SCHAUMBURG, IL - AFS has announced a new project in partnership with AFS corporate member Renaissance Services. This 12-month project for piloting the “Rapid Cast Parts – Center of Excellence” (RCP-COE) focuses on accelerating government end-user casting delivery. Many foundries are turning down military and aerospace casting requirements for a myriad of reasons. These barriers include, but are not limited to cybersecurity regulations, export controls, engineering requirements, fulfillment timelines, and more. This project’s goal is to act as a pilot program to provide foundries with a way to engage with and fulfill government casting contracts without the barriers they see as a burden in the process.
As part of the project, AFS and Renaissance Services will conduct a quick survey to identify what requirements or burdens are the pain points keeping foundries from entering or expanding within the defense market. Subsequently, AFS and a representative from Renaissance Services will host a webinar for interested foundries to get more details about what the RCP-COE will provide in advance of identifying foundries interested and fit for this project. Engineering, regulatory, and design assistance services will be available as needed to help fulfill critical castings for the Department of War.
Brian Began from AFS and Don Deptowicz from Renaissance Services will present a progress report on the RCP-COE at the 2026 Metalcasting Congress in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Please visit the AFS website research page at https://www.afsinc.org/research to learn more about AFS Research Projects.
For more information, please contact Jackson Piontek, Research Associate of Metalcasting Technical Services, at jpiontek@afsinc.org.
The American Foundry Society is a dynamic technical and advocacy organization that serves and represents the $50 billion metalcasting industry. AFS is the only association serving the entire industry, including all metals and processes, with a three-part focus on advocacy, education, and innovation. AFS also publishes Modern Casting and Casting Source magazines and presents Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo, the largest metalcasting trade events in North America. Founded in 1896, the organization is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C. More information is available at AFSinc.org.