Bringing Technical Resources to the Foundry Floor

The Non-Ferrous Founders' Society Engages with the AFS Erie Chapter

Discussing practical technical support and operational assessments with the AFS Erie Chapter.

On October 20, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Erie Chapter of the American Foundry Society (AFS) in northwestern Pennsylvania. I'd like to thank Rich Samec and the chapter for the invitation, and for the opportunity to spend an evening with fellow foundry professionals discussing some of the challenges facing our industry.

My presentation, From Foundry Problems to Practical Solutions, focused on the work underway at the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society (NFFS), and the continued development of the NFFS Technical Services Office.

Having spent much of my career on the foundry floor, eventually owning and operating a foundry myself, I know firsthand just how difficult it can be to find the time, money, and technical resources necessary to address recurring production problems. Sometimes those problems have existed for years, and we've simply learned to work around them.

That's something we're working to change.

Another Set of Eyes on Persistent Problems

Through the current engagements and the Technical Services Office, we're actively engaging with foundries, conducting operational assessments, investigating recurring casting defects, and connecting manufacturers with technical resources that might otherwise be difficult to access.

One example I shared involved a foundry experiencing several different casting defects, all generally described as porosity. Rather than guessing at the causes, we helped coordinate laboratory analysis through Michigan Technological University to better understand what was actually happening.

That's the kind of practical assistance we're looking to provide. Not an audit, not somebody showing up to tell you everything you're doing wrong, but another experienced set of eyes and access to people who can help solve the problem.

Connecting Experience with the Next Generation

I was also particularly pleased to see several students from Penn State Behrend in attendance. Our industry needs capable young people, and opportunities like this, where students can engage directly with experienced foundry professionals, are tremendously valuable. The future of metalcasting depends on transferring the knowledge we've accumulated while encouraging the next generation to bring new ideas and perspectives to the table.

Connecting foundry professionals and the next generation at the AFS Erie Chapter gathering.

Practical Support for NFFS Members

The current industry engagement is helping us identify technical challenges that have gone unexamined for too long, but it's also helping us understand where the NFFS Technical Services Office can provide the greatest value moving forward.

Ultimately, my goal is simple. I want our members to think of NFFS as another technical person on their staff, somebody they can call when they need help, without having to add another full-time salary.

We're here, we're engaged, and we're ready to help.