2026 Steel Casting Workshop Schedule

Thursday, July 16, 2026
7:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION
8 – 8:10 a.m.
WELCOME

Justin Scott
American Foundry Society
Schaumburg, IL
8:10 – 8:45 a.m.
RESULTS OF THE STEEL FOUNDRY OPERATING SURVEY

Dr. Robert Tuttle
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI

Håkon Mauset
Elkem ASA
Kristiansand, Agder, Norway
 
8:45 – 9:30 a.m.
FIBER OPTIC SENSING IN MOLDS

Laura Bartlett
Wolf Associate Professor of Metal Casting
Missouri University of Science and Technology
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. 
LASER WELDING OF STEEL CASTINGS

Derek Shaffer Ph.D.
Welding Engineer and New Customer Development
Phoenix Laser
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK
10:30 – 11:15 a.m. 
PANEL: DEOXIDATION

Dr. Robert Tuttle
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI

Håkon Mauset
Elkem ASA
Kristiansand, Agder, Norway
11:15 a.m. – Noon
STEEL FOUNDRY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderator:

George Curry Jr.
American Foundry Society
Schaumburg, IL

Panelists:

Jeff Cook
Eagle Alloy, Inc. Muskegon, MI 

Bill Easterly
Bath, PA
Effort Foundry (retired)

Jacob Belke, PhD, PE
Oshkosh, WI
Mercury Marine
Noon – 1 p.m.
CATERED NETWORKING LUNCH
1 – 1:30 p.m.  
METALCASTING ECONOMIC FORECAST & TARIFF IMPACT

Ben Yates
American Foundry Society
Schaumburg, IL
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
STEEL SCRAP MARKET

Caroline Fennema
Foundry Sales 
PADNOS
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
NETWORKING BREAK
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.
MEASURING SURFACE FINISH ON CASTINGS

Dr. Robert Tuttle
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
3:15 – 4 p.m.
STEEL GRAIN REFINEMENT

Håkon Mauset
Elkem ASA
Kristiansand, Agder, Norway
4:15 – 4:30 p.m.
WRAP-UP