Metalcasters Convene at 111^th Metalcasting Congress

Special thanks to the more than 1800 attendees, exhibitors and technical presenters for making this year’s Metalcasting Congress a tremendous success.

Co-sponsored by the American Foundry Society (AFS) and the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), the annual event featured 217 companies showcasing the latest technology, research and services available to the metalcasting industry. In addition, 56 technical and management sessions offered advice and research findings in several different fields of metalcasting including molding, patterns, metals and engineering.

The AFS Gold Medals were announced at the AFS Annual Banquet on May 16. Dr. Hathibelagal M. Roshan, Maynard Steel Casting Co., Milwaukee, was awarded the Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal “for technical and training contributions which have served to advance and educate the industry worldwide through development of internet Cast Metals Institute courses and as a leader in utilization of solidification modeling to advance the metalcasting industry.” Roshan served as the principal investigator of the AFS research project Quality Improvement Expert System (1999-2000). In 2001, he was awarded the AFS Award of Scientific Merit. Gary L. Thoe (retired), ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, Waupaca, Wis., was awarded the Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal “for outstanding achievement in business leadership by excelling in understanding customer desires, motivating and inspiring all employees to their greatest potential, and fostering an in-depth knowledge of casting technology and business in the management of a production foundry.” Thoe was a founding member of the Northeast Wisconsin chapter and served on the AFS National Board of Directors from 1999-2003.

During the Congress’s President’s Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting, the AFS Awards of Scientific Merit were awarded to James J. Archibald, Ashland Japan Company Ltd., Yokohama, Japan, and Harold T. Michels, Copper Development Association, New York. This year’s AFS Service Citations were awarded to Gerald A. Wilkinson, Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis., and Mark J. Ziegler, Unimin Corp., Rockford, Ill. The CMI Directors’ Award was given to Dr. Hathibelagal M. Roshan, Maynard Steel Casting Co., Milwaukee.

The President’s Luncheon also featured the induction of the 2007-08 class of AFS Officers and Directors. Albert T. Lucchetti, Cumberland Foundry Co. Inc., will remain as AFS President; Paul H. Mikkola, Metal Casting Technology Inc., took the office of AFS Vice President; and Stephen H. Reynolds, Lufkin Industries Inc., took the office of AFS 2^nd Vice President. The Directors Class 2007-2011 includes Tim Brown, Benton Foundry Inc.; Walter Chaput, OmniSource Corp.; James M. Gartland Jr., Atlas Foundry Co. Inc.; Timothy G. McMillin, Fairmount Minerals; Chris Norch, Denison Industries Inc.; and Michael L. Selz, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.

Also at the luncheon, the winners of the 2007 Casting Competition, cosponsored by Engineered Casting Solutions and AFS, were officially recognized. The winner of the Casting of the Year was Smith Foundry Co., Minneapolis, for its Rangeland Planter Boot Casting.

“This year’s Metalcasting Congress was a tremendous success. The continued coalition between AFS and NADCA to sponsor this event is not only beneficial to the U.S. metalcasting industry as a whole, but also improves the working relationship and exchange of information between industry members,” said Jerry Call, AFS Executive Vice President.