Metalcasting needs you to advocate for the industry at the AFS Fly-In, May 15-16 in Washington, D.C.!

At the AFS Fly-In, you'll stand together as metalcasters to let your elected officials know the castings you produce are critical to the country’s defense, infrastructure, automotive, oil and gas, construction and other industrial sectors. 

In one of my first conversations upon joining AFS, Board member Jim Frost (ACIPCO) explained the integral role of AFS, and the Foundry Educational Foundation, during his career, right back to his student days. Since then, fellow AFS Board member John Grahek (Clow Valve/McWane) and numerous other AFS members have shared a similar personal story. 

Managers and supervisors gathered in Clearwater Beach, Florida, in February for the AFS Metalcasting Industry Human Resources Conference, an event designed specifically for metalcasters.

In a victory for industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in January eliminated the “once in, always in” policy under the Clean Air Act.

The policy required “major sources” -- facilities that release at least 10 tons per year of a single hazardous air pollutant or 25 tons of any combination of HAPs each year –- to comply with applicable maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards in perpetuity, even when they reduced emissions below major-source thresholds.

As a benefit to AFS members, you have full access to a wide array of resources designed to guide you toward compliance with OSHA’s new, more restrictive, crystalline silica rule:

The AFS Silica Compliance Timeline describes all the elements of a compliant silica program and includes interactive resources.

PowerPoint presentations explain the silica program requirements, and each is followed with useful resources such as checklists, templates and OSHA required forms.

Using AFS member dues to provide funding for breakthrough technologies 
and new processes helps the metalcasting industry survive and thrive into the future. 
Mike Buyarski; The Federal Metal Co, Bedford OH; Chair, AFS Research Board

Global metalcasters from North America and other markets had positive responses to the 122nd Metalcasting Congress, April 3-5, Fort Worth, Texas. 

Exhibitors reported good booth traffic on the floor. Congress featured plenty of opportunities for metalcasters to learn and make new connections, with a big slate of speeches, technical and management sessions, networking events and exhibits.  

The American Foundry Society recognized leaders and luminaries in the field of metalcasting during the 122nd Metalcasting Congress, April 3-5 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The AFS Board of Awards presented the metalcasting industry’s top honor, the Gold Medal Awards, to John R. Keough, P.E., and David V. Neff, Ph.D.

Keough, proprietor of Joyworks LLC (Ann Arbor, Michigan), was awarded the Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal “for pioneering efforts in the advancement of the marketing of metal castings through the education of current and future customers.”

The AFS Saginaw Valley Chapter has a goal of developing the next generation of metalcasters through education. With the aid of volunteers, the Michigan-based chapter has helped spread awareness of what metalcasting is and the number of diverse careers within the industry. 

“We do two to three events a month. Mostly schools,” said Brian Smith, Saginaw Valley Chapter member and organizer of metalcasting demonstration events.