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.
Highlights from Congress include compelling keynote presentations from Jean Bye, the new AFS president and the first woman to hold that office; Dan Oman, EHS expert; and Stephen Moore, Trump campaign senior economic adviser.
Bye, president and CEO of Dotson Iron Castings in Mankato, Minnesota, detailed how Dotson workers unified for a significant team effort after a devasting fire at the foundry and began pouring again on schedule.
Oman, vice president at Haley & Aldrich, Ann Arbor, Michigan, discussed changing perceptions of the metalcasting industry in his Hoyt memorial Lecture. Oman provided wonderful insights for promoting a positive image of the metalcasting industry.
Moore, a CNN commentator and Distinguished Visiting Fellow for the Project for Economic Growth at the Heritage Foundation, briefed the audience on his optimistic view of American industry and the wider U.S. economy. Moore’s PowerPoint is also available for review at the AFS website.
On the show floor, suppliers were joined by foundries in the Cast in North America area, while conference rooms were filled—sometimes to standing-room-only capacity—for technical presentations, business and marketing courses, events aimed at students, and more