The AFS/Casting Source Casting Competition is your chance to show the engineering and purchasing community what a metal casting can accomplish. Beyond the company recognition and industry public relations gained through the honored castings, all entries can appear in Casting Source magazine's departments. The 2027 winners will be showcased at Metalcasting Congress 2027 in Cleveland, OH in April 20 – 22, 2027 and in issues of Modern Casting and Casting Source.
Participation is open to all North American metalcasters and designers/users of metal castings. Previous entries may be resubmitted. Castings are sought in all metals, casting processes, end-use applications and sizes/weights. Click here for the entry form.
Independent judges will evaluate each entry on:
- Benefits delivered to the casting customer.
- Benefits delivered to the casting customer due to conversion from another process
- The use of the casting process’ unique capabilities.
- Contribution to growth and expansion of the casting market.
This year, winners will be broken out into categories, with an all-around Casting of the Year winner still chosen.
The categories will be:
- Newcomer (Rookie of the Year)
This award will go to a company that has not submitted a casting in the last 10 years. Don’t be intimidated to enter the contest and show your stuff.
- Best Example of a Casting Conversion
This award will recognize companies that used metalcasting’s strengths to convert a product from a non-casting process.
- Achievement in a Small Foundry Business
Not every foundry has armies of staff. Smaller facilities are doing great work, and they are a key part of the industry. This will reward companies that are doing more with fewer workers.
- Best Innovation/Prototype
The metalcasting industry continues to evolve and stride into the future. That’s partly because metalcasters are always stretching capabilities and looking for newer and better. This category is for castings that might not be ready for full production but could be the precursor to the next big thing.
The deadline to submit an application is Jan. 29, 2027. Please complete the form (with any supplemental information) and send it, along with the casting, to:
Casting Competition’27
1695 N. Penny Ln.
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4555.
The AFS Warehouse accepts deliveries between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. If you have any questions, contact Katie Matticks at kmatticks@afsinc.org or Casting Competition, 1695 N. Penny Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Past Casting Competition Winners
2026 Casting of the Year Winners
Casting of the Year | |||||
 | Front Hitch Support Willman Industries, Inc. (Cedar Grove, WI, USA) | ||||
Best Innovation/Prototype | Best Small Foundry | Best Conversion | |||
 | Housing PIAD Precision Casting (Greensburg, PA, USA) |  | A15 Bracket Fabri Inc. (Ashland, MA, USA) |  | Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR HUD) Housing Structure Meridian Lightweight Technologies (Strathroy, Ontario, Canada) |
Newcomer of the Year | Honorable Mention | Honorable Mention | |||
 | High Voltage Junction Premier Aluminum Industries (Racine, WI, USA) |  | Front Carrier Grede – New Castle (New Castle, IN, USA) |  | Bearing Earth Truss Bracket Waupaca Foundry (Waupaca, WI, USA) |
2025 Casting of the Year Winners
All Around Winner & Newcomer of the Year | |||||
 | Monolithic Bypass Mueller Co. (Chattanooga, TN, USA) | ||||
Best Example of a Casting Conversion | Achievement in a Small Foundry Business | Best Innovation/Prototype | |||
 | Jeep Wrangler Exterior Door Handle Cope & Drag Kustoms (Fort Atkinson, WI, USA) |  | Stationary Seal, Air and Oil-Bearing Casting Fabri Inc. (Ashland, MA, USA) |  | Cast Wheel for a 1911 Advance Steam Traction Engine Dakota Foundry (Webster, SD, USA) |
Outstanding Achievement | Outstanding Achievement | ||||
 | I3 Shadow Exhaust BRP BRP (Spruce Pine, NC, USA) |  | Atlas Aft/Front/Main Housing Aristo-Cast, Inc. (Almont, MI, USA) | ||
2024 Casting of the Year Winners
Casting of the Year | |||||
 | Power Frame St. Marys Foundry, Ltd. (St. Marys, OH, USA) | ||||
Outstanding Achievement | Best Example of a Conversion | Newcomer of the Year | |||
 | MY2021 Acura-TLX Steering Hanger Beam (SHB) Assembly Meridian Lightweight Technologies (Strathroy, Ontario, Canada) |  | Row Cleaner Shoe Lethbridge Iron Works Company Ltd. (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) |  | GSI Transit Truck Set Amsted Rail - Granite City (Granite City, IL, USA) |
Best in Class | Best Prototype or Innovation Upcoming AFS Conferences | Honorable Mention | |||
 | Battery Electric Vehicle Semi-Trailing Arm Linamar Structures (Fruitport, MI, USA) |  | Anchor Matthews International (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) |  | Diversion Valve Body Lee Brass Acquisitions LLC. (Anniston, AL, USA) |
Honorable Mention | Honorable Mention | ||||
 | Bearing Housing Impro Industries (Diamond Bar, CA, USA) |  | V12 Outboard Engine Oil Sump Watry Industries LLC (Sheboygan, WI, USA) | ||
2023 Casting of the Year Winners
Casting of the Year | |||||
 | CELESTIQ EV Rear Rail Tooling & Equipment International (TEI) (Livonia, MI, USA) | ||||
Outstanding Achievement | Outstanding Achievement | Newcomer of the Year | |||
 | Engine Mount Casting O’Fallon Casting (O’Fallon, MI, USA) |  | AM50 Magnesium Alloy Rear Support Bracket Meridian Lightweight Technologies (Strathroy, Ontario, Canada) |  | Sensor Pod K&H Precision Products (Honeoye Falls, NY, USA) |
Best Example of a Casting Conversion | Achievement by a Small Business | Best Prototype or Innovation | |||
 | Burner Box Metal Technologies Inc. (Auburn, IN, USA) |  | Ground Turbine Air Inlet Morris Bean & Co. (Yellow Springs, OH, USA) |  | Metal-Ceramic Lattice Structure Eck Industries |