Member News

Support member companies in order to facilitate growth and prosperity by providing information, education and business opportunities, and by interfacing with other industry associations around the world to benefit the casting industry while fostering rewarding professional and business relationships.

We are delighted to share the following announcement:

Chuck Fowler receives Keating Founders’ Freedom Award.
The American Foundry Society (AFS) awarded Fairmount Minerals’ CEO, Chuck Fowler, with the Keating Founders’ Freedom award.
The award was announced by the AFS during their annual Executive Conference, held September 16-18 in Miami Beach, Florida.
The Keating Founders’ Freedom award recognizes significant contributions to the foundry industry and active participation in the fields of government affairs, human resource management, safety, health and education.

Help us congratulate Chuck!

WELCOME TO PRINCE MINERALS

Prince Minerals is a leading international processor and marketer of specialty industrial minerals with an important position in numerous industrial and agricultural applications. Headquartered in New York City, with production facilities and sales offices worldwide, Prince Minerals is able to supply our customers with quality products on a global basis. We successfully combine the expertise of our employees, longstanding relationships with key raw material suppliers, and the financial strength of our private equity backers. Our mission is to continue building a preeminent industrial minerals company based on outstanding customer support, technical expertise, and continual improvement of our facilities and capabilities. Visit prince minerals now.
http://www.princeminerals.com/

Past president of CISA, Sara Joyce of Badger Mining Corporation received the "Ezra Kotsin Service Citation" under "Molding Methods & Materials" at the 116th Metalcasting Congress, April 17-20, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio.

Soderlund receives the prestigious CISA Presidents Award

Since 1987, the Casting Industry Suppliers Association (CISA) Presidents Award has been given by the current president, to the person who, in their sole opinion, best meets the award inscription; “In Recognition of his/her Commitment to the Principals and Goals that Unite Our Membership”.
President George Whitehead presented the 2011 trophy to Donald Soderlund of Prince Minerals Inc., at the 2012 CISA Spring Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Whitehead commented that Soderlund had been involved with CISA in the capacity of a CISA Board Member and had supported CISA in all of its endeavors.
The trophy, which is named Orbiter I, was created by Stephen Canetto, an internationally recognized artist. The trophy bears the names of many industry leaders and contributors to the continued success of the association which has been in existence since 1919.

Superior Graphite Launches New Website
Under Same Web Address, www.superiorgraphite.com!

New Site Provides Improved Navigation and Searching, Rich Content, and Additional Features.

May 11, 2012, Chicago, IL, Superior Graphite has launched its new Content Management System website, www.superiorgraphite.com. The streamlined and aesthetically appealing global site, created by ThomasNet Web Solutions, encompasses Superior Graphite’s commitment to creating value for customers through technological advancements and superior quality. Customers will be able to identify graphite and carbon solutions to meet their application demands more promptly and efficiently. Additionally, contact information is readily accessible for further custom solution discussions. Based on web analytics research, the site offers:

IGC Technologies, LLC will officially become Prince Minerals, Inc. and all communication, invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, purchase orders and other communication will cease to have any identifiers of IGC Technologies.

Veinseal ^®	Slag-Getter ^TM
Veinseal HMI ^®	E-Shield ^TM
MasterTop ^TM	E-Cast ^TM

With the transition to Prince Minerals you will be served by the same great people and products, only to be expanded through a strengthened global organization, better access to critical raw materials and enhanced research and development.

Our first priority is to assure the smooth transition to your internal processes. The name change will be followed by new packaging of materials over the next few months. If you should have any concerns or questions, please contact:

Jeff Craig, the Chem-Cast Limited President from Danville, Illinois commented, on re-joining CISA, that they (Chem-Cast) had decided to return to the things that had made them successful in the past, and that included re-joining CISA.

They are suppliers of cold box and shell cores to the foundry industry and they have the capabilities to blow both vertical and horizontal cores in cold box. Chem-Cast is ISO certified.

Be Prepared for Whatever Is Coming

Being prepared, whether it is for a date, a presentation, or the future, will allow you to show off your best assets and help you feel safe.

If you prepare, although you may not remember every trick in the book, you’ve probably read about them at some point, so you already have many of the answers in your head.

No, you can’t constantly be ready for everything that life throws at you. But by getting into the habit of preparing, you create a backlog of emotional building blocks that you’ll be able to use later. Trust me on this one please, there is no wasted effort here. Whatever you are preparing for today, even if you don’t use it tomorrow, you will in the future.

Preparing emotionally is as important as preparing mentally and physically. The best way I have found is to visualize, by imagining in your mind’s eye what it is you are about to do. If it’s taking a test, see yourself passing it. If it’s giving a speech, see the audience nodding their heads and applauding (perhaps even laughing at your jokes). This technique of positive visualization (sometimes called Guided Imagery) is used with cancer patients, and I’m sure it will make you feel more prepared. It will also help you succeed at the task in front of you.

Mental preparation requires that you have some familiarity with or have the ability to learn about, what you need to do. They say men never bother to read instructions. While that may have been the case before the technology revolution, it’s not true these days. Life is way too complicated. You have to at least look at the manual before you try and hook up that new video game system.

Common sense preparation, like making a mental or written checklist before you begin a project, old or new, is only going to make whatever you take on easier. It will also help you think of things you may have missed, and you won’t be wondering what the leftover parts are for.

Making a checklist might be a little over the top if you are just going out for dinner and a movie, but it can be immensely helpful when you are doing something as simple as going to the market. I wouldn’t know what to do without to-do lists. They may be our single greatest aid when it comes to getting things done and staying on track.

If required, taking safety precautions can also be a great preparation technique. When you carefully organize your gear as you get ready to climb the Matterhorn, you mentally practice using it. As you tee up your ball (and look around to make sure you’re not about to pulverize your boss with your Big Bertha driver), you are also preparing yourself to make a great shot.

Preparation is your friend, and it’s not nearly as painful as you thought.

SnowFree^® : New De-icing and Snow-melting Technology:

SnowFree^® is a heated pavement system developed by Superior Graphite for outdoor surface heating to prevent the accumulation of, and to melt ice and snow. The technology is featured in an Advisory Circular - FAA’s No. 150/5370: AIRSIDE USE OF HEATED PAVEMENT SYSTEMS.

The SnowFree^® system consists of a multi-layer construction design: a base layer at the bottom, a formulated SnowFree^® layer in the middle, and an insulating layer on the top. The SnowFree^® layer contains a unique electrically conductive blend of graphite and asphalt over an array of electrical conductors. The electrically conductive asphalt layer is energized creating resistive heat, which radiates to the surface. The system can be designed for voltage requirements range from 48 volts up to 480 volts. The power density at full load is between 30 W/sq ft to 50 W/sq ft based on the location and weather severity. The time required to reach the optimum operating temperature is approximately 2.5 hours based on a power input of 45 W/sq ft and a starting temperature of 25^oF for a 7,500 sq ft area.

SnowFree^® applications include sidewalks, driveways, docks, ramps, bridges, high-speed exits, and sections of roadways and runways, etc. SnowFree^® systems have proven to provide safety, convenience, efficiency, and reliability. Under winter conditions, SnowFree^® contributes to safe aircraft landing, safe vehicle transportation, and increased pedestrian safety and efficiency of many business operations. The SnowFree^® layer meets the Federal Aviation Administration P401 specifications for airport surfaces, thus its durability and maintenance equals that of regular asphalt currently used by airports. In addition SnowFree^®systems aid in the reduction of chemicals for de-icing of surfaces leading to greener environment.

To learn more, contact Pinggui Wu, Business Development Scientist at 773-890-4111 or via email at pwu@superiorgraphite.com.

BROOKFIELD, WI, January 10 –Ajax Tocco Magnethermic (“ATM”) has acquired the assets and intellectual property formerly known as Pillar from ABP Induction. The business provides induction systems and aftermarket parts and service to a worldwide market. The sale includes the Brookfield, WI and Sterling Heights, MI operations. ABP’s induction melting operations in North Brunswick, NJ, and Massillon, OH are unaffected, as are its international operations including ABP Induction Systems Shanghai, previously Pillar Shanghai.

ATM will reinstate the name Pillar Induction and operate it as a division of ATM. All Pillar products will continue to be sold and markets served will continue to be supported. All personnel associated with the Pillar products have been transferred to the new division. Customers of Pillar products and services will continue to receive the benefit of the relationships established with the existing operations. Thomas Illencik, President of Ajax Tocco Magnethermic stated “The Pillar brand has a long and respected history. We are excited to bring the technical heritage of Pillar together with Ajax and Tocco. We look forward to expanding the sale of these products through the ATM’s worldwide operations while we continue to serve their existing customer base.”

Paul Decker, CEO of ABP Induction said “With excess capacity in the US induction heating equipment market today and for the foreseeable future we believe consolidation is necessary. This transaction provides an attractive return to our shareholders while freeing resources for ABP to focus on its core foundry market and induction heating outside of North America, particularly in the rapidly growing markets.”

ABP and ATM are committed to ensuring uninterrupted support for the customers through the transition. ABP Induction, LLC is a leading provider of induction melting and heating systems and aftermarket services to the global foundry, forging and steel industries. ABP Induction was formed by the merger of ABB’s foundry services division with Pillar Induction. ABP operates through sales, manufacturing and aftermarket locations in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, India, China, Russia and Japan.

Ajax Tocco Magnethermic is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of world class induction heating and melting equipment for various industries throughout the world. In addition ATM provides a wide range of engineering and aftermarket services including laboratory process development, preventative maintenance, equipment repair and parts, coil repair, and installation services. Headquartered in Warren, Ohio, ATM has manufacturing and service locations throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, Poland, Belgium, China, Japan, Thailand, the UK, and Mexico.

Since 1987, the Casting Industry Suppliers Association (CISA) Presidents Award has been given by the current president, to the person who, in their sole opinion, best meets the award inscription; “In Recognition of his/her Commitment to the Principals and Goals that Unite Our Membership”.
          President George Whitehead presented the 2010 trophy to Victor LaFay of S&B Minerals N.A. Inc, at the 2010 CISA Spring Conference in Ashville N.C.
          Whitehead commented that LaFay had been involved with CISA in the capacity of a CISA Board Member and as its President and had supported CISA in all of its endeavors
          The trophy, which is named Orbiter I, was created by Stephen Canetto, an internationally recognized artist. The trophy bears the names of many industry leaders and contributors to the continued success of the association which has been in existence since 1919.