CPT International 04/2015

EDITORIAL K
On the way to a smart
foundry industry?
Last summer’s GIFA has been worked through and one’s technical expertise
brought up-to-date so, naturally, the next event for non-ferrous metalworkers
is already coming up: Euroguss in Nuremberg, Germany, from 12 - 14 January
2016. We take up the topic of die-casting with an introductory interview, a
topical report and a specialist article on a new, highly productive, vacuum
die-casting plant (P. 28). We also report on an innovative light-metal foundry
on the former East/West German border that has recently increased its capacities
(from P. 22). Other specialist articles in this issue will also interest die-casters:
we describe the potentials of aluminum materials (from P. 8) as well as
simulation techniques for die-casting processes (from P. 38).
Whether non-ferrous metalworkers or iron, steel and heavy metal casters: one
term has been making the rounds in recent years and is increasingly taking
shape: Industry 4.0, by means of which our production systems are to be largely
autonomously controlled and optimized in future. While the so-called
“smart foundry industry” will certainly require a generation to take root, there
are already pioneers in the sector: the Kurtz Ersa Group has opened a new
foundry in Hasloch, Germany, and implemented many of the elements of
“Foundry Industry 4.0” in this project. Find out more from P. 32.
In this year’s final issue of CASTING we resume the Country Specials that were
interrupted by the GIFA. We start with North America, whose major foundry
nation, the USA – producing over 12 million tonnes of castings – remains stable
in second place in the foundry world rankings. Learn more about metal
casting in the land of opportunity from P. 41.
The year is coming to an end so I say thank you for your interest and wish you
a happy new year wherever you are!
Until then: have a good read!
Robert Piterek, e-mail: robert.piterek@bdguss.de
Casting Plant & Technology 4/2015 3