General Motors, long known as a designer of relatively heavy car and trucks, turned a lot of heads last year when its all-new Cadillac ATS compact sports sedan arrived as the lightest vehicle in its segment.
Now the automaker duplicates that feat with the redesigned Cadillac CTS midsize sedan, arriving at U.S. dealers in the coming weeks, proving its new lightweighting strategy is not a one-and-done phenomenon.
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NADCA Endorsed Regulation Oversight Bill Passes House Committee
On Wednesday, September 18, the U.S. House Committee on Small Business passed the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2013 endorsed by the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA). Among the top priorities for the Association is stopping burdensome and ineffective regulations before they take effect and this bill is an important part of that effort.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) of 1980 requires federal agencies to assess the economic impact of their regulations on small businesses. If an agency determines the impact is significant, it must consider alternatives which are less burdensome on those being regulated. However, for the past several years, many federal regulators have ignored this requirement and not conducted a full review of the impact a regulation would have on small businesses.
The Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2013, sponsored by Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL), removes many of the provisions that agencies use to avoid complying with the small business requirements in the Regulatory Flexibility Act. An estimate from the Congressional Budget Office said the bill may cost the federal government $45 million over five years to comply with the law – an estimate far below the costs to small businesses of the burdensome regulations issued by agencies.
New EPA Regs Could Hurt Die Casting
US EPA proposals to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from power plants could have negative, long-term effects on the die casting industry, according to the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA).
To view the rest of this article, click here.
NADCA will be involved in a DoE funded program to help sort different grades of aluminum. Energy Research Company (ERCo) will develop a new automated manufacturing process that can produce a finished product from mixed metal scrap in a single processing step. Unlike most current approaches, ERCo’s process can distinguish and sort multiple grades of aluminum scrap for recycling. Aluminum production from scrap is currently a costly, energy-intensive process that creates significant carbon dioxide emissions. If successful, ERCo’s new manufacturing process will enable the efficient and cost-effective sorting and recycling of scrap aluminum.
For more information contact: Daniel Twarog.
Laine Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applicants
Each year, the David Laine Internship & Scholarship Program provides scholarships to college students that have interned with die casting companies/companies that are suppliers to the die casting industry. Last year, successful applicants were awarded with a combined scholarship of $9,000. Additionally, any graduate engineering student may be eligible to apply for the Steven J. Harmon Scholarship. To learn more about these opportunities, please click here.
The application deadline is October 1.
2013 Die Casting Congress and Tabletop Raises the Bar for Future Shows
The North American Die Casting Association’s Die Casting Congress & Tabletop was held on September 16-18 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY. On the heels of last year’s successful Expo, NADCA was very excited to once again have the chance to host the premier event for the North American die casting industry. The event attracted over 780 attendees (over 334 different companies were represented) and 110 companies showcased the latest technology, research and services available to the die casting industry.
“The tabletop shows are a great value for exhibitors. I received high quality leads that are industry specific. By exhibiting I have the opportunity not only to reach the die casting industry but also to support the association,” said Michael Hicks, Vice President, DMS.
This event featured three days of Congress sessions during which technical and management presentations were given by experts from around the world. These presentations offered sessions in several different fields of metalcasting including: advanced technologies, die materials, computer modeling, cast materials, die welding, equipment and process control, machine & equipment, die surface and injection systems & tooling.
“The technical presentations at this year’s congress sessions were among the best ever to accompany a Tabletop show. Investigators demonstrated a unique understanding of applicable scientific principles and practical die cast issues. In addition all the sessions I attended were void of annoying attempts at salesmanship. Session attendance was very good with few empty seats even in the late afternoon,” Andrew D. Behler, P. E., Vice President, Blue Ridge Pressure Castings Inc.
NADCA would like to thank everyone involved in this year’s show, including sponsors, exhibitors, authors, speakers and all the attendees who contributed to the success of the 2013 Die Casting Congress & Tabletop. We will continue to work hard to provide the best shows possible for our industry. We look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee next year!
U.S. federal agencies involved in economic data are on the verge of a major and transformative change in the way they classify companies that have outsourced their U.S. production to foreign manufacturing contractors.
The change could radically increase U.S. production statistics by classifying “factoryless goods producers” as domestic manufacturers. Companies like Apple will no longer be considered “wholesale traders,” and their sales would be counted as U.S. production, even though none of their manufacturing is in the United States.
To view the rest of this article,click here.
Laine Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applicants
Each year, the David Laine Internship & Scholarship Program provides scholarships to college students that have interned with die casting companies/companies that are suppliers to the die casting industry. Last year, successful applicants were awarded with a combined scholarship of $9,000. Additionally, any graduate engineering student may be eligible to apply for the Steven J. Harmon Scholarship. To learn more about these opportunities, please click here.
The application deadline is October 1.
Only 4 Days Until the Die Casting Congress & Tabletop – Register Now!
The Die Casting Congress and Tabletop will be held September 16-18, 2013, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY.
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 100 exhibitors, the International Die Casting Design Competition and the Design Competition Luncheon. NADCA will also be hosting the Die Casting Industry Luncheon on Tuesday, September 17. During this Luncheon we will recognize individuals and companies for their significant contributions to the die casting industry.
This year we will celebrate Robert Wilson, Callen Manufacturing Corp, as the recipient of the prestigious Doehler Award. The Doehler Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement of the die casting industry or to the art of die casting.
Premier Die Casting Company will receive the Emphasis on Education Award. The Emphasis on Education Recognition Award recognizes a die casting company that has had a specific focus on die casting education and training for their workforce. The award is chosen by NADCA Education Staff and Educational Committee Chairmen. The selection criteria for outstanding contribution to the promotion of die casting education includes the number of NADCA courses held over the past year, the total number of employees exposed to the courses, and consistency in offering courses over the past three years.
In addition, we will also present the Committee Member of the Year Award, Best Congress Paper Award and Safety Awards. This lunch is FREE with registration to attend the show.
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.
American Shiloh Industries has expanded its light weight casting offering with the acquisition of Contech Castings, a provider of high-pressure aluminum die cast parts for the automotive industry.
The deal adds P2000 squeeze casting, ThinTech vacuum casting and high-pressure conventional die casting capabilities, complementing Shiloh’s existing high-pressure and high-vacuum casting capabilities.
Besides the expansion in casting technologies, this acquisition will enable Shiloh to expand its reach to Contech’s locations in Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee.
Shiloh Industries president and chief executive officer Ramzi Hermiz said the acquisition will strengthen company’s technology and add capacity with the addition of Contech to further enhance Shiloh’s position.
“One of the necessary advancements for removing weight from vehicles is going to come through increased optimization of aluminum components, which is driving demand for high-pressure, high-vacuum casting and structural squeeze cast components,” Hermiz said.
“This acquisition creates a unique, deep and talented team of experts that offer new solutions for lightweighting challenges.”
NADCA Unveils New Die Casting Design App
The NADCA Die Casting Design App is your resource for designing an optimized die cast product. Die castings are among the highest volume, mass produced items manufactured by the metalcasting industry, and they can be found in thousands of consumer, commercial and industrial products. Die cast parts are important components of products ranging from aircraft to toys. Die cast parts can be as basic as a door handle or as complex as a transmission housing. Features of this app include:
- Video Modules on Basic Die Casting Design
- Product Specification Standards for Die Castings
- Searchable Die Caster Database
- Examples of Die Castings
- Documents Detailing Commercial Practices
This app is currently available for download through the iTunes Store for iPad, iPhone or iPod devices. To download this FREE app just click here. You can also search for the app through your iTunes store. If downloading to an iPhone or iPod search using keyword “die casting”. If downloading to an iPad also use keyword “die casting”& but be sure to select the “iPhone” apps tab. Please contact us with any questions or feedback at oem@diecasting.org.
INTERZINC 2012-2013 Student Design Competition
INTERZINC has completed judging of the “Zinc Challenge” student design competition. The competition, which is based on knowledge of zinc and practical casting design, is open to all full time undergraduate students enrolled at a design or engineering college or university in Mexico, USA, or Canada.
To view the rest of this article, click here. (PDF)
The Wall Street Journal (7/2, A1, Rogers, Subscription Publication) reports that the US auto industry in recent years has become a strong exporter, aided by competitive labor costs and a favorable exchange rate. US auto plants, including those owned by foreign carmakers, exported more than one million cars in 2012, the highest amount ever and more than triple the number sent overseas in 2003. As an example, the Journal notes that Honda’s US operations, says that it expects to export more vehicles from North America by the end of 2014 than it imports from Japan.
Caterpillar To Acquire Marine Propulsion Maker Johan Walter Berg
Dow Jones Newswires (7/1, Warner, Subscription Publication) reported Caterpillar Inc. agreed to purchase Johan Walter Berg AB, a manufacturer of driven propulsion systems and marine controls for ships.
The Milwaukee Business Journal (7/1, Engel, Subscription Publication) reports,”The acquisition means Caterpillar will transition from selling only engines and generators to providing complete marine propulsion package systems.” Caterpillar vice president Tom Frake, who heads the marine and petroleum power division, said, “Our team will now be able to provide worldwide Caterpillar support to marine operators for a complete, optimized propulsion package, including bow thrusters, gear boxes and shaft alternators.” Frake also said, “In addition, Berg’s expertise, focus on maximizing customers’ uptime and minimizing operation cost aligns well with Caterpillar’s value proposition.”
Wall Street Journal: New Stab at Metals Gridlock
The London Metal Exchange has proposed changes to its warehouse network aimed at reducing long waits for aluminum, copper and other metals that have sparked complaints from industrial consumers.
Since 2011, companies that use metal to make everything from wires to pipes to beer cans have complained that bottlenecks at warehouses licensed by LME—but owned by banks and commodities-trading firms—have driven up their costs.
The LME, which sets the rules for warehouses that are widely viewed as the world’s main reserve supply of metal, said Monday it wants to require facilities experiencing logjams to release more metal than they take in. Implementation could begin in April 2014.
Warehouse stockpiles have swelled since the financial crisis, with commodities traders taking advantage of cheap financing to steer metal into their facilities. In previous attempts to flush out the metal, the LME raised the minimum amount warehouses had to deliver to customers. Owners sidestepped those rules by paying above the market rate to bring in even more supply.
The latest change has the potential to break traders’ stranglehold by tying the amount leaving a warehouse to the amount coming in, analysts say. BarclaysBARC.LN -0.60% analyst Gayle Berry said the proposed change should end the practice of storing ever-increasing amounts of metal at a few choke points, which in turn would reduce wait times for delivery.
Coca-Cola Co., KO +0.57% aluminum products giant Novelis Inc., U.S. copper-wire makers Southwire Co. and Encore Wire Corp., WIRE +0.86% and trade groups representing U.S. beer makers and European steel mills have raised concerns in the past about the LME’s warehousing system.
“I am relieved to see that the LME is finally recognizing that the steps they have taken so far to address the warehousing issue have been entirely inadequate,” said Nick Madden, senior vice president at Novelis.
However, Mr. Madden and other critics of the warehouse system said they hoped the rule could be implemented before April.
“According to the LME’s timing, it would take almost another year before their proposal would really impact the market. This means another year of supply-chain risk and inflated premiums,” Mr. Madden said.
The LME is soliciting feedback through September, and the exchange’s board is slated to vote on the proposal and any potential changes in October.
Currently, the wait to retrieve metal is longer than 100 days in five cities: Johor, Malaysia, Antwerp, Belgium, Vlissingen, the Netherlands, New Orleans, and Detroit. In Detroit, the wait for aluminum stands at more than 460 days, according to LME data.
Representatives of the largest warehouse owners in those cities—J.P. Morgan ChaseJPM +1.32% & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., GS +0.23% Trafigura Beheer BV, and Glencore Xstrata PLC—declined to comment.
At a news conference on Monday, Matt Chamberlain, LME head of strategy and implementation, said the long waits are becoming “a threat to the LME as a traditional destination of last resort for buyers.”
The LME defended how it ran its warehouse system as recently as April. “I am not going to apologize for this,” Martin Abbott, LME’s chief executive, said at a copper conference in Chile.
“It is the role of the LME to reflect the macro economy, and the reality of the economy right now is a surplus of some metals and low interest rates” that make metal attractive for banks and other financial institutions, Mr. Abbott said.
Mr. Abbott said in June he would resign at the end of the year. LME Chief Operating Officer Diarmuid O’Hegarty said Mr. Abbott, a member of the LME board, backs the latest proposals.
The LME also faced pressure to change its rules from Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd., which bought the formerly member-owned exchange last year for $2.2 billion. Hong Kong Exchanges’ chief executive, Charles Li, said last year that it would be “unacceptable” if the LME’s rules were making the real economy suffer, pledging to level a “bazooka” at the problem if that was the case.
In a blog post on Monday, Mr. Li said the LME could have acted more decisively years ago to address the warehousing issue.
When most people see a Dodge Dart rolling down the highway, they see a sporty new car from Chrysler. What Andreas Bahr sees is a new era in die casting. Inside every Dart is a suspension cross support produced at the Chrysler Etobicoke Casting Plant – a component that helps save energy. The cross support is made of light-weight aluminum instead of stamped, welded steel. That part is produced at only one plant in North America, on die cast machines manufacturing by Buhler.
The 300 workers at the 286,000 square-foot (26,570 m2) casting plant in Etobicoke, Canada make highpressure die castings for transmission components, engine mounts, and other automotive parts. In 2011, Chrysler sought ways to decrease the weight of its newest compact car, the Dart. The automaker needed to increase fuel efficiency, both to save consumers money at the gas pump and lower CO2 emissions. The facility needed to produce aluminum suspension cross members for vehicles at a Chrysler assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois. By making them from aluminum instead of heavy steel, the vehicle would weigh less without losing strength.
Power in a small footprint
The biggest machine in the plant had a clamping force of 1,400 metric tons; casting cross members required 3,200 tons of force. Most casting machines capable of producing the cross members were too large to fit into the building. The Buhler Carat 320L Compact was a perfect solution. Five meters shorter than other machines with the same tonnage, it a l lowed complex str u c t u r a l components to be cast from aluminum within the existing building. Built at the BuhlerPrince facility in Holland, Michigan, the first Carat 320L Compact was operational in early December 2011.
“The very first shot looked amazing,” said Bahr, Senior Manufacturing Engineering Manager at the Chrysler Etobicoke Casting Plant. “It looked a lot better than we had anticipated.” Flashing is inherent in high-pressure die casting and costs time and money to remove from components. Sharp, thin edges of flash can also be a safety hazard for employees. The Carat minimizes flash by featuring hydraulic locks, which spread pressure more evenly across the die. Project Manager Haroon Ramjohn summed it up: “For dimensional tolerances, it performs a lot better. There is less scrap and less re-work.”
Helping “future-proof ” the plant
Four of the machines are now running at the plant. A fifth machine is being installed, and two more are on order.
The cutting-edge technology featured in the Carats will likely be the new standard for the automotive industry, which is under increased pressure to increase vehicle fuel efficiency.
Representatives of Buhler supervised the installation of the machines and have been at the plant almost daily ever since. One plant manager compared it to buying a new car and having a mechanic set up shop in your garage, constantly checking the oil level and the pressure in the tires. “That support allowed us to launch weeks ahead of our schedule,” Ramjohn said. “We have not had any issues with the machines, for something this complicated, you can’t complain.”
Exploring the capabilities
Etobicoke managers are still learning the full capabilities of the Carat 320L. Managers expect to use the machines for other auto parts in the near future, as Chrysler uses more aluminum components. For now, every Dodge Dart is evidence of Chrysler’s commitment to decreasing CO2 emissions, and Buhler’s leadership in the die cast industry. “It’s really a perfect partnership,” Bahr said.
Acnodes Corporation’s New Touch Panel PC Features Aluminum Die-Casting Chassis with Water-Proof IP65 Flat Panel Design
Acnodes Corporation’s new touch panel PC, PC9XX0, is now available with 7, 8, 12, or 15 inches LCD screens with resistive or capacitive touch screen options. PC9XX0 is powered by low power consumption Atom N2600 1.6GHz processor with NM10 chipset. PC9XX0 includes one on board DDR3 SO-DIMM socket for a maximum of 2GB system memory and one 2.5 in. SATA Hard Disk Drive (half size for PC9070 and 9080) along with dual Ethernet, two or four COM ports, two USB ports, one internal half size mini PCI-E slot, an audio (Line-out) port, and an optional HDMI port to accommodate a wide range of connectivity requirements. It supports standard operating systems such as Windows 7/ XP Embedded or Professional, and Windows CE6.0 Embedded.
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NADCA Meets with LME to Work Towards a Resolution with NASAAC
The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), including several of its members, and representatives of the London Metal Exchange (LME) met via a teleconference call on May 22, to discuss the issues that the North American die casting industry is having with the North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract (NASAAC) that is overseen by the LME.
Daniel Twarog, President of NADCA, requested the meeting in late April and the LME expeditiously responded by organizing the meeting. Twarog opened the conversation with information on the issues the die casting industry is having with NASAAC. Twarog said, “The NASAAC was created to be a fair index between the buyers and sellers of secondary aluminum. From 2003 to mid-2011, the spread between Platt’s and NASAAC was consistent and predictable. From mid-2011, the spread has grown to over 25 cents/pound causing die casters to incur heavy financial losses on contracts with several automotive companies.”
Twarog reports that The LME responded by saying, “The LME’s primary role is to discover a reference point between buyer and seller. They commented that the recycled business is unique in aluminum because most other metals do not have secondary markets. Finally, they see that financial institutions are new to the game and are creating competition and a significant delivery backlog. The LME said they have responded by doubling the amount of metal in the warehouses and increasing the shipments out by 500 tons/day.”
One NADCA member asked if the premiums for the metal could be published. Twarog reports, “LME said the premium levels were not published because the levels were negotiated between buyer and seller. LME reminded everyone that the NASAAC price is the price in the warehouse and not the delivered/negotiated price that is paid for useful aluminum for production purposes.”
The LME suggested that perhaps broadening what the contract is catching will help the situation. A NADCA member suggested that 319 would be the next logical alloy because of its pervasive use. However, he cautioned that the specific composition be considered because automotive companies have different specification levels of certain elements in the 319 alloy. He also suggested 356 would be the next alloy to consider. The LME took note of this information.
LME also offered the die casting industry a potential position on the LME Aluminum Committee. NADCA asked that the invitation be provided in writing and consideration would be given.
NADCA asked if the LME could immediately return to a previous policy of not re-warranting material that has shipped from an LME warehouse. This would prevent financial institutions and others from moving metal from one warehouse to the other. NADCA also suggested that the LME include a provision that the metal is sold and shipped out of the warehouse within a specific time period. This would prevent quality issues with the material. Several NADCA members expressed a serious concern with the quality of the material currently being delivered. It was suggested that SOW’s be shrink wrapped to help minimize the quality issues.
NADCA reiterated that changes need to be made as soon as possible because the difference in NASAAC and what quality material can be purchased at is a serious and costly issue for die casters. The LME representatives were extremely open to the points made by NADCA and its members. Twarog reports the LME “would not be able to offer specific remedies from this conference call, but would work with the appropriate committees of LME to find solutions.” The next LME Aluminum Committee meeting is on June 11, 2013 and a follow-up conference call with NADCA will be scheduled.
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is now aligned with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. This update to the Hazard Communication Standard provides a common and coherent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. The first deadline in the implementation phase is Dec. 1, 2013, the date by which employers must train workers on the new label elements and safety data sheet.
OSHA has prepared a number of additional materials that explain the new changes to the requirements of the HCS, including QuickCards, a training fact sheet (PDF*), a list of frequently asked questions and a brief (PDF*) on labels and pictograms. These and other materials are available on OSHA’s Hazard Communications page.
Ford: 66 Percent Of All New Vehicles Will Come Equipped With Four-Cylinders By 2020
The Detroit News (5/21) reports Ford Motor Co. “anticipates that by 2020, 66 percent of all new vehicles will come equipped with four-cylinders.” The News reports, “The shift to the smaller engines is a result of strict federal fuel-efficiency standards — known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE — and means a growing share of cars, SUVs and trucks will join the four-cylinder fray by 2020.” The article also notes, “General Motors Co. is reluctant to release long-term powertrain forecasts, but said four-cylinder penetration will ‘remain very significant.’”
NADCA Meets with LME to Work Towards a Resolution with NASAAC
The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), including several of its members, and representatives of the London Metal Exchange (LME) met via a teleconference call yesterday, May 22, to discuss the issues that the North American die casting industry is having with the North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract (NASAAC) that is overseen by the LME.
Daniel Twarog, President of NADCA, requested the meeting in late April and the LME expeditiously responded by organizing the meeting. Twarog opened the conversation with information on the issues the die casting industry is having with NASAAC. Twarog said, “The NASAAC was created to be a fair index between the buyers and sellers of secondary aluminum. From 2003 to mid-2011, the spread between Platt’s and NASAAC was consistent and predictable. From mid-2011, the spread has grown to over 25 cents/pound causing die casters to incur heavy financial losses on contracts with several automotive companies.”
Twarog reports that The LME responded by saying, “The LME’s primary role is to discover a reference point between buyer and seller. They commented that the recycled business is unique in aluminum because most other metals do not have secondary markets. Finally, they see that financial institutions are new to the game and are creating competition and a significant delivery backlog. The LME said they have responded by doubling the amount of metal in the warehouses and increasing the shipments out by 500 tons/day.”
One NADCA member asked if the premiums for the metal could be published. Twarog reports, “LME said the premium levels were not published because the levels were negotiated between buyer and seller. LME reminded everyone that the NASAAC price is the price in the warehouse and not the delivered/negotiated price that is paid for useful aluminum for production purposes.”
The LME suggested that perhaps broadening what the contract is catching will help the situation. A NADCA member suggested that 319 would be the next logical alloy because of its pervasive use. However, he cautioned that the specific composition be considered because automotive companies have different specification levels of certain elements in the 319 alloy. He also suggested 356 would be the next alloy to consider. The LME took note of this information.
LME also offered the die casting industry a potential position on the LME Aluminum Committee. NADCA asked that the invitation be provided in writing and consideration would be given.
NADCA asked if the LME could immediately return to a previous policy of not re-warranting material that has shipped from an LME warehouse. This would prevent financial institutions and others from moving metal from one warehouse to the other. NADCA also suggested that the LME include a provision that the metal is sold and shipped out of the warehouse within a specific time period. This would prevent quality issues with the material. Several NADCA members expressed a serious concern with the quality of the material currently being delivered. It was suggested that SOW’s be shrink wrapped to help minimize the quality issues.
NADCA reiterated that changes need to be made as soon as possible because the difference in NASAAC and what quality material can be purchased at is a serious and costly issue for die casters. The LME representatives were extremely open to the points made by NADCA and its members. Twarog reports the LME “would not be able to offer specific remedies from this conference call, but would work with the appropriate committees of LME to find solutions.” The next LME Aluminum Committee meeting is on June 11, 2013 and a follow-up conference call with NADCA will be scheduled.
Platts is proposing to begin a new twice-weekly price assessment for B390 secondary aluminum alloy, delivered US Midwest, effective June 10. Platts is accepting feedback on the proposal until May 24.
The proposed specifications will be: US B390.1 – 16-18% Si, 1.3% max Fe, 4.0-5.0% Cu, 0.50% Mn, 0.45-0.65% Mg, 0.10% Ni, 1.4% Zn and 0.20% Ti. Platts will assess the B390.1 market twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays (except for changes during holiday weeks). The assessment will reflect B390.1 for Midwest delivery within 30 days, delivered customer works, payment net-30 to net-60 days, 45,000-lb truckload amounts. The assessment will be published in a narrow low-high range reflecting the majority of concluded deals, bids and offers reported in a survey of US secondary aluminum smelters, diecasters, foundries, automotive companies, traders and brokers.
Please address any feedback or questions to: Tina Allagh, (202) 383-2257 (tina.allagh@platts.com) or Sarah Baltic, (412) 431-0416 (sarah.baltic@platts.com).
Ford: 66 Percent Of All New Vehicles Will Come Equipped With Four-Cylinders By 2020
The Detroit News (5/21) reports Ford Motor Co. “anticipates that by 2020, 66 percent of all new vehicles will come equipped with four-cylinders.” The News reports, “The shift to the smaller engines is a result of strict federal fuel-efficiency standards — known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE — and means a growing share of cars, SUVs and trucks will join the four-cylinder fray by 2020.” The article also notes, “General Motors Co. is reluctant to release long-term powertrain forecasts, but said four-cylinder penetration will ‘remain very significant.’”
Die Casters Question NASAAC’s Effectiveness
The AMM (4/30, Laliberte) reports that The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) has filed a letter of complaint with the London Metal Exchange calling for immediate changes to the North American special aluminum alloy contract (NASAAC). NADCA, which represent more than 95 percent of all North American die casters, has been experiencing “significant issues with the effectiveness” of the NASAAC contract, the group said in an April 25 letter to the chairman of the LME’s aluminum committee Gavin Prentice.
“Unless (the) LME can make changes to the contract immediately, NADCA will encourage all die casters to discontinue support of the NASAAC for pricing finished aluminum parts within the industry,” NADCA said in the letter.
Representatives from the LME didn’t respond to requests for comment. NADCA states that it has multiple issues with the contract’s effectiveness. For example, the group alleges that many producers of 380 aluminum alloy will no longer sell to consumers on a NASAAC basis; material purchased on NASAAC isn’t deliverable within the stated LME contract period; and producers and consumers can’t acquire physical NASAAC material from the LME-listed warehouses in less than nine months from the time of order. NADCA also alleges in the letter that “the market is perceived as being manipulated by the trading, financial and warehouse industries given financial ownership of LME warehouse facilities.” These issues have together led to a lack of correlation between the LME’s NASAAC prices and the physical price of 380 aluminum alloy, NADCA alleged in the letter.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
The AMM (4/30, Laliberte) reports that The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) has filed a letter of complaint with the London Metal Exchange calling for immediate changes to the North American special aluminum alloy contract (NASAAC). NADCA, which represent more than 95 percent of all North American die casters, has been experiencing “significant issues with the effectiveness” of the NASAAC contract, the group said in an April 25 letter to the chairman of the LME’s aluminum committee Gavin Prentice.
“Unless (the) LME can make changes to the contract immediately, NADCA will encourage all die casters to discontinue support of the NASAAC for pricing finished aluminum parts within the industry,” NADCA said in the letter.
Representatives from the LME didn’t respond to requests for comment. NADCA states that it has multiple issues with the contract’s effectiveness. For example, the group alleges that many producers of 380 aluminum alloy will no longer sell to consumers on a NASAAC basis; material purchased on NASAAC isn’t deliverable within the stated LME contract period; and producers and consumers can’t acquire physical NASAAC material from the LME-listed warehouses in less than nine months from the time of order. NADCA also alleges in the letter that “the market is perceived as being manipulated by the trading, financial and warehouse industries given financial ownership of LME warehouse facilities.” These issues have together led to a lack of correlation between the LME’s NASAAC prices and the physical price of 380 aluminum alloy, NADCA alleged in the letter.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
CEO: Harley-Davidson Proving Manufacturing Can Succeed In 21st Century
The Milwaukee Business Journal (4/28, Engel, Subscription Publication) “Milwaukee BizTalk” blog reported, “Harley-Davidson Inc. is proving that American manufacturing can succeed in the 21st century, according to CEO Keith Wandell.” When Wandell took over “in 2009, the company also embarked on a massive, sometimes painful restructuring plan that has included a radical restructuring of its manufacturing operations, shuttering plants, significant job cuts, ending its Buell sport motorcycle brand and the sale of an Italian motorcycle subsidiary. A renewed focus on product development, reaching new customers and overhauling manufacturing operations has put the company on the road to success for generations to come, Wandell and other company leaders said Saturday morning during Harley-Davidson’s annual shareholders meeting held at the Harley-Davidson Museum campus.”
Looking to Gain a Better Understanding of Various Finishing Operations for Die Castings? Join Us!
Once a die casting has been ejected from the die, the casting needs to go through a number of additional operations before it can be used by a consumer. The casting needs to have its gates, runners, overflows and vents removed, be deflashed, have its surface cleaned, possibly machined, maybe impregnated, and perhaps painted, coated or plated. Dr. Steve Midson will present this three part webinar series that will review the various processes available to the die caster to remove the gates and overflows, deflash, deburr, clean and treat the surface of die castings. Processes and equipment used for trimming, shot blasting, vibratory finishing, tumbling, shot peening and other techniques will be described.
Part 1 – Trimming & Vibratory Processes
This webinar will describe both process and equipment used with trimming and vibratory finishing. After ejection from the die, the first stage of finishing a casting is normally the removal of the gates, runners, overflows and flash by trimming. With vibratory finishing a number of castings, media, water and finishing compounds are placed in a container, and vibration of the container causes the castings to rub against the abrasive media, as well as against each other.
Date:May 8, 2013
Cost:Corporate Member: $39
Non-Corporate Member: $89
Part 2 – Shot Blasting
Shot blasting is a method for refining the surface of die castings that involves propelling an abrasive material at the surface of the casting at a high velocity, providing a fast, scouring action. This webinar will describe the different methods for propelling the abrasive media, list the types of media used for blasting, and describe the various styles of machines available for cleaning die castings.
Date:May 15, 2013
Cost:Corporate Member: $39
Non-Corporate Member: $89
Part 3 – Other Finishing Processes
In the this final webinar, other processes for finishing and cleaning die castings will be discussed, including tumbling, thermal deburring and shot peening.
Date:May 22, 2013
Cost:Corporate Member: $39
Non-Corporate Member: $89
Purchasing this three part series together is only $97 for Corporate Members and $247 for Non-Corporate Members! Each 60-minute presentation will not only address important information on the topic but also provide adequate time for questions, answers, and discussion. Register now at www.diecasting.org/webinar.
On behalf of a large industry coalition, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons issued this statement on the U.S. Supreme Court petition filed on the coalition’s case against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of greenhouse gases:
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Die Casting Design Capabilities Being Understood Better in Design Community
NADCA recently conducted a survey directed towards die casting purchasers and designers. The purpose of the survey was to determine if designers and purchasers views of die castings had changed in the past 3 years as well as to determine the current feelings towards die cast products in the design and purchasing community. Analysis of the results indicated that die casting design is being understood better in the design community. The full survey results will be emailed to participants as well as featured in the August 2013 issue of LINKS Magazine.
Participants of this survey were entered into a drawing to win a Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ Tablet (16GB). We are pleased to announce that the winner of this drawing is Matthew Peterson, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at ASSA Abloy EMS & OEM Group in Phoenix, AZ. ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions. The Phoenix facility manufactures Adams Rite, HES and Securitron products.
Adams Rite designs, manufactures and markets door and door hardware products, specializing in products for aluminum narrow stile doors. Adams Rite’s product line includes locks, latches, electric strikes and exit devices for exterior and interior doors as well as integrated door assemblies. HES is the leading manufacturer of electric strikes and cabinet locking devices for the access control industry. First to market with cutting edge solutions like the versatile 1006 series and the completely surface-mounted 9600 electric strike, HES has built a global reputation for innovation, strength, and service. As the world’s premier supplier of electromagnetic locking systems and access control components, Securitron excels in manufacturing a wide range of products, from electromagnetic locks and accessories, to exit bars and devices, power supplies, digital entry systems and much more.
NADCA would like to thank all of those that participated in the Die Casting Designer Value Survey.
Innovative Die Castings Wanted! Submit Your Casting for the International Die Casting Design Competition Today
To be a winner in today’s economy, you must meet and even exceed expectations. In a competitive global market, customers take notice of the best. NADCA knows that competition improves the competitor. With its annual Die Casting Competition, it recognizes and rewards the outstanding casting designs of the year.
Entering and winning is one of the best ways to gain visibility with leading decision-makers. The competition is open to aluminum, magnesium, zinc die castings and other alloy families. Any number of castings may be entered. However, a separate entry form is required for each casting or assembly of castings. In addition, the metal surface cannot be improved or concealed by tumbling, shot blasting, coating or other surface treatments.
Judging is conducted by an independent panel of experts from the die casting industry, with no ties to eligible companies. The four equally weighed criteria are ingenuity of casting/product design; overall quality; cost savings; and market-expanding potential. Winning castings will be displayed during the 2013 Die Casting Congress and Tabletop in Louisville, KY and winners will be honored during the Die Casting Design Luncheon. NADCA’s Die Casting Engineer Magazine, NADCA’s Website and the NADCA Design Website will also feature the winning castings.
This competition helps promote increased use of die castings by recognizing and publicizing outstanding designs. For more information on the 2013 International Die Casting Design Competition please email Dan Twarog at twarog@diecasting.org. The deadline to submit your casting is June 17, 2013. Don’t hesitate!
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