The Folk Group

                        State of the Industry

 

The Folk Group is in contact with many sectors of the metal casting industry.  It's also

important to us to know what is happening in the industry.  Our reports on the State of the

Industry are not the result of organized data research but are the compiled reports of what

we hear directly from people in the metal casting industry.  You are free to share the

reports provided they are attributed to The Folk Group

 

State of the Industry - By Market

 End markets frequently have impact on varied segments of metal casting.  Major markets

cross segment impacts include:

     Automotive - aluminum (both die casting and sand casting), smaller gray/ductile iron

                            (primarily high volume automated molding) and zinc die casting.

     Class 8 Truck - smaller carbon steel castings and gray/ductile iron castings.

     Rail - primarily carbon steel but also iron castings.

     Valves & Fittings - these cross many metals including iron, carbon steel, alloy steel

                          and brass/bronze.

      Farm Equipment - primarily iron but also some carbon steel and aluminum.

     Construction Equipment - primarily iron but also some carbon steel and aluminum.

     Aerospace - aluminum and investment casting.

 

 

 

State of the Industry by Metal

Major metal segments normally covered include: gray/ductile iron, aluminum, zinc,

and brass/bronze.

 

      

State of the Industry - Imports

Offshore manufacturing has had a major impact on the North American metalcasting

industry.  This impact fluctuates depending on exchange rates, transportation costs

and internal country dynamics.