A dying industry? Not according to the facts.

In my position, I receive numerous calls from consultants, investment professionals and media about the state of today's metalcasting industry. The first question typically is: "How many plants have closed in the last five years?" This is followed closely by: "Will there be a metalcasting industry in the U.S. 10 years from now?"

While these are fair questions on the minds of almost everyone who interacts with the metalcasting industry, those of us in the metalcasting industry must stand united and respond by saying, "Today's U.S. metalcasting industry is stronger than it ever has been."

I can't say that, you say. Typical industry spokesperson answer, you cry. Distorting the truth, you argue.

It is 100% accurate, I say

My statement is based on the following fact: While the industry has lost metalcasting facilities over the last five years (in fact, the last 50 years), the industry's capacity for production is equal today to what it was in 1999 and even 1991. Simply stated, the U.S. metalcasting industry can produce just as many castings today as it could five years ago and 10-15 years ago.

I am not trying to be-little the difficulties firms face when they have to close facilities and lay off workers. This is a terrible situation nobody likes to confront. Nor is it an easy situation for suppliers to the industry who have fewer customers for their products and technology.

But going forward we can't look to the past. What is done must be forgotten because we have a message to carry to our customers.

Today's U.S. metalcasting industry can produce more than 17.5 million tons of castings (all processes and metals) with 2,420 plants. In 1992, this figure was 17.1 million tons with 3,100 plants. This means that today's average metalcasting facility can produce 7,231 tons of castings/yr versus 5,516 tons/yr for plants in 1992--a 31% increase.

To relate this capacity figure to a more similar manufacturing era, five years ago, 2,850 metalcasting facilities existed in the U.S. with an annual capacity of 17.47 million tons. This equates to 6,130 tons of production per plant per year. So, in five years (three of which were spent in a horrendous downturn of the manufacturing economy), the average plant has increased production capabilities by 18%. Is this the mark of an industry that is dying? No, this is the mark of an industry upgrading its technology and automation to improve production efficiencies for better quality and consistency.

The glamorous story for mainstream media the last two years has been the blows the recession and foreign competition have given to U.S. manufacturing. While I admit that our metalcasting industry was staggering a little, it was never on the verge of disappearing like so many like to predict.

With that statement made and the facts presented above before you, I beg and plead for you to start spreading a new story about the U.S. metalcasting industry--we are on the way back. If you must say that we have lost plants the last five years, then you must follow that by saying our production capabilities haven't been higher in 15 years, and our technology and automation are facilitating productivity gains year after year. If you must say that the industry has lost people the last five years, then we must follow with the fact that total casting shipments will reach 25-year highs in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Is this the mark of a dying industry? I think not.

Hey, did you hear, today's U.S. metalcasting industry is stronger than it ever has been.