About The Metal Casting Industry

Did you know? Interesting Facts:

• The foundry industry is the original recycling industry, and raw material is typically recycled metal, thereby conserving precious natural resources and energy.
  
• The foundry industry is comprised of large, medium and small foundries.  Some are custom producers while others are captive operations.
  
• Castings range in size from a few ounces to many tons and metals poured in their production include iron, steel, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, brass and bronze.
  
• Foundries are vital to the Canadian economy since metal castings are a strategic component of the manufacturing base.  They are the first step in the value-added manufacturing chain and are utilized in the manufacture of most durable goods.  It is fair to say that wherever we are, there is a casting within 10 meters.
  
• Members have been leaders in the adoption of new technologies and management practices to continually improve efficiency and productivity, product quality, quality of the workplace and protection of the workers and the environment.
  
• Foundry operations have always been varied and complex, and have become even more so, since the industry has changed drastically in recent years.  Foundries no longer produce just a raw casting.  Today, many modern foundries design the parts, build tooling, cast prototypes, make the casting, machine and assemble the casting and produce a component or assembly ready to install on the customer’s assembly line.  Because of this value added work, the foundry sector goes beyond foundry operations.  Many foundries are designers, casters, machinists and assemblers of value added parts.  After sales service is another aspect of value added work.
  
• Markets and industries served by foundries include the automotive sector, construction, agriculture, forestry, mining, pulp and paper, heavy industrial machinery and equipment, aircraft and aerospace, plumbing, soil pipe, municipal road castings, defence, railway, petroleum and petrochemical, electric distribution and a myriad of specialty markets.