U.S. Metalcasting Webinar: Is Safety Really First?

U.S. Metalcasting Webinar: Is Safety Really First?
It has been said that workers are the most valuable asset for a metalcasting facility. How well are we protecting that asset? Although we have improved in recent years, the metalcasting industry’s record for worker safety still lags behind other manufacturing sectors. It is time for an increased awareness of safety and an enhanced effort to raise awareness of potential hazards and dangers in our plants.

Join us for a complimentary webinar July 21 at 11:00 EST (10:00 CST) that will replay the 113^th Metalcasting Congress' President's Session on safety. During this 60 minute webinar you will hear facts about our industry’s safety record, learn how safety can be planned for and controlled and hear a case study from a metalcasting facility that has achieved 2 million hours without a lost time accident. To register for this webinar, click here.

For more information, contact Becky Erickson, AFS technical assistant, at 800/537-4237 x 246 or rebecca@afsinc.org.

Beneficial Reuse of Sand Heightened With New AFS-FIRST Consortium
In an effort to further promote beneficial reuse of sand in the metalcasting industry, AFS is announcing a new consortium in conjunction with Foundry Industry Recycling Starts Today (FIRST). The new organization, which is now called AFS-FIRST, is currently developing a plan to aid the metalcasting industry in recycling 50% of sand used in its facilities by 2015.

Beyond that goal, other organizational purposes include promotion of the reduction, reuse and recycling of metalcasting industry by-products through education, research and information dissemination, development of educational partnerships with governmental agencies, universities, industry associations and other corporations, and conducting and sponsoring research in cooperation with governmental agencies, universities, industry associations and other corporations.

In addition, AFS will be working on integrating the existing FIRST website from its current domain, which can be located at www.foundryrecycling.org, to www.afsinc.org/first.

Climate Change Update: Mark-Up of Senate Cap-and-Trade Bill Postponed
Chairman Boxer (D-Calif.) has postponed the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee mark-up of a Senate cap-and-trade bill until September. She had initially pledged to pass a cap-and-trade bill through her committee by the end of the month.

The delay will give Boxer more time to work on legislative text, which she previously said to expect in a matter of days. Boxer now says she may not introduce the bill until after the recess. It will be modeled on the Waxman-Markey bill (H.R. 2454) that narrowly passed the U.S. House in late June.

While the Senate EPW committee is taking the lead on drafting a cap-and-trade bill, several other Senate committees will have input into the final version of the bill that will be placed before the Senate floor for consideration. Majority Leader Reid (D-Nev.) has extended the markup deadline for all committees by ten days, from September 18th to the 28th. Democrats are aiming to have a House and Senate approved bill signed by President Obama before the December International Climate Change Negotiations in Copenhagen.

For more information, contact Alicia Oman, Metalcasters Alliance for Government Affairs Washington, D.C. office, at aoman@afsinc.org or 202/842-4864.

Successful Leaders, Leading Firms to Speak at Executive Conference
Many challenges face our industry, making this a crucial time for us to stay ahead of the pack. What strategies are metalcasting facilities utilizing to compete in today’s global marketplace? How is your facility measuring up to safety and health excellence? What is the status of the current political landscape? All of these questions and more will be addressed at the 2009 Foundry Executive Conference, which will be held Sept. 20-22 at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, Calif.

Featured topics include:

Beyond Employee Retention–Developing an Inclusionary Culture, Tim McMillin, Fairmount Minerals
The Application of the Golden Rule for Life and Business, Van Richey, ACIPCO
Reality Becomes Perception: McWane’s Success Story and the Public Campaign Behind It, Michelle Clemon, McWane Industries
Achieving Safety and Health Excellence–Being in the Top Five Most Dangerous Industries is Nothing to Brag About, Ed Foulke, Fisher & Phillips

Special events include a tour of the MCAS Miramar, which is home to the 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing of the U.S. Marine Corps, known as “America’s 9-1-1 Force.” Guests will view combat-tested aircraft as part of the tour of the flight line. Active duty Marines will introduce guests to the Marine Corps aviators. To take advantage of the MCAS tour, you must register by Sept. 1.

For more information or to register for the 2009 Executive Conference, visit www.afsinc.org/events or contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237.

Last Chance: What Are Casting Buyers Thinking Conference Filling Fast
Seats are filling fast for 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;
U.S. Dept. of Defense Weapon Systems: Dean Hutchins, Castings Manufacturing Program Technology Manager, Defense Logistics Agency, Washington, D.C.;
Oil Field & Energy: Daniel Crane, Purchasing & Supplier Development, Kimray Inc., Oklahoma City.

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 and marketing toolkits.

For more information or to register, visit www.afsinc.org/castingbuyer or contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237.

Compilation on Magnesium Casting Technology Released
AFS recently released a new publication titled Casting Magnesium. This special compilation CD contains papers that were previously published from 2001-2009 in the Transactions of the American Foundry Society and MODERN CASTING magazine.

This compilation provides an up-to-date look at magnesium castings, applications, design and technology. The 55 papers are fully searchable for ease of use, and the publication is divided into three major sections:

magnesium casting market trends;
metallurgy and microstructure;
casting process development.

Research and development activities led by the AFS Magnesium Div. 6 and its academic and research partners are included within this publication. It is anticipated that these ongoing developments by these dedicated individuals and groups will lead to sustainable growth for cast magnesium far into the future.

For more information or to purchase this new publication, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237 or estoreservices@afsinc.org.

What Do You Do When OSHA Shows Up? Find Out at Complimentary Webinar
AFS will be producing a complimentary webinar on what to do when the Occupational Health and Safety Administration shows up. The webinar will be held July 23 at 11 a.m. EST. and is intended to discuss:

OSHA Inspection Priorities;
OSHA Inspection Procedures;
Records Needed During an OSHA Inspection;
“Do List” …Considerations During Inspections;
“Don’t List”…. What Not to Do During Inspections.

To register for this webinar, click here or contact Dave Krugman, AFS PR and marketing coordinator, at 800/537-4237 x 286 or dkrugman@afsinc.org.

Casting Congressman Speaks at Moderncasting.com
U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) grew up the son of a diecaster and worked in his father's facility for several years. He recently took some time to talk with MODERN CASTING about how his industrial past has influenced his legislative present.

CMI Offers Chemically Bonded Molding & Coremaking Course
CMI will be offering a Chemically Bonded Molding & Coremaking course Aug. 18-20 at the Hampton Inn & Suites Charlotte Airport, Charlotte, N.C.

Each of the chemical binder systems and molding is reviewed in this course, along with equipment, processing and washes. It also will cover all core processes and their effective application (cold box, heat activated and air-set), as well as related defects.

For more information or to attend this course, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237, or click here to register.

Looking for more information on chemically bonded molding & coremaking? The publication Shell Process Foundry Practice can help. AFS Special Publications has everything you need to supplement your metalcasting training. Visit the AFS E-Store today.