Heat Stress Management Publication Available
AFS has introduced a new publication, Establishing a Foundry Heat Stress Management Program, to assist metalcasting facilities in managing heat stress among workers during the excessive summer temperatures.
This publication is an extensive, easy-to-use guide for recognizing and controlling heat stress. Follow the step-by-step guide for a program model, personnel preparation & managing hot work activities, as well as a section including respite room design criteria. Follow-up chapters detail risk assessment, retraining, returning to work information, strategies for control of heat stress sources and their impact.
For more information on Establishing a Foundry Heat Stress Management Program, contact Fred Kohloff, AFS Director of Environmental, Health and Safety, at fhk@afsinc.org or 847/824-0181. To obtain your free download of this publication, visit www.afsinc.org/heatmanagement.
Sales & Marketing Conference Focuses on Profits, Customers
The AFS Marketing and Selling of Castings conference will be held July 31-Aug. 1 at the Westin O'Hare, Rosemont, Ill. The focus of the conference is to educate metalcasting marketing and sales professionals on strategies to improve their bottom line, while giving them a chance to talk to future customers.
A special two-hour in-depth seminar with marketing guru Dan McQuiston (www.mcquistongroup.com), Butler Univ., is planned, along with several top-notch speakers including:
- Ed O'Neil, Director of Global Sourcing, Caterpillar
- Bob Whaley, Director of Procurement, Haas Automation
- Jim King, Commodity Sourcing Analyst, FMC Technologies
- Robert Ryan, Director, Engine Business Global Purchasing, Cummins Inc.
- Wayne Braun & Jim Clifford, Sales & Marketing, AmeriCast Technologies Inc.
- Alex Bryant, President, East-West Associates
- Rick Betori, President, Wonderlic
- Tim Daro, President, Bernard & Co.
As part of the conference special, have your website, brochures and other marketing and communications vehicles evaluated one-on-one by industry experts in a critique session. Register by June 30 to be entered into a drawing to win a sales and marketing kit (valued at more than $500). All attendees will receive a free copy of the 2008 AFS Forecast and Trends Report (valued at $400).
For more information, or to register for the AFS Marketing and Selling of Castings conference, contact AFS customer service at 800/537-4237 or click here for more information.
Your Action Needed on Climate Change Bill
On June 2, the U.S. Senate began debate on America's Climate Security Act (S. 2191 / S. 3036). This is the Lieberman-Warner Bill focused on the global reduction of carbon emissions. AFS is urging Congress to take a more balanced approach to the global reduction of carbon emissions--one that will mitigate the environmental impacts of global warming while maintaining a focus on the U.S. economy, competitiveness and innovation.
AFS needs you to take action on this critical issue. Your member of Congress is asking for your opinion on the bill, and we have made it easy for you to give it by sending a letter to your member asking them to oppose the Lieberman-Warner bill. Visit www.afsinc.org/climatechange to download a sample letter that just requires your information and that of your Congress person. Then, you can use the contact information we provide to fax it. This website also contains further background information on the climate change issue and the full details on the position AFS has taken on the issue. Your opposition is critical in helping congress understand the position of U.S. metalcasters, and how this bill, in its current form, is only going to further harm U.S. manufacturing.
For more information, contact Alicia Oman, AFS Washington Office, at 202/842-4864 or aoman@afsinc.org.
CMI Offers Analysis & Reduction of Investment Casting Defects
CMI will be offering an Analysis & Reduction of Investment Casting Defects course July 29-31 at AFS headquarters, Schaumburg, Ill.
This class is a practical, problem-solving approach to identifying and reducing investment casting defects. The metal and melting session covers mold/metal interactions, as well as melting and pouring-related problems. The pattern and molding session covers shell-related defects, waxes, slurries and environmental variables that adversely affect casting quality. Defects identification and solutions are spotlighted in group workshops centered on defective castings, which will be brought to class by the participants.
