Recent college graduates entering the workforce can receive free one-year memberships in the American Foundry Society when they convert their student memberships to individual memberships.

The June 23 deadline to comply with OSHA’s new silica standard is almost here. What does that mean for metalcasters? “Countdown to Compliance Under OSHA’s Final Silica Rule,” an AFS Members Only Webinar scheduled for 1 p.m. CT Tuesday, June 19, will explain the latest on the silica standard.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) denied a request by the American Foundry Society (AFS) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to delay enforcement of its crystalline silica rule for 180 days. According to an agency press release issued on Friday, June 8, enforcement of the rule is scheduled to start June 23, and during the first 30 days, OSHA will offer compliance assistance to those facilities that have shown good faith effort to work to comply with the new standard.

The European Union, Mexico, Canada, and several other countries are firing back with retaliatory trade measures following the Trump administration's move on June 1 to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum imports.

Unfortunately, it is now common practice for unauthorized companies to claim to be official housing providers for trade shows and other large events, including Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo. Usually called “room poachers,” these companies target exhibitors and attendees with aggressive emails or phone calls claiming to offer supposed discounts on hotel rooms or incorrectly stating that room blocks are nearing or at capacity.

The American Foundry Society is issuing a call for papers and presentations for CastExpo 2019 and the 123rd Metalcasting Congress. AFS is seeking technical papers covering all issues related to metalcasting, diecasting and foundry operations, including in-plant procedures, new technologies, equipment, products and other innovations that have contributed to enhancing metalcasting productivity and quality.

Members of the American Foundry Society Air Quality Committee met recently with EPA officials regarding the upcoming Residual Risk and Technology Review (RTR) for the iron and steel foundry National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule for major sources.

The May 8 meeting in Research Triangle Park, N.C., included discussions on the following issues:

Rulemaking schedule