AFS member testifies before Congress on skills gap
The president and CEO of St. Marys Foundry (St. Marys, Ohio), an AFS Corporate Member, spoke to members of Congress about the skills gap and small business workforce shortages June 14.
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Countdown to Compliance: Silica webinar to deliver the latest on OSHA rule
The June 23 deadline to comply with OSHA’s new silica standard is almost here. What does that mean for metalcasters? “Countdown to Compliance Under OSHA’s Final Silica Rule,” an AFS Members Only Webinar scheduled for 1 p.m. CT Tuesday, June 19, will explain the latest on the silica standard.
OSHA denies request to delay enforcement of silica rule
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) denied a request by the American Foundry Society (AFS) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to delay enforcement of its crystalline silica rule for 180 days. According to an agency press release issued on Friday, June 8, enforcement of the rule is scheduled to start June 23, and during the first 30 days, OSHA will offer compliance assistance to those facilities that have shown good faith effort to work to comply with the new standard.
Trump administration imposes new steel and aluminum tariffs
The European Union, Mexico, Canada, and several other countries are firing back with retaliatory trade measures following the Trump administration's move on June 1 to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum imports.
Beware of unauthorized hotel offers for Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo
Unfortunately, it is now common practice for unauthorized companies to claim to be official housing providers for trade shows and other large events, including Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo. Usually called “room poachers,” these companies target exhibitors and attendees with aggressive emails or phone calls claiming to offer supposed discounts on hotel rooms or incorrectly stating that room blocks are nearing or at capacity.
AFS issues call for papers and presentations
The American Foundry Society is issuing a call for papers and presentations for CastExpo 2019 and the 123rd Metalcasting Congress.
AFS is seeking technical papers covering all issues related to metalcasting, diecasting and foundry operations, including in-plant procedures, new technologies, equipment, products and other innovations that have contributed to enhancing metalcasting productivity and quality.
AFS Air Quality Committee meets with EPA officials
Members of the American Foundry Society Air Quality Committee met recently with EPA officials regarding the upcoming Residual Risk and Technology Review (RTR) for the iron and steel foundry National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule for major sources.
The May 8 meeting in Research Triangle Park, N.C., included discussions on the following issues:
Rulemaking schedule
AFS participates in EPA’s Smart Sectors Program Roundtable with Administrator Scott Pruitt
AFS leaders Dan Oman and Jeff Hannapel took part in the EPA’s Smart Sectors Program Roundtable on May 9, where EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt talked about regulations, permit reform and more.
AFS accepting sponsors for metalcasting conferences
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities – including a few first-time slots – have opened for some of the metalcasting industry’s premier events.
Review: Improving the Effectiveness of Visual Inspection “belongs in every industrial library”
A new book from the American Foundry Society by quality inspection expert Ted J. Schorn is gaining a reputation as a must-have for industrial libraries.