Cast in Steel Competition: A Huge Success in Grand Rapids
58 Teams. One Epic Showdown.
Cast in Steel 2026 Delivered
From April 18-20, university teams from across the country gathered at Grand Valley State University for one of the metal casting industry’s most exciting student competitions: Cast in Steel.
Hosted by the Steel Founders’ Society of America, Cast in Steel is a national competition that challenges university teams to design, cast, and test a fully functional metal tool or weapon, crafted entirely from scratch. The event brings together students, faculty, and industry professionals to celebrate the art and science of metal casting.
This year, student teams took on the challenge of creating a horseman’s axe, pushing their skills, creativity, and technical knowledge to the next level.
For 2026, teams were tasked with producing a Horseman’s Axe inspired by the type of weapon used by Robert the Bruce during the Battle of Bannockburn. According to legend, Robert the Bruce used a one-handed mounted axe to defeat Henry de Bohun in single combat at the opening of the battle.
The historical inspiration gave teams the opportunity to blend metallurgy with medieval design. Many entries incorporated traditional features such as wrist strap holes, belt hooks, langets, spikes, and historically inspired blade geometry. Teams also had flexibility to use different materials, alloys, handle designs, and casting approaches to improve both performance and authenticity.
What makes Cast in Steel unique is that success is not based solely on how the final product looks. Teams are judged on technical design and process, historical authenticity, creativity in the use of casting, video presentation, and real-world performance testing. Axes are put through demanding evaluations that test cutting ability, durability, balance, and functionality.
The live competition environment is what truly sets the event apart. Students spend months developing their projects, often working with faculty advisors and industry foundry partners, before bringing their finished entries to Grand Valley State University. Once there, their axes are put through a series of physical challenges in front of judges, peers, and industry professionals. The atmosphere feels more like a sporting event than an engineering competition, with teams cheering each other on while their creations are tested.
This year, 58 teams competed, making it clear that the future of metal casting was on full display. Students demonstrated not only technical knowledge, but also teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and passion for manufacturing.
Experiences like Cast in Steel highlight the importance of hands-on learning, connecting students directly with industry, and helping build the future of the metal workforce. These students are exactly the type of future engineers, metallurgists, patternmakers, and foundry leaders the industry says it needs.
The question is: where was industry to meet them?
If foundries want to solve their workforce challenges, they need to show up where students are already engaged. Competitions like Cast in Steel create a pipeline of students who are already interested in casting, metallurgy, manufacturing, and problem-solving. Foundries should be there to recruit, network, and help students understand what career opportunities exist after graduation.
Did your company help a school prepare for the competition? If not, now is the time to reach out to a local university and either help launch a team or support one that already exists. Sponsor materials. Offer technical advice. Host plant tours. Provide mentors. Attend the competition.
What is the use of having dozens of students engage in a casting-focused, project-based learning opportunity if no one is there to talk to them about the next steps?
Cast in Steel is more than a competition. It is one of the best opportunities our industry has to connect with the next generation before someone else does.