Northwest regional: job shops can automate, go global.The American Foundry Society (AFS A distributed file system for large, widely dispersed Unix and Windows networks from Transarc Corporation, now part of IBM. It is noted for its ease of administration and expandability and stems from Carnegie-Mellon's Andrew File System. AFS - Andrew File System ) Northwest Regional Conference offered small to medium run metalcasters methods to expand and automate their business in a two-day technical program, "Mold Excellence in Your Foundry." Jed Falgren, Dotson Iron Castings, Mankato, Minn., provided an example, showing the steps the gray and ductile iron metalcaster has taken to become "the world's most automated jobbing foundry." In addition to automated molding and grinding lines, the low-volume facility recently installed an automated pouring system. "We still have a long way to go, but we've accomplished a lot," Falgren said during his presentation. Frank Reilly of Fox Hills Foundry, Huntington Beach, Calif., spoke about the success of his facility, a nonferrous shop, on the second day of proceedings. The conference, which was held March 1-3 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and drew approximately 200 registrants, was aimed at improving job shops through technology, automation and market presence. In addition to the facility profiles, the conference included presentations on a casting buyer's perspective, succession planning, tactics for globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation , runner design, investment casting simulation, lean manufacturing and North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. chromite chromite (krō`mīt), dark brown to black mineral. It is an iron-chromium oxide, FeCr2O4, with traces of magnesium and aluminum. sand. Prior to the technical sessions, metalcasters saw the effects of automation on a larger scale, touring Canadian Autoparts Toyota, Delta, B.C., Canada. The aluminum wheel caster is currently undergoing an expansion that will bring its total annual production to almost 1.7 million wheels. Expounding ex·pound v. ex·pound·ed, ex·pound·ing, ex·pounds v.tr. 1. To give a detailed statement of; set forth: expounded the intricacies of the new tax law. 2. on AFS Vice President Michael Swartzlander's suggestion that metalcasters "go east," Jerry Theil and Scott Giese, Univ. of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 36,145 at the 2000 census. , closed the 56th annual conference by saying technological development is paramount in positioning your business to go global. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion