AFS Testifies Before Small Business Committee
On May 13, Chris Norch, AFS Board of Directors Member and President of AFS Corporate Member Denison Industries, Denison, Texas, testified before the U.S. House Small Business Committee about the far-reaching effects the auto industry’s crisis is having on the metalcasting industry.

Committee members heard how small business suppliers from across the country are facing the worst downturn in decades, and how they haven't been boosted by a $5 billion federal government program to guarantee the bills of the largest, or Tier 1, suppliers to General Motors Corp. and Chrysler.

"A recovery plan for General Motors and Chrysler is simply not viable unless it takes into account the entire automotive supply chain, including the metalcasting suppliers of small and medium sized businesses that supply tier one companies," said Norch.
Remedies discussed were making supplier aid immediately available to smaller companies, and expanding loan programs through the Small Business Administration.

To view a video of Norch’s testimony in its entirety, visit www.afsinc.org/mediacenter. For more information, contact Dave Krugman, AFS PR & marketing coordinator, at 800/537-4237 x286, or dkrugman@afsinc.org.

Bill to Strengthen OSHA Violation Fines Reintroduced
In April, lawmakers reintroduced the Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA). Aimed at tightening labor laws, the legislation would stiffen fines for workplace safety violations and create a new felony category for criminal violations. It also would add protection for whistle blowers who disclose health and safety problems in the workplace. A weaker version of the bill failed to pass in the last U.S. Congress, but this updated, stricter legislation is expected to move swiftly through the House and Senate and be signed by the President when it reaches his desk.

Under the PAWA, penalties would increase up to $120,000 for willful and repeat violations with an $8,000 minimum, and up to $250,000 for such violations that cause a fatality, with a minimum fatality penalty of $50,000 (or $25,000 for employers with less than 25 employees), increase for serious violations to a minimum of $12,000. Requires minimum fines of $20,000 for serious violations that cause a fatality and authorizes penalties up to $50,000 for such violations (not less than $10,000 for employers with less than 25 employees), expand criminal sanctions for willful violations causing death to include “any responsible corporate officers” and sets forth increased criminal fines and prison terms up to 10 years for willful violations resulting in death, and 5 years for willful violations resulting in serious bodily harm, raise civil penalties for willful violations from a maximum of $70,000 to $120,000 and serious violations would be increased from $7000 to $12,000 and mandate OSHA investigation of every death and “serious incident” (hospitalization of two or more employees).

For more information on the Protecting America's Workers Act, click here or contact Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office, at 202/842-4864 or ss@wafed.com.

What Are Casting Buyers Thinking? Sales & Marketers Find Out on Aug. 5
Seize the opportunity to hear from and meet leading casting buyers at the What Are Casting Buyers Thinking conference on Aug. 5 at the Westin O'Hare, Rosemont, Ill.

Speakers include:

Keynote: State of the Manufacturing Economy: Metalcasting in Interesting Times, Greg Chaudoin, Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
U.S. Dept. of Defense Weapon Systems: Dean Hutchins, Castings Manufacturing Program Technology Manager, Defense Logistics Agency, Washington DC
Oil Field & Energy: Daniel Crane, Purchasing & Supplier Development, Kimray, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK
Farm Equipment & Agriculture: Donald Backens, Supply Base Manager-Raw Castings, Worldwide Agricultural Equipment Div., John Deere & Co., Cedar Falls, IA
Machining: Kirk Schildt, Purchasing, Hypro, Inc., Waterford, WI
Special Professional Seminar: Selling Has Nothing to Do with Selling, Rick Farrell, President, Tangent Knowledge Systems, Chicago IL
Brake Systems: Roberta Brecheisen, Commodity Manager Strategic Sourcing, Haldex Brake Products Corp., Grain Valley, MO
Military: Kyle Huff, Strategy Manager for Castings, Raytheon Co., Dallas, TX
Mining: Robert Mueller Jr., Casting Procurement Specialist, P&H Mining Equipment, Milwaukee, WI

Other attendee benefits include updated forecast data, a chance to meet tabletop exhibitors, featuring web designers, graphic artists, printers, marketing agencies and casting designers that can help you, drawings for free advertising design and free sales & marketing toolkits.

Register by July 1 to take advantage of the early bird special discount of $50. For more information or to register, visit www.afsinc.org/castingbuyer or contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237.

First Issue of Metalcasting Design & Purchasing Now Online
The first issue of Metalcasting Design & Purchasing, featuring the 2009 Casting of the Year, is now available at MetalCastingDesign.com.

The publication, formerly known as Engineered Casting Solutions, has been updated to reflect a deeper insight into its print readership. With new casting buyers and designers entering the marketplace every day, the name of the publication is meant to be familiar to the two job titles so they will immediately reach out for assistance.

The editorial presentation of the magazine also has been refocused. The goal is to appeal to a communications and web-savvy readership by providing casting design and purchasing information in an easy-to-read and reference format. The printed content also now includes more references to supplementary online materials.

Head over to http://www.metalcastingdesign.com/ to check out the new-look publication and see all the ways it is combining web and print capabilities.

Paper Submission Open for the 2009 Art Casting Conference
AFS is announcing a call for papers for the 2009 Art Casting Conference, which will be held November 12-13 at the Four Points by Sheraton & Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.

The 2009 Art Casting Conference will bring metalcasters and artists together, under the AFS banner, for the first time since 1990. Submission is open for papers covering all topics relating to the casting of art, including new technologies, procedures, equipment, materials and other innovations that have contributed to enhancing artistic metalcasting productivity and quality.

Tentatively scheduled after the close of the conference is an iron pour to be held at Scottsdale Community College (SCC), Scottsdale, Arizona, a conference co-sponsor. Instructor Ted Uran and students from SCC will host the event.

To submit a paper for the 2009 Art Casting Conference, contact Leo Baran at lbaran@afsinc.org or 800/537-4237 x207. Abstracts should be submitted no later than June 30.

Advance Your Career With Six Month Individual Membership
Now is the time to take advantage of the many membership benefits AFS has to offer, including the AFS Career Center, discounts on Cast Metals Institute courses and upcoming conferences, and access to information through the AFS Library and various AFS publications. Through June 30, any North American metalcaster can join AFS for six months for just $50.

This offer is only for the personal membership level and is not intended to reduce the cost of AFS membership long-term. The intention of the promotion is to allow those considering an AFS membership a means to take advantage of its membership benefits inexpensively in the short-term. Test drive an AFS membership today and let AFS take you around the next corner in your career.

To join, visit http://www.afsinc.org/index.php?option=com_surveys&Itemid=82&act=view_survey&survey=Membership%20Application, or contact Leo Baran, AFS membership director, at 800/537-4237 x 207 or lbaran@afsinc.org.

CMI Hits the Road With In-Plant Training
Save money by bringing the training you need in-house. CMI can offer most of our regular courses as in-plant training, allowing you to train your employees locally, eliminating travel costs and reducing out-of-work time. AFS Corporate Members receive discounted pricing.

For more information, or to request a quote, contact Jennifer Head, CMI special projects and course coordinator, at 800/537-4237 x 244 or jhead@afsinc.org.