CastExpo’08, the largest exhibition of metalcasting equipment in North America took place May 17-20 in Atlanta. Last held in 2005, the metalcasting exposition comprises four days of technical presentations, operational workshops and equipment showcases. The American Foundry Society (AFS), Schaumburg, Ill., and North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), Wheeling, Ill., host the event, which is held in conjunction with the annual Metalcasting Congress.

Attendees had the opportunity to peruse through 470 exhibitors this year, while 66 technical and management sessions featured speakers from industry suppliers, research institutions and metalcasting facilities.

At the show, AFS announced its board of directors for the ‘08/’09 fiscal year. Paul Mikkola, retired president of Metal Casting Technology Inc., Milford, N.H., will serve as AFS president; Stephen Reynolds, metalcasting general manager, Lufkin, Texas, will serve as AFS vice president; and Henry Lodge, president, Lodge Manufacturing, South Pittsburg, Tenn., will serve as AFS second vice president. Albert Lucchetti, president, Cumberland Foundry, Cumberland, R.I., is the immediate past president.

New AFS directors also were appointed. They are Donald Backens, manager-customer support, John Deere Foundry, Waterloo, Iowa; Dana Cooper, global business development manager, Ashland Inc., Dublin, Ohio; Bruce Dienst, president and COO, Simpson Technologies Corp., Aurora, Ill.; Mary Beth Krysiak, president, Sand Technology Co., New Hudson, Mich.; and Tamara Trudeau-Ebenhoeh, group vice president, Grede Foundries Inc., Vassar, Mich.

New Cast Metals Institute directors appointed this year were Eric Hasselmann, vice-president of sales and marketing, Century Pacific Foundry Ltd., Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and Timothy Purcell, technical sales representative, Porter Warner Industries Inc., Arlington, Texas.

On May 18, the metalcasting association’s premier awards, the AFS Gold Medals, were presented to George Goodrich, senior metallurgical engineer, Stork Climax Research Services, Wixom, Mich., and Thomas Stark, board member, Badger Mining Corp., Berlin, Wis.

On May 19, NADCA’s Recognition Luncheon honored the annual Safety Award winners and the 27th International Die Casting Design Competition winners.

That evening, NADCA presented the Edward A. Kruszynski Supplier Excellence Award to Badger Metal Tech Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wis., for the company’s longstanding record of NADCA membership, as well as its participation in NADCA’s education efforts and committees and boards. The Austin T. Lillegren Award was presented to Paul Robbins, Castool Tooling Systems, Uxbridge, Ontario, who has demonstrated loyal and extraordinary service to the die casting industry.

The Nyselius Award, which is given in recognition of exceptional technical contributions to the industry, was awarded to Kurt O’Connor, Delphi Corp., Carmel, Ind. Lastly, Bill Walkington, Walkington Engineering Inc., Madison, Wis., was awarded the Herman H. Doehler Award for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the die casting industry.

CastExpo'08 concluded Tuesday with the AFS President’s Luncheon, during which the Scientific Merit, Service Citation and CMI Director’s awards were given.

The luncheon also included the winners of the 2008 Casting Competition, co-sponsored by Engineered Casting Solutions and AFS. The winner of the Casting of the Year was Carley Foundry Inc., Blaine, Minn., for its Harley Davidson Oil Tank.