steel casters discuss industry forecast and capacity.

The 40 SFSA members are still enjoying their busiest year in a decade, and they met in October 8 --
In the Hot Spring City of Virginia, look forward to the future.
Steel founder is involved in a project involving quality issues, equipment trends, important metals
Casting research enterprises, as well as the economic environment affecting the steel casting market.
The number of members of SFSA is increasing, including nearly 80 companies with 108 foundries.
But Mike Gwyn, president of SFSA, Pelton Casteel, Inc.
\"The overall situation is flat,\" he said;
Fewer and fewer customers design new steel castings.
In the heavy truck market alone, parts from steel to aluminum 15 million have been converted into $357.
\"So why are our numbers going up and where are the markets changing? \" Gwyn asked.
\"The use of casting is more active in Structural and Rail applications.
Computer 3D modeling and other design aids help make steel castings lighter.
Getting thinner and thinner-
Wall Investment casting with carbon or low carbonalloy steel.
\"The recent boom in the steel industry may be partly due to the boom in the large foundry industry.
\"The cast iron market is already overwhelmed and some people are sure to have returned to the steel company for delivery,\" Gwyn suggested . \".
\"Overall,\" he said, \"there is growth.
\"However, growth is expected to slow slightly in the short term.
Dennis Lauber of Grede\'s foundry, on behalf of SFSA\'s Marketing Committee, put forward a 1996 market forecast.
\"Last year, I can say we were close to the best of times,\" he said . \".
\"Unfortunately, I can\'t say that anymore.
\"In 1995, the sales of steel foundry increased by 20%, exceeding all forecasts.
However, they will face a 5% decline in 1996.
Lauber believes that even if we lose 5%, we will still have the second best year since 1981.
The boom in the foundry industry is closely related to American consumers, says Mr.
\"Obviously we wouldn\'t have done a good job if people stopped buying.
Some experts are worried about consumer debt.
It has risen by 26% since last year.
\"One thing is that people have to stop buying on credit,\" explained Lauber.
\"The Foundry will feel when this happens.
Lauber predicts that orders for the railway market will drop by 10-for different steel casting markets-
15%, 10% reduction in trucks, 3-reduction in construction equipment-5%.
Casting demand for military applications will be reduced by another 25%, down 5% in 95 years.
The pump will remain at its current level, an increase of 5% over 1994, he said.
The valve will also remain at the level of 95 years.
The application of mining equipment increased by 15% in 1995 and by another 10% in 1996.
Natural gas and oil field applications will grow by 3% and demand for pulp/paper industry castings will grow by 10%.
Raymond Monroe, executive vice president of SFSA, declared that steel foundry capabilities \"We are not a dying industry \".
In his speech, Monroe focused on the current and future capacity of the steel foundry industry.
Total output of steel, based on 20-
The annual average is 102.
7 million tons, and 1 steel foundry production. 31 million tons.
\"So we\'re only a small part of the market,\" he said . \"
According to Monroe, there are 282 steel mills in North America.
233 of them are carbon emissions and low carbon emissions.
201 and are real wholesalers.
These figures have remained very stable over the past two years.
The annual production capacity of North American steel foundry is 2 million tons,
78 million in the United StatesS.
Through the process decomposition production, 80% of the cast steel tonnage is melted in the electric arc furnace, and 20% is melted by induction.
About 50% of steel castings are still cast in green sand.
\"There is no baking that can be a benefit, mainly because it requires fewer worker skills and a better surface finish,\" said Monroe . \".
The current capacity utilization rate of steel casting industry is only slightly higher than 90%.
\"In the long run,\" Monroe said, \"We will continue to grow, and in order to meet the manufacturing needs of North America, we may have the opportunity to surpass our historical growth.
But we need to do a lot of work.
\"We must focus on future investments.
Where do we need to position ourselves for the future?
We need to invest and re-create a layer of technicians who have been fired in a bad 1980.
Using a quick prototype as the preferred means of design will help us.
We need stories of success, just like those of success stories that help Obbe cast iron.
When a large OEM goes to a new process or material, it gets a huge exposure.