in-plant visits. These visits include industrial hygiene air sampling, safety inspections (mock OSHA audits) and facility environmental compliance reviews. The results of these reviews are kept strictly confidential and will give you the peace of mind you need.
For more information on these safety inspections or to arrange a visit, contact Fred Kohloff, AFS director of environmental, health & safety, at fhk@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237 x 230.
To receive this and many other discounted services to keep your metalcasting facility safe and profitable, you must be an AFS Corporate Member. For more information on AFS Corporate Membership, contact Leo Baran, AFS membership director, at lbaran@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237 x 201.
Lockout/Tagout Webinar Focuses on Primary Energy Sources, OSHA Requirements
AFS is producing a webinar on March 19 at 11:00 a.m. EST for its corporate members on lockout/tagout in a metalcasting facility. Topics will include primary and secondary energy sources, transfer of lockout/tagout responsibilities and OSHA requirements.
To register for this webinar, click here. For more information, contact Dave Krugman, AFS PR and marketing coordinator, at dkrugman@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237.
Find Materials, Equipment and Services Via Online Buyer's Guide
MODERN CASTING magazine has put the compendium of information available in its annual Buyer's Guide up on the internet, so you can find the materials, equipment and services you need to improve your metalcasting business without leaving your office.
The new guide, available at buyersguide.moderncasting.com, includes all of the suppliers in each of the product categories presented in the print edition of the resource. But with this interactive application, you can search through the data to find the products you need by directly selecting a product category, entering a suppliers' name or location, or choosing from a list of supplier names.
The online guide, which is constantly kept up to date by the suppliers themselves, also can be accessed through the AFS website (www.afsinc.org) or MODERN CASTING site (www.moderncasting.com). Check out the new Buyer's Guide today, and go shopping for a better business.
Check out the existing webinars on MetalcastingDesign.com, and be sure to come back as the library of information grows.
