Each October the last few years, our office has hosted an event for National Manufacturing Day.

Manufacturing Day’s goal is to celebrate careers in manufacturing and share with the community and students how these industries support our economy. It’s a chance for companies to share what they do with the public. Your organization might even hold an event. We host an open house with a hands-on metalcasting demonstration.

Man, it is fun.

In your jobs, the pressure is on to deliver safe, economic, and attractive parts, and it may not feel like any fun much of the time. Manufacturing Day is the chance to take a break from the deadlines and show others what you thought was so enjoyable about manufacturing and metalcasting in the first place.

Designing something, making a part that has a purpose in the world, is gratifying. The smiles on grade-school kids’ faces after pouring their first small casting is proof of that.

This issue of Modern Casting shares the 2016 AFS Hoyt Lecture from Richard Gundlach. Gundlach dives deep into the science of cast components and their properties with the vigor of someone who truly relishes the topic. For a lighter read, we’ve also included an article giving a glimpse of castings we rely on in the winter, from skiing to snow plowing. 

Once again this past October, AFS and Modern Casting held an open house, and I enjoyed seeing the community and students learn and be excited about the metalcasting industry.

Even more, I like watching those from the industry explain metalcasting and the opportunities it offers as a career and a manufacturing method.

If you are looking for an audience to share what your company is making or how you are solving your customer’s problems, you’ve found the place. Not all projects are headaches—let us know what’s got you smiling.

Click here to see this story as it appears in Modern Casting