Ashland, International Casting, SinterCast to Offer CGI Packages

Sept. 6, 2007
"Concept-to-production support" for components
Ashland Casting Solutions, International Casting Corp., and SinterCast AB, have formed a venture to offer "complete solutions" for CGI (compacted graphite iron) product design, development, and prototype production." ACS, a division of Ashland Performance Materials, supplies metalcasters with core and mold binder systems, refractory coatings, release agents, riser sleeves, metal cleaners, sand additives, and other specialty services. Sintercast supplies process control technology for high-volume compacted graphite iron production, and produces various CGI components ranging from 8 kg to 17 tonnes. It has CGI production agreements with 32 foundries in 14 countries. International Casting Corp. is a New Baltimore, MI, foundry that produces a range of gray and ductile iron, and carbon and alloy steel castings for automotive, aerospace, and other industrial customers. In a statement, ACS, a division of Ashland Specialty Chemicals, announced that the "combined capabilities of Ashland Casting Solutions, ICC, and SinterCast will provide concept-to-production support for new CGI components, including optimization of core blowing, mold filling, and solidification, component design for series production, prototyping and machining." The agreement further calls for ICC to install a SinterCast Mini-System 2000 to produce CGI prototype castings under series production conditions. ICC's melting and casting facilities will be capable of producing CGI components from 1 to 750 lb. “Building upon our successful marketing and technical alliance established with SinterCast in 2005, this expansion to encompass CGI design services, product development and prototyping skills, pulls together the components necessary to meet the current and future needs of the global automotive industry,” stated Scott Hoertz, v.p., Ashland Performance Materials and general manager, Ashland Casting Solutions. “With the combined expertise and innovation of Ashland, ICC and SinterCast, we are confident that we will be able to optimize CGI product designs and provide our customers with an efficient transition from CGI conception to series production.” Doug Smith, president of International Casting Corp., said the "continuous increase in CGI development and production planning provides an excellent opportunity for ICC to apply its ferrous metallurgy product development and niche-volume production skills to the CGI arena.” Sintercast AB president and CEO Steve Dawson said the agreement "significantly broadens SinterCast’s ability to promote new CGI product development activities and to support the subsequent CGI series production needs of the world automotive industry.”