Finding lost foam

摘要

The metalcasting industry continues to pour time and effort into improving the lost foam market, so why has domestic growth fallen short of expectations? Metalcasters were engaged in a vigorous game of follow the leader, the way Bryan Baker tells it, and General Motors (GM) was out in front. After the lost foam metalcasting process had been developed and determined viable for commercial production in the early 1980s, most of the domestic industry still was leery of getting into the mix. But when GM staked a claim in the 1990s, installing capacity at several of its facilities for the production of cylinder heads and blocks for four different engine classes, it became the Pied Piper of the market. And metalcasters following the sound of the music. Companies of all types fell into step, including other nonferrous producers, both automotive and non-automotive, and a few ferrous casters.