Tuesday, April 14, 2026
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration Open
7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Author Chair Breakfast
8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Technical & Management Sessions
8 – 10 a.m.
Metalcasting Process Basics - Part 1
Patrick Kluesner
Sr. Product Engineer, Grede Castings
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Exhibitor Setup
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Keynote Presentation - Nothing Can Stop You
Jim Abbott
Former Major League Baseball Pitcher & Olympic Gold Medalist
11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Volunteer Leadership Awards Luncheon
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Metalcasting Process Basics - Part 2
Patrick Kluesner
Sr. Product Engineer, Grede Castings
6 – 10 p.m.
Annual AFS Reception and Banquet
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
7 – 8 a.m.
Author Chair Breakfast
8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Technical & Management Sessions
8 – 10 a.m.
Preview: Introduction to Supervisor Development
Patrick Frazier
ME Global Inc.
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Exhibits Open
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Hoyt Memorial Lecture - Foundry Manufacturing: Where Metallurgy Meets Mastery Exploring the Dual Nature of Casting as Both Art and Science and its Unique Place in Manufacturing Technologies
Randy Oehrlein
Vice President of Engineering, Carley Foundry
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
AFS Past President’s Luncheon
11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Women in Metalcasting Luncheon
Sponsored by:
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Preview: Introduction to Industry 4.0
David Blondheim
Mercury Marine
2 – 3:30 p.m.
AFS Board of Directors Meeting
3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
AFS Young Professionals Panel
4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Exhibit Floor Reception
5 – 6 p.m.
AFS Young Professionals Reception
6 – 9 p.m.
Alumni Dinner
Thursday, April 16, 2026
7 – 8 a.m.
Copper Breakfast
8 – 10:15 a.m.
Technical & Management Sessions
8 – 10 a.m.
Introduction to Casting Alloys
Patrick Kluesner
Sr. Product Engineer, Grede Castings
9 a.m. – Noon
Exhibits Open
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
TBA