Excerpt from the May 2020 Issue of Modern Casting
This year’s annual AFS Casting Competition continues with 2 of the casting category winners: Achievement by a Small Foundry and Outstanding Achievement. Congratulations go to LA Aluminum Casting Co. for their lift wrench and to Dotson Iron Casting for their trip arm.
Achievement by a Small Foundry
Lift Wrench
LA Aluminum Casting Co. (Hayden, Idaho)
Material: 356 aluminum T6.
Process: Semi-Permanent Mold
Weight: 6.42 lbs.
Dimensions: 11.7 x 10.9 x 2.75 in.
Application: Oil and gas. Hammer union wrench and pipe-lifter
Customer: Mountain Valley Supply
The lift wrench replaces the oil and gas industry's traditional tool of choice, the sledgehammer. It combines leverage, strength, and pipe-lifting capabilities and is safe to use than a sledgehammer.
LA Aluminum helped customer Mountain Valley Supply change a weaker weldment into the lightweight aluminum casting pull-tested to break at 6,600 lbs. of force. It provides a savings of thousands of dollars a year.
Outstanding Achievement
Dotson Iron Casting (Mankato, Minnesota)
Material: Ductile Iron
Process: Horizontally parted green sand
Weight: 23 lbs.
Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 3 in.
Application: Agriculture. Used in tillage tools.
Customer: Summers Manufacturing
This ductile iron casting was converted from a five-piece fabrication for use in a tillage tool. The trip arm absorbs shock as discs hit obstructions in fields.
Converting to a casting allowed engineers at Summers Manufacturing to add material to high-stress areas and remove material from less critical areas. A feature was added for retaining the pin and roll pin, eliminating a bushing in the fabricated part. It also improved fit-up during assembly and enhanced the overall appearance of the machine.
Dotson's customer saved nearly $100,000 and more than 3,000 employee hours annually.
Additional content from Modern Casting
Marketing Mind: Tell Customer Who You Are
COVID-19: Reopening Businesses After the Stay-at-Home Order
Hill and Griffith Customer Service
The Hill and Griffith Company's green sand metal casting foundry supplies help achieve the EPA's M.A.C.T. standards and reduce Benzene emissions. Our variety of environmentally sound release agents, coatings, partings, lubricants, core oils and specialty products will help you meet your metal casting's needs. We're known for our hands-on approach. Let us visit your plant and recommend products that suit your needs.
Product Samples
We are pleased to provide samples in quantities large enough to allow you to "try before you buy."
Contact Us »
Technical Services & Support
On-site casting defect investigations, product testing, machine start-ups and much more. Also, lab facilities are available to provide testing upon request.
Contact Us »
