Arguments over which automotive material is best usually are confined to engineers and racing enthusiasts, but the benefits of aluminum vs. steel likely will spill onto both Main Street and Wall Street next year.
That’s when the highest-volume vehicle sold in the U.S., the Ford F-150 pickup, is expected to debut with an all-new aluminum-intensive body. It will compete directly with the second-best selling vehicle in America, the Chevy Silverado pickup, and other popular trucks such as the GMC Sierra, Chrysler’s Ram and others with traditional steel bodies and cargo boxes. Given the ultra-competitive, testosterone-soaked nature of the pickup marketplace, the technical discussions could become a lot more entertaining as truck loyalists and Wall Street analysts debate the relative benefits of aluminum vs. steel.
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Complete the Die Casting Designer Value Survey by March 15 for Your Chance to Win a Kindle Fire
NADCA is interested in what resources you use to design die castings! This short survey will ask you to assess the strengths and weaknesses of die castings in your company. Participants of this survey will be entered into a drawing to win a Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ Tablet (16GB).
Click here and take a few minutes to complete this survey, which will help us serve you better! To be eligible for the drawing you must complete the survey by March 15, 2013.
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 visit, www.diecastingdesign.org/castings/competition/or email Dan Twarog at twarog@diecasting.org. The deadline to submit your casting is June 17, 2013. Don’t hesitate!