australia/TRENDS IN THE AUSTRALIAN CASTING INDUSTRY

摘要

The Australian casting industry is going through a period of rapid changes brought about largely by the increasing demands from the customers for better quality at a more affordable price, against a backdrop of intensifying competition from developing nations. And local foundries are finding out that they could successfully compete by assuring quality in their processes, improving productivity, innovating and by differentiating their products. Computer simulation technology and automation are being relied upon more heavily to achieve these outcomes. The companies are also sharpening their business development strategies so that they can compete on grounds other than merely the global price, which is increasingly being set by manufacturers in China. A surprisingly large number of Australian foundries from a broad spectrum of backgrounds re growing by tapping into export markets - located mainly in North America. Some of these exporters could seek to benefit from the United States market for industrial castings which a February 2002 study had forecast will grow 4.5 percent annually through 2006. While it is unclear how the Iraq war of 2003 will affect the forecast, this growth will be driven by favourable economics and a shift towards higher-end castings in e.g. steel investment, compacted graphite iron, titanium, and superalloys.