NFFS Attends and Supports IACMI Metal Meeting

Casting the Future Together: NFFS at the IACMI Members Meeting

This past week, I had the privilege of representing the Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society (NFFS) at the IACMI – The Composites Institute Members Meeting. Their tagline - Convene. Connect. Catalyze. - is more than just a slogan; it’s a mission that drives every aspect of their work. And throughout the week, that mission came to life in meaningful and impactful ways.

As Chair of the METAL (Manufacturing, Education, and Technology Alliance Leadership) Advisory Board, one of the most valuable parts of the event was the opportunity to meet directly with the university partners and site leaders who are hosting the METAL Boot Camps this summer. These camps are hands-on, high-impact experiences designed to introduce college students and young adults to the world of casting and forging.

The site leaders and program staff are not only teaching skills; they’re opening doors to career possibilities that many students and their families have never considered. By engaging with these programs, NFFS gains a direct line into the national conversation about workforce development and manufacturing education. It allows us to help shape how casting is represented in the broader manufacturing ecosystem, and ensure that our members’ needs are heard, understood, and addressed.

This kind of engagement is critically important for NFFS and its member foundries. Workforce challenges continue to top the list of industry concerns, and initiatives like METAL provide a proven, scalable way to grow awareness, interest, and ultimately participation in careers that support non-ferrous metalcasting. Our involvement ensures that casting has a seat at the table when decisions are made about what the future of manufacturing looks like.

Through our collaboration with IACMI, METAL, and education leaders across the country, NFFS is strengthening its role as a workforce development leader in the industry. We’re helping connect our members with future talent, building partnerships with institutions that train the next generation, and promoting a modern, compelling image of casting as an essential, innovative career path.

I left the IACMI Members Meeting energized and proud to represent NFFS. These are the kinds of conversations and connections that move the needle, not just for the industry as a whole, but for every foundry that needs skilled, motivated workers to compete and grow.

Let’s keep casting the future. Let’s keep reindustrializing together.

Want to help inspire the next generation of foundry professionals? NFFS is actively partnering with METAL Boot Camp sites and national workforce initiatives. Get in touch with me at bill@nffs.org to learn how your foundry can get involved.