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.
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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.