The latest in Health & Safety and Environmental news for the foundry industry from the Cast Metals Federation.

There are a number of respiratory hazards posed to welders in their workplace, here Alan McArthur of 3M, the diversified technology company, looks at the main ones and suggests the best methods to counter these.

An aluminium sand casting and gravity diecasting foundry in Suffolk (UK) has installed four new gas fired crucible furnaces to reduce both its energy costs and its impact on the environment.

Founded in 1968, Hadleigh Castings has continued to invest in technology and training to create a modern, high quality production facility. The most recent investment marks the replacement of the foundry’s existing electric melting furnaces after a visit to another foundry convinced staff that the equipment would improve production and save money.

Cokeless celebrates its Ruby anniversary with success in the gemstone’s country of origin

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the cokeless cupola, a technology embraced by foundries in the western world, the Far East and Asia. With a mixed history seeing rapid growth then some decline, here Richard Taft of Cokeless Cupolas Ltd takes a look at what the future may hold for the process and the markets most likely to embrace the technology in the coming years.

The process was developed at Hayes Shell-Cast Ltd where the first production melt occurred on 22 December 1970. Over the past 40 years nearly 50 cupolas have been installed in 35 foundries in 10 countries around the world. These have ranged in size from the smallest unit of 3 tonnes/hour to the largest installed so far of 25 tonnes/hour. Cokeless has witnessed many changes in North and South America, UK and Europe, the Middle East, Asia as well as the Far East and Australia with markets expanding and then reducing dramatically often as a result of political change. New markets have emerged whilst some original pioneer markets have ceased, meaning only a few of the early installations are still operating.