As consumers become more environmentally conscious and demand grows for green initiatives, manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly seeking to offer eco-friendly manufacturing processes and sustainable product options.
Of all of the modern manufacturing methods available today, die casting, in particular, is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly processes. In fact, some of the highest-quality die casting materials are completely recyclable. Effectively meeting the tenets of the “reduce, reuse, and recycle” approach, die casting provides reliable results for a wide range of industries.
Reduce
Many metal casting methods necessitate a sand mold, which can only be used once and must be repressed for every casting. This uses a tremendous amount of energy — as much as 7% of all energy required by these processes. Die casting, by contrast, uses a die. While more difficult to manufacture, dies can be used 100,000 times or more before needing to be replaced.
This energy-efficient process thereby produces a much smaller carbon footprint than other manufacturing methods.
Reuse
When a die casting die has finally reached the end of its useful lifespan, it doesn’t need to be discarded or even recycled. Instead, dies can be shipped to specialty mills for retooling to accommodate different, slightly larger products. Dies can also be fully recast, and even in direct recasting scenarios, minimal processing is required, helping to reduce the carbon footprint and keep raw material use low.
Recycling
The materials used in die casting are easily recyclable. Aluminum, the most commonly used metal in die casting, is cost effective, energy efficient, and easy to recycle. Also, aluminum die extrusion — a recycling method that does not require melting, as most others do — produces high yields of usable material while requiring very little energy input.
In 2003, well over 50% of new aluminum production in the United States came from recycled aluminum, and today, virtually every die cast product contains some post-consumer recycled aluminum. In fact, as many as 95% of aluminum die casts use nothing but recycled material.
Aside from keeping costs down, reducing carbon footprints, and preventing tons of material from ending up in landfills, the high recyclability of die cast aluminum also helps limit the frequency of active mining.
How to Learn More
The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) is the largest die casting organization in the continent, representing die casters across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Proudly advocating on behalf of the industry, we offer an extensive library of industry resources and comprehensive training programs.
To learn more about the environmental benefits of die casting, download our new eBook, Die Casting: Efficient Manufacturing.
Since the Great Recession in 2008, applications for high-pressure die casting (HPDC) have experienced a major surge. HPDC is one of the most widely used metal forming processes thanks largely to its versatility, accuracy and repeatability. The automotive industry alone accounts for over half of the die casting industry’s current output.
HPDC in the Automotive Industry
There are several reasons HPDC is a popular method within the automotive industry. For starters, automotive designers quickly realized the potential in HPDC based on its ability to successfully achieve crash and safety-critical application requirements. HPDC also helps the growing interest in overall improved consumption by reducing weight of vehicles.
Other benefits of HPDC in automotive applications include dimensional repeatability, cost-efficiency and superior finish.
Growing List of Alloys
Major alloys that account for most of the die castings produced in North America today are aluminum, magnesium, zinc and zinc aluminum. Alloys specifically designed for use in die casting have evolved greatly over time. The original three materials used in die casting were lead, tin and zinc, each of which are still used today. These materials have low melting points and high malleability, while aluminum and magnesium are lighter than steel and have high strengths and strength-to-weight ratios.
One material that has recently been added to die casting alloys is strontium. This highly reactive metallic element protects against die soldering, allows for reduction in iron levels and strengthens die cast aluminum. Another newer alloy suited to HPDC automotive application is A380, which features more elongation than other alloys. It is a low iron, high copper alloy to which strontium can be added, and it possesses good tensile, yield, impact and sheer strengths.
Newer forms of die casting technologies and variant procedures include squeeze casting, semi-solid metal casting and vacuum die casting, all of which are implemented to manufacture a near infinite array of parts for many different industries.
About NADCA
The North American Die Casting Design Association is proud to have funded research and development that have led to the discovery of aluminum alloy A380. NADCA is committed to providing useful resources related to product specification standards for die casting along with many other educational materials to aid in the designing of an optimized die cast product.
Download our eBook, Die Casting Advancements, for more information on the latest technological advancements of die cast products.
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., — G.W. Smith and Sons, a Quaker Chemical Company, is a leading innovator in the die cast lubricant industry is always taking initiatives to address customer needs with an insider’s understanding and the expertise to formulate specialized solutions for die casters worldwide. To help support their customer’s needs, G.W. Smith has expanded their product portfolio in the die casting industry with the addition of new high performance plunger lubricants PLUNGER SLICK(TM) 200T and PLUNGER SLICK(TM) WB10T, and new robotic greases QUAKERTEK(TM) AXIAL 00-32 and QUAKERTEK(TM) LS 032B-EP.
PLUNGER SLICK(TM) 200T and PLUNGER SLICK(TM) WB10-T are a high performance plunger lubricant formulated for aluminum die casting operations. Engineered chemistries provide excellent boundary protection for plunger tips and shot sleeves. Key benefits include strong adherence to plunger tip, extended tip and sleeve life reducing cycle times and clean and bright castings.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Register Today for the Die Casting Congress Tabletop – Final Week to Use Coupon Code and Receive Advance Registration Pricing
Attendee Registration for the 2014 Die Casting Congress Tabletop is open. The Die Casting Congress and Tabletop will be held September 22-24, 2014, at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI.
This event will feature three days of Congress sessions, technical and management presentations that will be given by experts from around the world. These presentations will expose metalcasters to the latest technology, ongoing research and successful management tools that will assist companies in enhancing their competitiveness.
In addition to the Congress sessions, this exposition will feature more than 130 exhibitors, the International Die Casting Design Competition, the Die Casting Awards Lunch and a special new event, Afterhours with the Exhibitors.
Advanced registration pricing has now ended. Are you interested in continuing to get early registration pricing? Simply use coupon code TABLETOPNEWS at the time of checkout to receive the advanced registration rate. This offer is only good until September 12 and is valid ONLY when registering online. The coupon code discount is only available at the time of checkout. No refunds will be issued for failure to apply this code at the time of checkout.
The Die Casting Congress Tabletop is an exclusive event to the die casting industry and its suppliers. For more information or to register please click here.
We hope to see you there!
Kickoff Fall with NADCA National Education Courses
NADCA’s education division is excited to announce the release of the 2014 Fall Education Schedule. This fall NADCA will be offering the following courses:
EC-205 Quick Die Change – September 29
EC-515 Die Casting Defects – September 30
EC-806 Die Casting Cost Estimating – October 1
EC-700 PQ2 – October 6
EC-514 Gating Design – October 7-8
EC-506 Engineering Die Casting Dies – October 20-21
EC-606 Product Design – October 22
EC-410 Process Control – October 27
EC-420 Machine Systems – October 28
EC-430 Process Monitoring – October 29
EC-415 Thermal Design & Control – November 3-4
Don’t miss out on your chance to gain valuable knowledge about die casting parts and processes! To registering for a course click here. To register for multiple courses simply add each course you would like to register for in your cart then check out.
If you would like to learn about other education services NADCA offers please visit: www.diecasting.org/education or contact Melisa Ryzner at 847.808.3161.
In a front-page article, the New York Times reports the Administration is working to forge a sweeping international climate change agreement that requires countries to reduce fossil fuel emissions, but the White House is seeking to move forward ;without ratification from Congress. The agreement is expected to be signed at the United Nations summit meeting in 2015 in Paris. To sidestep Senate ratification, according to the Times, the Administration is devising what they call a politically binding deal that would name and shame countries into cutting their emissions.French Ambassador for Climate Change to the UN Laurence Tubiana said, There’s a strong understanding of the difficulties of the U.S. situation, and a willingness to work with the US to get out of this impasse.
Register Today for the Die Casting Congress Tabletop – Hotel Blocks Close August 29
Attendee Registration for the 2014 Die Casting Congress Tabletop is open! The Die Casting Congress and Tabletop will be held September 22-24, 2014, at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI.
This event will feature three days of Congress sessions, technical and management presentations that will be given by experts from around the world. These presentations will expose metalcasters to the latest technology, ongoing research and successful management tools that will assist companies in enhancing their competitiveness.
In addition to the Congress sessions, this exposition will feature more than 130 exhibitors, the International Die Casting Design Competition, the Die Casting Awards Lunch and a special new event, Afterhours with the Exhbitors.
The Die Casting Congress Tabletop is an exclusive event to the die casting industry and its suppliers. For more information or to register please click here.
The hotel blocks for this event close August 29. Please visit Hotel Information for additional contact information. To make a reservation online just click on the hotel you wish to make a reservation at from the list below. Please note, availability is limited so act now.
We hope to see you there!
Washington Post: EPA Rules Cumbersome And Expensive
A Washington Post (8/25) editorial that is critical of Congress for not being proactive about passing environmental policies in response to climate change argues that President Obama has “filled the policy void with executive actions designed to cut greenhouse emissions” through rules by the EPA. The Post characterizes the rules as “a cumbersome and expensive way to slash emissions.” It suggests that “industry may press for more efficient policies that sting companies and consumers less,” and the Post says they will be adding their voice to the debate to point out strategies that work better and explain why the EPA’s efforts “are not ideal.”
NAM Urges EPA To Step Back From Emissions Regulations.The NAM ‘s Shopfloor (8/26) blog post says that the Washington Post editorial “could do worse” than to call the new regulations “cumbersome” and “expensive.” These words were “repeatedly heard” from the industries to be affected by the regulations during hearings on the rule in July. The blog also notes the likelihood of “dramatic” energy price increases as one reason manufacturers find it hard to support the policy – “particularly when foreign competitors arent paying” similar prices and are “more than offsetting” US reductions in emissions. The posting also notes “troubling…uncertainty and questions” about the new regulations legal basis, as well as the need for uninterrupted electricity. The blog finishes by saying, “its time for the EPA to take a step back…for the Administration to remove the arbitrary deadlines,” and “to explore better ways” to establish our nations environmental and energy policies.
The New York Times reports that with the end of the “harshest winter in recent memory” approaching, Americans are receiving their growing natural gas and electricity heating bills. The Times says that “there might not be relief in future winters, as the coal-fired power plants that utilities have relied on to meet the surge in demand are shuttered for environmental reasons.” While the “sticker shock” has been particularly severe in the Northeast, with its limited natural gas supplies, it has “spread to other regions of the country, including the Midwest, where utilities have had to draw on more expensive reserves to meet the demand.” With coal plants shutting down due to Federal regulations, there could be even “bigger price increases” next year.
Alliance Magnesium to Build Pilot Plant in Canada
Privately-owned Alliance Magnesium has unveiled plans to build a pilot plant in the Asbestos region of Canada in order to confirm the economic viability of a new technology for producing clean magnesium.
The Quebec-based company, which has developed a patented electrolysis clean technology for the production of magnesium from serpentine rock, said construction of the pilot plant is the first step towards eventually operating a plant with a production capacity of 50,000 tonnes a year of metallic magnesium.
The project consists of building a pilot factory with a production capacity of 25 kilograms a day in order to confirm the different elements of the technology.
“With a pilot factory, we will be testing a new clean process for producing the metal from tailings of serpentine rock from the Jeffrey mine,” said Dr. Joël Fournier, president and ceo of Alliance Magnesium.
“For us, this pilot factory stage is essential before proceeding to the other stages of the project, because we will be able to operate the different equipment and reproduce the actual magnesium production steps.”
The company noted that the awarding of an interest-free loan for $2.25 million from the Economic Diversification Fund for the Regional County Municipality of Les Sources will allow it to go forward with a $10 million investment project.
-Sean Barry, New York (sean@metal-pages.com)
Keep Up-to-date on the Forecast of the Die Casting Industry
Every year NADCA releases the State of the Industry report. This report educates the die casting industry on specific data and forecasts the shape of the industry, present and future. NADCA has created a two part webinar series designed to keep you informed throughout the year on the health of the major markets that die castings serve and shipments from countries around the world. NADCA’s President, Daniel Twarog, will present the following information in this series:
Part 1 – State of the Industry 2014: This webinar will look at the current state of the die casting industry. It will also contain information on industry financials, benchmarks and market trends. Twarog will provide information on energy and metal forecasts as well as the industry shipment forecast for 2014. Industry productivity and technology trends will also be discussed. In addition, this webinar will provide information on finding and keeping qualified employees. Much of the material has been developed exclusively for this webinar.
Date: March 13, 2014
Cost: Corporate Members $49.00
Non-Corporate Members $99.00
Part 2 – State of the Die Casting Industry – 6 Month Review: This webinar will look at the state of the die casting industry in North America in 2014 after six months of shipments. It will review earlier forecasts and provide forecasts for the remainder of 2014 and for 2015. The forecasts for end markets in 2014 and in some cases 2015 will be updated.
Date: October 9, 2014
Cost: Corporate Members $49.00
Non-Corporate Members $99.00
Purchasing this two part series together is only $88 for Corporate Members and $188 for Non-Corporate Members! These 60-minute presentation will not only address important information on the topic but also provide adequate time for questions, answers, and discussion.
There is no online registration available for this webinar. If you would like to sign up for this webinar please contact Athena Catlett at 847.808.3153 or via email at catlett@diecasting.org.
On January 15, 2014, the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) submitted formal testimony to the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection for the hearing titled, “Regulating Financial Holding Companies and Physical Commodities.”
“Long lead times, supply shortages, outmoded contract terms, and illogical pricing contribute to instability in the aluminum market. This drives down manufacturing productivity and encourages customers to seek overseas suppliers,” said NADCA President Dan Twarog.
This is the second Senate hearing investigating ownership of metals warehouses by banks and holding companies and their relationship with the London Metals Exchange (LME). Aluminum is one of the metals central to the warehousing investigations and subject of three lawsuits against holding companies such as Goldman Sachs, which own metals warehouses.
In February 2013, according to data from the LME, the queue to remove metal from warehouses they oversee in Detroit reached 400 days. In June 2013, some users reported 16-month wait times for aluminum from order to delivery. In May 2013, NADCA met with representatives of the LME to discuss concerns over wait times, among other issues, with the North American Special Aluminum Alloy Contract (NASAAC). The Association considered withdrawing its support of the NASAAC and remains concerned about terms applied to aluminum contracts.
To view the NADCA testimony submitted to the Senate Banking Subcommittee, click here.
NADCA-Endorsed Save American Workers Act Advances; Employer Mandate Delayed Again
The House Committee on Ways and Mean approved the Save American Workers Act of 2013, H.R. 2575, endorsed by the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA). The legislation changes the definition of a “full-time employee” from 30-hours to 40-hours for the purposes of the employer mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Introduced Rep. Todd Young (R-IN), the bill will standardize the definition bringing it in line with what most of the country considers “full-time” and helps to prevent businesses from having to reduce the hours of their workers to fall under the 30-hour threshold. NADCA signed a letter urging the Committee to move on the bill.
“As is the case with every employer in America, health care is a significant cost for NADCA members,” said NADCA President Daniel Twarog. “This bill will help bring the definition of a full time employee in line with other workplace laws.”
The bill is now ready for full consideration by the House of Representatives. In the Senate, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) are the lead sponsors of the bipartisan effort. The bill is gaining momentum as the Administration announced it would again delay the employer mandate for mid-size businesses. Under this new delay, firms with between 50 and 99 employees would have until January 1, 2016 before they must offer health insurance to their full-time workers. Employers with 100 workers or more can avoid the penalty by showing that they offer coverage to at least 70 percent of their full-time employees in 2015 and 95 percent of full-time employees in 2016.
Time is Running Out to Register Company for Annual Die Casting Safety Award
NADCA’s acclaimed annual Safety Award Program is only accepting applications through 2/28. Awards are given for Perfect and Outstanding Safety Records for die casting companies and suppliers to the industry. Only NADCA Corporate Members are eligible for this program. There are two award levels: the Perfect Award recognizes the facilities that operated all of 2013 without a reportable injury or illness, and the Outstanding Award honors operations with reportable injury or illness level that was below the national average for all manufacturing of 4.4%. The criteria to receive Outstanding honors was changed to 4.4% in 2013 (previously 7%) based on improved safety standards and conditions in the manufacturing industry.
Winning companies will be notified of their award status in early March and are recognized in print, via Die Casting Engineer magazine and LINKS magazine. The Safety Awards will be honored during NADCA’s Die Casting Congress and Tabletop in Milwaukee, KY in September. Applications must be received by February 28, 2014, so gather those records and start and apply soon! To find the program criteria and entry form, please visit:www.diecasting.org/safety/award.
Reuters (1/8, Lynch) reports two judges on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit voiced skepticism about a Securities and Exchange Commission rule requiring certain manufacturers to disclose whether their goods contain certain minerals from war-torn regions of Africa. The National Association of Manufacturers, the US Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable filed to block the SEC’s “conflict minerals” rule law in October 2012. NAM and the other business groups contend the current SEC rule imposes too many costs and goes beyond the intent of Congress. They also argue that the rule violates First Amendment freedoms by forcing manufacturers to condemn their own products.
The Wall Street Journal (1/7, Dipietro) “Risk & Compliance Journal” blog reported NAM and the other business groups said in a statement following the proceedings, “We understand the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and abhor the violence in that country. We believe, however, that the SEC’s corporate disclosure rule is not an effective approach to solving this serious humanitarian challenge.” The business groups also said, “In issuing its final rule, the SEC made several regulatory choices that place unprecedented and extreme compliance burdens on America’s job creators without ending violence in the DRC. We believe we have strong arguments and look forward to the D.C. Circuit’s decision.”
The Wall Street Journal (1/8, Ackerman, Subscription Publication) reports Judges David Sentelle and A. Raymond Randolph expressed concerns with the regulation. Judge Sentelle said he thought the rule was written more broadly than required by 2010 Dodd-Frank law. Also, Judges Sentelle and Randolph appeared to agree with at least some of the free-speech concerns raised by NAM and the other groups.
EPA Releases RCRA “e-Manifests” Rule
The U.S. EPA issued a rule on January 15 formally authorizing the use of “e-Manifests”, which Congress created in 2012 to track hazardous waste. The new system replaces the paper manifest system tracking waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The rule covers all federal and state-regulated waste requiring manifests, which track shipments of hazardous waste from its origin to the disposal site. The Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act requires that a system be up and running by October 2015. The rule paves the way for e-Manifests which the EPA estimates will save over 300,000 labor hours. This is part of broader government-wide initiative to move to electronic reporting systems where much of the information will become public.
As Recovery Gains Steam, Employment Could Exceed Pre-Recession Peak In 2014
The Wall Street Journal (12/30, Cronin, Subscription Publication) reports that indicators including recent strength in GDP, industrial production and construction indicate suggest that by mid-2014, total jobs could surpass their pre-recession peak. Economists in the Journal’s most recent survey were optimistic, predicting on average the in 2014, the US will add 198,000 a month. That rate would put the nation on pace to reach pre-recession job levels before July.
The Wall Street Journal (12/30, A1, Timiraos, Subscription Publication) reports that home prices have climbed back to all-time highs in 10 of the 50 largest US cities, according to a Journal analysis of price data from Zillow. The Journal notes, however, that these cities are generally exceptions and prices in many parts of the nation remain below peak. According to the Journal in 1,500 cities, values remain at least 25% below previous highs.
In his column for the Washington Post (12/30, Samuelson), Robert Samuelson that with many “economic ‘fundamentals’ improving simultaneously,” including a strengthening job market, declining household debt, a continuing housing recovery, and corporations “awash in cash,” the “case for a healthier recovery now seems the most plausible since the recession’s nadir in mid-2009.” Samuelson notes, however, that a stronger recovery “presumes that consumers and companies respond to good news as in the past” which they may not do.
Reuters (12/30, Bruce) reports that the world economy should break a three year run of declining growth in 2014, but the upswing will likely be incremental. While investors and analysts are confident going into 2014, structural problems and imbalances remain and many economists believe the world economy will continue to see modest growth. Reuters notes that much of the optimism in financial markets is a result of an improving outlook for the US, which appears to be on pace for faster growth in 2014.
Focus On “Inexpensive” Stocks Seen As A Sign Rally Could Continue Into 2014. The Wall Street Journal (12/30, Scaggs, Subscription Publication) reports that with investors focusing on “inexpensive” stocks this year’s stock rally could continue into 2014. Some money managers see the better-than-average gains posted by these stocks as a sign of the market’s health. Their strong performance this year is an indication that investors are willing to take more risks but continue to be cautious about their portfolios.
In a press release, the National Association of Manufacturers (12/9) said the latest NAM/IndustryWeek “Survey of Manufacturers shows that skyrocketing health care costs and the troubled implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have created a significant and harmful level of uncertainty for manufacturers in the” US. The survey found that more “than 77 percent of manufacturers identified rising health care and insurance costs as their most important challenge.” The survey also found that more “than 90 percent of manufacturers stated their health insurance premiums had increased, and a significant portion have had to increase employee copays (58.6 percent), reduce coverage (27.7 percent) and/or change insurance providers (17.6 percent) to lower their costs.”
In IndustryWeek (12/10, Beaulieu) Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for NAM, wrote that the ACA and the accompanying uncertainties “have placed a roadblock in manufacturers’ efforts to” grow. About one-third of manufacturers said they had reduced their outlook for next year. In addition, 23 percent “had reduced employment or stopped hiring.” Also, 20 percent reduced their business investment.
The Hill (12/10, Hattem) “Regwatch” blog reported Aric Newhouse, NAM’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Government relations, said in a statement, “Costs and uncertainty are up, and manufacturers’ optimism is down thanks to the healthcare reform law.”
The Daily Caller (12/10, May) reports Newhouse said, “The health care law has weighed heavily on manufacturers all year long – and their concerns are not going away. It is standing in the way of manufacturing growth by seriously limiting investment and job creation.”
NADCA Comments on PM2.5 Air Quality Regulations
The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) submitted formal comments to several state governments about pending air quality control regulations. The U.S. EPA is working on its 24-Hour Fine Particle (PM2.5) Naional Ambient Air Quality Standards which will impact every manufacturing business in the country. Under EPA guidelines, in December 2013 states must submit their recommendations to the federal government about which areas they should designate as attaining the required air quality control levels.
If a region receives a nonattainment designation, the government can place significant restrictions on economic activity. Regulators will impose additional conditions on manufacturing facility expansion, new equipment purchases, and new facility construction. These restrictions will not only hurt manufacturing in America but restrict job growth and economic development in areas designated as nonattainment zones.
NADCA President Dan Twarog in a letter to state policymakers said, “NADCA believes that state governments should do all they can to foster an environment which encourages manufacturing in America, not erect self-imposed barriers.”
NADCA submitted comments to Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, asking their state regulators not to restrict manufacturing activity by recommending a nonattainment designation for areas within their boundaries. Several have already indicated they will submit NADCA’s comments to the EPA along with their state’s recommendations. While NADCA typically focusses its efforts on lobbying the federal government, the Association took the extraordinary step of weighing in with state regulators on such an important issue.
Upcoming NADCA Webinars
Attending a webinar is an excellent way to obtain vital information without the hassle or cost of travel. This 60-minute presentation will not only address important information on the topic but also provide adequate time for questions, answers, and discussion.
UPCOMING WEBINARS:
Optimizing Die Casting with PQ2 – December 18,2013
In 2004, longtime local manufacturer Madison-Kipp Corp. was enjoying steady success as a supplier of mostly engine-related parts for large trucks and SUVs.
But its customer base was too one-dimensional, company leaders for the family-owned metal parts maker feared. Madison-Kipp, currently in its 115th year of operation, including the past 110 years in the same location on Madison’s East Side, needed to diversify.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
NADCA Signs Letter Objecting to European Conflict Minerals Proposal
The North American Die Casting Association sent a formal protest to the U.S. Government raising concerns about the European Union’s world-wide conflict minerals system. As part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, publicly traded manufacturing companies are required to collect information from all their suppliers on whether Tin, Tungsten, Tantalum, or Gold (3T+G) from the Congo or surrounding companies exist in their products. The European Commission is poised to release an initiative in the coming weeks to require reporting of these minerals from any country, and not just the Congo and neighboring African nations.
“It is already very difficult for downstream suppliers like NADCA members to identify whether any of these minerals originate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries,” said NADCA president Daneil Twarog. “Expanding this rule to a world-wide system will only add the burdens of manufacturing in America without addressing its primary goal to address the underlying issue of conflict minerals.”
In the letter to Secretaries of State John Kerry, Commerce Penny Pritzker, and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, NADCA called on U.S. Government leaders to work with the European Union to develop uniform guidelines and not take unilateral action. The U.S. conflict minerals law has already proven overly burdensome and called ineffective by many. Expanding the requirement to global reporting is even more difficult for the much smaller downstream suppliers who must provide this information or risk losing a customer.
Even the new Chair of the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) tasked with overseeing compliance with the U.S. conflict minerals rule expressed concern and said the law falls outside of the regulator’s mission. European regulators are expected to reveal their world-wide conflict minerals rule in the coming weeks. NADCA and its allies are urging U.S. officials to oppose this move in the U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership being negotiated now.
Careers in Manufacturing During National Manufacturing Day
Madison-Kipp Corporation hosted nearly 100 students from Madison’s La Follette and East High Schools during an event held for National Manufacturers Day.
“Today’s manufacturing facility is a high-tech, dynamic workplace that provides family-sustaining jobs to highly skilled workers,” says Mark Meunier, Vice President of Human Resources for Madison-Kipp Corporation. “We are proud to show the next generation of Wisconsin’s workforce the exciting career opportunities available in manufacturing.”
During their tour of Madison-Kipp, students saw 21st century manufacturing in action. Madison-Kipp’s experienced workforce utilizes state-of-the-art technology and engineering in a clean, safe environment to produce components used by a wide variety of industry sectors. Students also learned about lifelong career pathways within manufacturing with the assistance of Madison-Kipp employees and Madison College representatives who were on hand to explain about the available options and answer any questions
The students were very interested in the wide range of opportunities available to them as they contemplated their future work and career plans. Click here to view a short video of the students’ experiences during their visit at Madison-Kipp Corporation.
Whilst the exports of the six CEMAFON countries – Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom – were still following the global trend with an increase in deliveries by 30 per cent in 2011, they registered a drop of 21 per cent in 2012 in comparison to the previous year. At 261 million euros, exports were back at the pre-crisis level of 2008, but this was not enough to maintain the 34 per cent market share of that time. The global market share of the European high pressure die-cutting machine industry is currently 28 per cent.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Supreme Court to Hear Greenhouse Gas Case
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday, October 15, to hear a challenge to Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources, such as power plants, factories and refineries.
“We applaud the Supreme Court for their decision to review EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations from stationary sources,” said NADCA President Dan Twarog. “Regulations such as this onerous and costly permitting process add to the burden and costs of manufacturing in America.”
A 2007 decision required the EPA to regulate the emissions of GHGs from new motor vehicles if it was found that the emissions endangered public health or welfare. In 2010, the EPA issued such a finding, that “elevated concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere” pose a danger to “current and future generations.” As such, the EPA determined that they could also extend their authority to set permit standards for fixed sources as well as vehicles.
The Supreme Court will review the EPA permitting program for stationary sources that began taking effect in 2011 and consider “Whether EPA permissibly determined that its regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles triggered permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act for stationary sources that emit greenhouse gases.” The Court, however, will not be reviewing the EPA’s finding that greenhouse gasses pose a threat to public health or the EPA’s authority to regulation GHGs in general. Oral arguments are set to occur this winter with justices handing down a decision by June.
Madison-Kipp Promotes Careers in Manufacturing During National Manufacturing Day
Madison-Kipp Corporation hosted nearly 100 students from Madison’s La Follette and East High Schools during an event held for National Manufacturers Day.
“Today’s manufacturing facility is a high-tech, dynamic workplace that provides family-sustaining jobs to highly skilled workers,” says Mark Meunier, Vice President of Human Resources for Madison-Kipp Corporation. “We are proud to show the next generation of Wisconsin’s workforce the exciting career opportunities available in manufacturing.”
During their tour of Madison-Kipp, students saw 21st century manufacturing in action. Madison-Kipp’s experienced workforce utilizes state-of-the-art technology and engineering in a clean, safe environment to produce components used by a wide variety of industry sectors. Students also learned about lifelong career pathways within manufacturing with the assistance of Madison-Kipp employees and Madison College representatives who were on hand to explain about the available options and answer any questions
The students were very interested in the wide range of opportunities available to them as they contemplated their future work and career plans. Click here to view a short video of the students’ experiences during their visit at Madison-Kipp Corporation.
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