Seeing a twinkle in their eye. (Editorial).

The little things really do make a difference. Whether it is in my personal or professional life, the smiles and laughs, praise and complements, and handshakes and chit-chat tend to stick with me and leave a lasting impression.

I would like to share with you two recent experiences to this effect.

The first is a discussion I had with one of the judges for our 2003 AFS/Engineered Casting Solutions Casting Contest, A judge for the last three years, he is an expert on casting design. While we have had numerous discussions about casting's possibilities in the past, I was taken aback by the excitement he showed when he entered the auditorium where the castings were on display. He was the proverbial 'kid in the candy store."

The more than 40 entries we received for this year's contest (winners will be announced at this month's 107th AFS Casting Congress) exemplify some of the best that can be achieved by American metalcasters. But this judge was overwhelmed by what he saw.

"It is inspiring to see the casting envelope being pushed to this extent," said the judge. "These examples show what can be achieved."

The second experience was at the 2003 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress and Exhibition last month. While tending to the booth AFS shared with the Diecasting Development Council and the Ductile Iron Marketing Group, I found myself caught in a discussion with a young automotive engineer about the merits of the lost foam process. The focus of our discussion was on a 4-cylinder engine block and its lost foam pattern we had on display.

Initially, the engineer was skeptical when I explained to him how the metal vaporizes the pattern to take its shape. As he looked at the pattern and the casting, you could see the wheels turning in his head on how design intricacies could be realized with lost foam.

About 20 minutes later, he returned with two of his co-workers to show them what he had learned. Neither of them understood metalcasting nor its benefits and he soon became the teacher.

Both of these experiences, albeit small, have helped to rejuvenate me and the mission of MODERN CASTING and Engineered Casting Solutions--to educate and inform the metalcasting industry and its customers. Some of this work has been difficult the last few years because of the circumstances of the time. It hasn't all been positive, and you wouldn't believe us if we had said it was.

My goal in relaying these two experiences to you is to share the twinkle I saw in the eyes of these two individuals as they were pondering the metalcasting process and its products. Often, we can all become so bogged down in production issues and finances that we don't see the end result of our toils. This end result--the castings--is a very powerful tool from an engineering, sales and marketing perspective.

Now, I don't want you to think these two stories don't relate to an action item I have for you. You too should experience that same "twinkle" that I did.

In the next month, take 15 minutes to talk to someone less familiar with the metalcasting process and describe to them what can be achieved. Use one of the castings your firm produces (or assists in producing) and describe how it is manufactured and the role it serves.

Tell a customer, a spouse, a best friend or your child's fifth grade class. The key is to capture the inherent excitement in the metalcasting process and all it provides to our world, Let them see the excitement you have for the process and why it is an integral part of your life.

Take my word for it. While the twinkle is a small thing, it will lift you and your outlook.

Alfred T. Spada, Executive Editor