Companies, Organizations Tout Careers Available in Foundries And
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
November 2017 VOLUME 11 ISSUE 4 Industry News from the Smelter to the Foundry pyrotek.com Pyrotek Introduces Companies, Organizations Tout Logan Opens Expansion, Improved Ceramic Filter Starts Second Phase Pyrotek is now offering a new Careers Available in Foundries Russellville, Kentucky, USA- SIVEX® ceramic foam filter (CFF) that based Logan Aluminum Inc. has contains less phosphate and has and Manufacturing Plants completed the first phase of its shown improved results in testing. Organizations in the foundry plant expansion project and has The new low-phosphate CFF is being industry recently participated broken ground on the second marketed as SIVEX LP. in events that open their phase, says the Kentucky Cabinet “While traditional SIVEX filters have doors and introduce students, for Economic Development. demonstrated filtration performance teachers and public officials to Announced in 2015, the over the last two decades for our the possible careers that exist USD$240 million phase- customers, this new LP version builds in metal casting. one investment expanded on those strengths to offer an even “The metal casting industry Logan’s recycling and new better product based upon customer offers wonderful career ingot casting capabilities by feedback that we’ve received over opportunities we want adding a 26,000-square-metre the years,” says Michal Streck, a Czech students to learn about (280,000-square-foot) facility, Republic-based managing director so they can see why we’re Students operate a control trainer in the HVAC the agency says. The investment for Pyrotek. excited about the future of the program at Westmoreland County Community also increases capacities of the “The data confirms that SIVEX LP industry,” Doug Kurkul, CEO of College. Photo courtesy of the National company’s rolling mills, scalping is stronger and much more user- the American Foundry Society Association of Manufacturers. and preheating operations. The friendly than the first generation of (AFS), said in a press release. new facility will produce about ceramic foam filters produced by “AFS offers guidance for training and development at all career stages, and 272,155 tonnes (600 million Pyrotek,” says Jeff Gibson, Pyrotek some of our accomplished members decided to enter metal casting after an pounds) of cast ingots annually General Manager of Research experience like the one students had with us on Manufacturing Day.” and is creating roughly 190 jobs. and Development and Product AFS participated in a Manufacturing Day event on 6 October at its The project’s second phase Management. headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA. Representatives from AFS, Hunter includes adding a USD$125 Most current customers should Foundry Machinery Corp. and Magma Foundry Technologies discussed the million, 6038-square-metre be able to avoid requalification science and engineering involved in metal casting and the types of careers (65,000-square-foot) cold rolling using LP filters because the material available in the industry. mill. The new mill will supplement composition is similar. Pyrotek will “Dicastal (North America) is excited to be part of the Greenville community Logan’s existing capacity of work with customers through the and host students during manufacturing week,” Scott Petzold, Director of beverage can stock and heavier Human Resources and Purchasing at Dicastal, told the Daily News in Greenville, gauge rolled sheet for automotive Michigan, USA. The article highlighted students visiting a foundry unit at panels. It is expected to be Dicastal North America in Greenville during National Manufacturing Awareness completed during the first half Week in October. of 2019 and create 60 jobs, the The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) says there are about 3000 economic development agency Manufacturing Day events across the USA. says. “On Manufacturing Day, America’s dreamers, doers and makers open our Logan began production in 1983 doors to modern manufacturing and unveil the opportunities that lie beyond and accounts for about 45 percent them,” Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the NAM, said in a press release. of the aluminium beverage can Pyrotek's new ceramic foam filter “It’s our industry’s biggest stage to recruit and inspire next-generation production in North America. contains less phosphate. manufacturers to create and build their—and our—future in America.” Continued on page 5 Employment Outlook An employer survey by staffing firm ManpowerGroup, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, says that employers globally are seeing the highest talent Billet Casting Solutions shortage since 2007. For the fifth consecutive year, skilled trade positions were the hardest to fill globally. Pyrotek solutions support high-value, high-quality casting Manpower’s recent talent shortage survey says 40 percent of employers globally are having difficulty filling positions. The primary reasons are a lack of available applicants and lack of experience. Backup insulation Tabletop refractory According to NAM’s latest manufacturers’ outlook survey, the primary Refractory coatings challenges to businesses are rising health care and insurance costs at 72 Mastic and rope seals percent, and attracting and retaining a quality workforce at 71.6 percent. Those Ceramic paper two worries were higher than concerns about rising raw materials costs at 39.2 Transition plate percent, and an unfavorable business climate because of taxes and regulations at 51.4 percent. Multiple other concerns ranked much lower. Mould Thimble lubrication NAM noted the survey has been conducted quarterly since 1997. In total, 524 Transition plate coating Transition plate gasket manufacturers nationwide from a wide variety of sectors responded this time. “That vast majority of those offering a comment about primary challenges for their business noted workforce development struggles, including frustrations pyrotek.com Continued on page 3 2 Uniwheels Opens New Research Centre in Germany Germany-based Uniwheels Pyrotek Profile: AG, an automotive aluminium wheel maker, has created a new research and Jay Fritzke development centre near its production plant in Werdohl, Title Germany. Technical Manager for Pyrotek’s “Our target is to be the foundry division preferred development The new Uniwheels research centre is located Education partner of the automotive near its Werdohl, Germany, plant. Photo Bachelor’s degree in metallurgy industry and to offer our courtesy of Uniwheels AG. customers the level of What territory do you cover? technology they expect from us,” Don Stebbins, Chairman of the supervisory I primarily cover North America. board of Uniwheels, said in a press release. But, as product manager for bonded “This includes steady weight reductions, new surface treatments for a range particle filters and Pyrotek’s metal of applications right through to the development of smart wheels in the future,” casting system (MCS), which is said Wolfgang Hiller, Uniwheels CEO. “In a high-tech environment, experienced engineered to move molten metal between the holding furnace and research and development specialists will refine our best-in-class product mould, I’m working with people all over the world—not only with our development process, raise its efficiency and steadily improve the safety, application engineers but directly with some customers as well. quality and design of our products.” How many years have you worked in the aluminium The centre includes 1800 square metres (19,375 square feet) of floor space, industry? including office space for 35 employees and a 300-square-metre (3200-square- I started in foundries when I was in college, and I’ve spent time as a foot) hall to run tests. process engineer in both the automotive and aerospace industries. I have The facility will have information technology equipment and workstations for been working in the foundry industry almost 35 years, which includes time computer-aided design and manufacturing programs. It will also have the latest as a corporate metallurgist for a large company and as a plant manager for equipment for first sample tests. a foundry. I’ve been with Pyrotek for 23 years. TRIMET Expands Die-Casting Capabilities What is a common question your customers ask or a common problem they need to solve? TRIMET Automotive Sömmerda The most common problem is probably melt quality, for a variety of GmbH & Co. KG, a division of reasons. Having a process that produces the right metallurgy and good German aluminium company quality aluminium is tough for a lot of operations. The foundry industry TRIMET SE, is investing EUR€2.5 is shrinking. Casters who used to have their own technical people on million (USD$2.94 million) to staff, but had to let them go due to poor economic conditions, now rely expand die-casting capabilities on suppliers like Pyrotek for that experience and technical knowledge. with two new die-casting systems Because I have hands-on experience making castings for a dozen years at its Sömmerda location. before coming to Pyrotek, I understand what the foundries need. Along with its sister plant We have many products that allow us to tackle problems from any point in Harzgerode, Sömmerda in these customers’ processes. It starts in the melt furnace, where they mainly produces die-castings The two new die-casting systems will should be cleaning the furnace and metal properly using flux injection. for mechatronic parts used enable TRIMET to begin producing Proper handling needs to continue throughout their entire system for in transmissions, engine nearly 500,000 sets of mechatronic parts transfer, degassing and filtration. We offer a full range of solutions, from carriers, brackets and structural annually over the next seven years. the time metal is molten until it’s solid again—we are able to solve process components, TRIMET says. Photo courtesy of TRIMET Automotive problems. The expansion will create new Sömmerda GmbH & Co. KG. jobs and assist in meeting the automotive industry’s continual demand How has the industry changed, or where do you see the for aluminium die-castings. In 2018, the plant will begin fulfilling a major industry in five years? order from a German auto manufacturer.