New technology, enhancements shine at CastExpo '99.

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New technology, enhancements shine at CastExpo '99.

This sampling of the new technology and enhancements exhibited at CastExpo '99 provides foundrymen with a recap of the show floor in St. Louis.

CastExpo '99 provided a forum for exhibitors to display their latest and greatest equipment, technology and processes to a global metalcasting audience. The 363 exhibitors (73 of which were new) shared 148,000 sq ft of floor space (equaling the record of CastExpo '96). Tonnage exhibited also was near a record high as suppliers continue to display working equipment for foundrymen to examine.

Due to the size of CastExpo and the numerous simultaneous events that drew the attention of metalcasters away from the exhibits, modern casting has provided the following sampling of information on new (introduced since 1996) technology and technology enhancements found on the show floor. Although this sampling isn't all-inclusive of everything new exhibited in St. Louis March 13-16, it does provide a glimpse into many of the innovations that easily could have been missed.

This information on new technology and technology enhancements also can be found on the modern casting website at www.moderncasting.com, and further information on some of these products will be found in subsequent issues of modem casting in product innovations and metalcasting supplies.

Melting/Pouring

In addition to live demonstrations and its hosting of multiple 1-hr classes on induction furnace maintenance that drew nearly 400 foundrymen, Inductotherm's exhibit showcased two new key developments. First was the short-circuit prevention systems on the VIP power induction power supply, which featured a live intentional short-circuit caused by a wrench being dropped against the system's busbars. When a tool or piece of scrap were to fall across the busbar, these units now will simply shut down in response to electrical faults without damaging any components. Once the fault is eliminated, the system is returned to operation. As the demonstration indicated, the firm's new units will absorb short-circuits without interrupting production, greatly improving the operational reliability of the melt department.

Second was its Meltminder 2000 melt shop control and management system, reported to be the first to run on the PC-based Windows operating system, making it easier for the operator to monitor and control the entire melting process. Because the system can be easily connected to other Windows-based systems, it also allows the creation of custom reports, as well as the cross-accessing and interfacing to other programs using integral Windows utilities. Different screens cover melt system control, charge makeup calculation, reports and logs, as well as custom configuration capabilities.

Pillar Industries exhibited the Mark 15 power supply for the first time at the show. Unique features of the power supply include a proprietary microprocessor control system with temperature profile sintering, target temperature control, cold start capability, KWHr count, fault logging (500 events) and cooling system auto shutdown. In addition, the firm also used the event to showcase its pricing structure for 17 different melting systems.

Also unveiled at the show was ABB's small FS coreless induction furnace...

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