Localisation for Africa left Plenary Session: Keynote Address Global Metalcasting: A Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment Alfred Spada- Director of Marketing, Communications and PR, American Foundry Society, USA
Metal Casting Conference
A milestone for the South African Metal Casting Industry
The Metal Casting Conference 2013 was a milestone for the South African Metal Casting Industry as a key component of the manufacturing sector.
The theme for this year’ s conference was Technology and Practice for increased Competitiveness, key for not only the foundry sector but for its customers as well.
Globally, the challenges within the foundry sector are common, from energy, environmental issues, labour, cost of raw materials, skills development, turn around times and quality. These challenges are but a summary of the points highlighted during the BRICS Foundry Forum and the Metal Casting Conference, which followed.
The key to addressing and overcoming these challenges is through platforms such as the Metal Casting Conference and the BRICS Foundry Forum, to talk and engage with each other on a global level.
“ This is a critical industry that impacts the overall competitiveness of the broader manufacturing sector. The most recent Cabinet-approved IPAP plan that was launched in 2011 has identified impact sectors of the economy. The IPAP stresses that SA‘ s manufacturing sector needs to improve in order to be globally competitive and create jobs. The NFTN has been established as a key action programme by the dti( Department of Trade and Industry) to increase the overall competitiveness of the foundry sector,” said
Mahadi Granier, Director: Metals, Industrial Development Division, dti.
The key message delivered at the conferences centred on collaboration within this sector, from supply chain through to customers and even competitors. Changing the perception of the industry as dirty, dangerous and old is also imperative.
“ You cannot sit back and wait for things to happen, our customers need us right now. The foundry industry is in a position where they need to be more price competitive and quicker but the broader scope of this is that the customer is under the same or similar pressure. However as an industry we have never engaged the customer, so they don’ t really understand the casting process. It begs the question, how
You cannot sit back and wait for things to happen do they get the best value from us unless there is a collaborative effort?” said Alfred Spada, Director of Marketing, Communications and PR, American Foundry Society.
Spada went on to say that“ Customers don’ t understand the process and it’ s up to the foundry industry to talk about opportunities, educate customers and show what should be and can be done. Irrespective if it fits your foundries process or not – create the opportunity!”
“ New market opportunities such as nuclear, wind energy and medical in the USA have seen tremendous growth. A great casting opportunity is hybrid cars and it is important to consider how we as an industry are going to take advantage of these opportunities. The key question is, is the industry looking for opportunities or are we waiting for them to come to us? Whilst fabrication makes sense in some instances, castings are far superior.“ said Spada.
Government regulation is a huge threat. Environmental and SHEQ regulations are squeezing the foundry industry at every level. There is an urgent need to change the perception of customers, governments and environmentalists who see the industry as dirty, old, dangerous and unskilled.
Spada explained that this perception does not relate to the end product, but it does discourage people from wanting to be in this industry.
Productivity and castings going out the door will keep the business going, but making the industry exciting and attractive will get young people into the industry and provide further innovation and sustainability going forward.
Pre-recession levels have returned in the US, which has come from metal casting buys. China’ s internal demand for castings and its own challenges relating to increasing costs means that the country could soon be facing competitiveness issues.
Germany is the largest shipper of metal casting by far. Most of their facilities are headed by engineers who focus on production and process. India is growing, predominantly driven by the automotive sector as well as internal and external demand. However energy, infrastructure and transport remain a challenge.