squeeze casting: the future - International Specialised Skills Institute

Executive SummaryTable of ContentsThe overseas Fellowship program was designed to explore the identified skills and knowledgedeficiencies and for Dr Iyer to return to Australia equipped with the knowledge and ideas essentialto ensuring enhanced teaching practices and content delivery. Offering effective experiences andopportunities for others to maximise their learning will be essential to promoting and improving theoverall acceptance of squeeze casting in this country.The investigation was carried out using the following methods:• Contacting and interviewing aligned and comparable manufacturing associations, practicing diecasters and training providers (researchers).• Viewing the application and implementation of squeeze casting in production.In order to meet the Fellowship aims and objectives the following sites were visited:• CONTECH USA, Pierceton, Indiana• CONTECH USA, Auburn, Indiana• CONTECH USA, Portage, Michigan• Ryobi Die Casting USA Inc., Shelbyville, Indiana• Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland, Ohio• North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), Wheeling, IllinoisDr Iyer believes that squeeze casting is one of the most exciting emerging technologies available to thedie casting industry. It is essential that the message that squeeze casting is feasible and achievablebe delivered to Australian manufacturers. Crucial to ensuring this is the need for engagement with thetertiary sector. Engineering students of TAFE institutes need to be educated about the benefits andfeasibility of squeeze casting. Ground-breaking research is being carried out in universities in USA, andfinancing is provided mainly by industry and government. TAFE institutes in Australia are ideally placedto participate in these kinds of commercial development opportunities or technology diffusion projects,and to benefit from private sector funding. There can be opportunities for Australian Industries to learnfrom these projects.Following the International Experience section in this report, a series of findings are made regardinga range of initiatives and activities that Dr Iyer identifies as central to knowledge transfer andfurthering opportunities for the squeeze casting industry. The report concludes with a series ofrecommendations for Government bodies, professional associations, education and trainingproviders, industry and community.iiiiAbbreviations/AcronymsDefinitions1 Acknowledgements1 Awarding Body – International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS Institute)2 Fellowship Sponsor2 Employer Support2 Supporters3 Australian Organisations Impacted by the Fellowship5 About the Fellow7 Aims of the Fellowship Program9 The Australian Context9 A Brief Description of the Industry10 SWOT Analysis of the Industry11 Identifying the Skills Deficiencies11 Identifying and Defining the Deficiencies12 Why it Needs to be Addressed13 The International Experience13 CONTECH USA, Pierceton, Indiana15 CONTECH USA, Auburn, Indiana16 CONTECH USA, Portage, Michigan16 Ryobi Die Casting USA Inc., Shelbyville, Indiana18 Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland, Ohio20 North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), Wheeling, Illinois22 Outcomes43 Knowledge Transfer: Applying the Outcomes43 Distribution of this Report43 Workshops and Conferences43 Teaching45 Recommendations45 Government45 Industry45 Professional Associations45 Education and Training46 Business46 Ways in Which the ISS Institute can be Involved46 Further Skill Deficiencies47 References47 Endnotes48 Further Reading