NADCA Die Casting Congress Awards 2020

For the last 46 years, NADCA has sponsored its International Die Casting Design Competition to showcase outstanding die cast designs while acknowledging the continuous contribution die casters provide to the manufacturing industry. As die castings become more complex, higher quality, lower cost, and more unique, it becomes important for die casters to be involved in the process early in the product’s design phase. A die casting is not a machined part, sand casting, or an extrusion. It is critical for die casters to effectively communicate to the designer requirements to make a quality casting. The winners of the 2020 International Die Casting Competition have exhibited a close relationship with their customer to produce castings that have a complex design, high quality, and ingenuity. These castings often expand the market for die casting and reduce the cost of the part compared to the previous manufacturing method.

Engine Bracket 1

The competition, which promotes increased use of die castings by recognizing and publicizing outstanding designs, is open to aluminum, magnesium and zinc die castings. Within those alloys, there are more specific levels: aluminum under 1 pound; aluminum 1-to-10 pounds; aluminum over 10 pounds; aluminum squeeze/semi-solid; zinc under 6 ounces/non-electroplated; zinc over 6 ounces/non-electroplated; zinc any size with decorative finish; magnesium under 1 pound; and magnesium over 1 pound.

Castings are judged on design, quality, cost savings, ingenuity and industry changing potential. The judging was conducted by an independent panel of experts within the die casting industry, with no ties to eligible casters.

The winning castings serve the automotive, consumer electronic and aerospace end markets. For entry, die casters are asked to supply information and photographs describing the design process. When possible, that information is printed in Die Casting Engineer, but due to proprietary reasons, not all information can be shared.

Engine Bracket 2