A foundry in your classroom

afterall,” she explained.

The wider schools engagement project, which is being delivered for the industry by Next Gen Makers and enabled by funding from the Foundry Training Trust and the Innovation Networks* (through Coventry University Enterprises Ltd with support from Midlands Engine and funding from the European Regional Development Fund) will also include a number of schools visits to try out the new resources from the autumn.

The 360 virtual tour will be used alongside the existing ‘Foundry in Box’ concept which enables young people to ‘have a go’ at making something in metal, whilst gaining a greater appreciation of casting as a route to manufacture and learning about how many of the things we use everyday are manufactured.

“We are conscious that our member companies sometimes struggle to attract new people into their businesses and find it hard to fill apprentice vacanciesthe general public, including teachers and parents, may have the impression that the castings industry is old-fashioned and irrelevant”, continued Pam. “So our hope is that, by providing some additional resources to our businesses, they can start to build relationships with their local schools and colleges and go on to offer T-level placements and work experience which might help encourage young school leavers to consider apprenticeships in manufacturing and engineering. Companies that already have those local relationships are definitely at an advantage when it comes to filling vacancies and building their future talent pipeline.”

8 nextgenmakers.co.uk

A new design guide has been launched to highlight the possibilities and green footprint of cast irons.

Engineering designers are being urged to take advantage of a new guide that highlights the vast potential and environmental sustainability of the ‘original composite material’.

The call has been made by the Cast Metals Federation (CMF) as it looks to educate and persuade more professionals in industry to consider the huge range of mechanical properties of cast irons when they are designing new products.

‘Cast Irons – Part 1: Materials and Properties for Design’, which has been published by ISO (the International Standards Organisation) as a Technical Report (ISO/TR 10809-1:2023), provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of design considerations, and clearly explains the potential of this hugely versatile family of metals.

The newly updated technical report includes tables to assist the designer to firstly select the right type of cast iron and then choose the right grade, depending upon the component criteria required.

There is also information about typical compositions, mechanical properties, and section sensitivity aspects (needed because of the effect of variations in cooling rates due to section thickness) with useful tables, images, and diagrams.

It is hoped that this influential guide will act as a bible for