Ferrous Foundry Industry Long-Range Outlook for Raw Materials 750100

Over the past year or so there has been a short supply of materials for the ferrous castings industry. Raw materials and energy are important natural resources which must be conserved carefully and by cooperative efforts to insure that we have enough to supply our future needs. Materials serve functional needs of man, and man must therefore be conscious of the amount of material, energy, and labor necessary to produce a given product so that waste of materials and thus depletion of the sources for the manufacture of future products can be avoided. Recycling raw materials, resource diplomacy, and maintaining an adequate data base of information are important measures for energy and raw materials conservation.

The real problem for the automotive industry and its need for ferrous castings is not only the inadequate supply of raw materials but the lack of sufficient foundry capacity to meet the demand for castings as a result of pollution control laws and low profitability. The challenges of reaching a balance among these factors must be met for the survival of the automotive industry.