Congress: bet on market improving: despite the slumping economy, the 113th Metalcasting Congress had an air of cautious optimism.

The concerns of the metalcasting industry took center stage during an economic forum on the penultimate day of the 113th Metalcasting Congress, held April 7-10 in Las Vegas.

A panel of several industry experts took the podium after the day's lunch with exhibitors to talk about what to expect in the coming months and years. They all agreed on one thing: get ready for rapid growth.

Panelists Raymond Monroe, Steel Founders' Society of America, Alfred Spada, American Foundry Society (AFS), Dan Twarog, North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), and Gene Muratore, Casting Industry Suppliers Association, spoke to a crowd that has seen a serious downturn in the past six to 18 months and expects continued turmoil. According to a conference survey conducted by MODERN CASTING, despite more than half of respondents indicating their business improved in 2008, 72% predicted that 2009 would be worse (Figs. 1 and 2). So where did the experts get their optimism?

According to the panel, because of downsizing capacity during the economic skid, metalcasting facilities will not have the resources to fulfill customers' needs when the economy rebounds. So they must stand par for now or even invest in increased capacity.

Whether metalcasters will heed the advice is anyone's guess, but the attendance numbers at this year's metalcasting conference, co-sponsored by AFS and NADCA, were encouraging. The event drew more than 1,200 attendees and 174 exhibitors. Almost half of those surveyed indicated they attended for the purpose of viewing the show floor; 57% indicated they had seen exhibitor items that caught their attention.

The metalcasting gathering is held each year to reveal the industry's latest advancements and technology. Technical and management sessions, held throughout the conference, featured speakers from industry suppliers, metalcasting facilities and academia.

The sessions concluded on April 10 with the Hoyt Memorial Lecture, "Foundries: The Final Frontier--the Next Thousand Years of Casting Technology," by David Weiss (see p. 51).

Also during the Congress, AFS announced its board of directors for the '09/'10 fiscal year. Stephen Reynolds, foundry general manager, Lufkin Industries Inc., will be AFS president, Henry Lodge, president, Lodge Manufacturing Co., will be AFS vice president, and Timothy McMillin, director of marketing and product development, Fairmount Minerals Ltd., will be AFS 2nd vice president. New AFS directors also were appointed: David Ashbaugh, president, United Western Supply Co.; Patricio Gil, chief executive officer, Blackhawk de Mexico; Thomas Rhoads, general manager, Corbitt Manufacturing; Joseph Simko, president and general manager, Hodge Foundry Inc.; and Brian Vecchiarelli, vice president, Yankee Casting Co. Inc.

New Cast Metals Institute directors appointed were Kevin Crawford, president, Casting Concepts LLC, and Jeff Sorenson, foundry technical manager, Neptune Technology Group.

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A MODERN CASTING Staff Report

Figs. 1 and 2. A group of metalcasters was randomly selected for
survey at the 113th Metalcasting Congress. Shown are their answers
to two questions: "How did your metalcasting business do in 2008?"
and "How do you expect your metalcasting business to do in 2009?"

Worse Than 2007:    29%
Same as 2007:       14%
Better than 2007:   57%

Worse Than 2008:    72%
Same as 2008:       21%
Better than 2008:    7%

Note: Table made from pie chart.