The American Foundry Society (AFS)

UNDRY ETY (AFS) e metalcasting industry T he American Foundry Society serves the metalcasting industry and its supply chain. Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, AFS is comprised of both corporate and individual members throughout North America and beyond. The corporate membership is a mix of foundries, suppliers to the metalcasting industry, and OEMs that purchase and use castings. Business View spoke with Doug Kurkul, who has been the organization’s CEO since January 2016, for his insights into AFS and the future of the industry. BVM: Thank you for joining us for this interview, Doug. To begin, how would you describe the metalcasting industry? Doug: Thank you for the opportunity. Metalcasting is a $44 billion industry that accounts directly and indirectly for about 490,000 American jobs. The metalcasting industry provides exceptionally rewarding careers for those with the right skills and dedication. It’s a modern industry that combines ancient roots with advanced technology and is the centerpiece of today’s manufacturing economy. That’s important because manufacturing, in turn, is essential for a prosperous society with high living standards and a growing economy. There are approximately 1,745 foundries in the United States. There are also robust foundry industries in Canada and Mexico, as well. These foundries produce highly engineered products called castings, made from a variety of molten metals, including iron, steel, aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, titanium and other metals. Only China and India produce more castings than the