Manufacturing Today Issue - 225 June 2024 | Page 85

________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CastAlum
All 14 of our diecast machines are fully automated and equipped with their own furnace
the actual program begins , we experienced a decrease in turnover . Thus , from 2018 onwards , we revisited our approach to attracting new clients . Traditionally , we relied on our existing customer base , but due to their concerns about Brexit , we started actively marketing ourselves to a wider audience . As part of this strategy , we invested in on-site additive manufacturing in 2020 , as we had previously been handling it off-site . These investments continued in 2021 with the addition of our 14th diecasting cell , and in 2023 , we doubled our on-site additive manufacturing capability ,” he informs .
As part of its ongoing journey to enhance operational efficiency and meet growing demand , CastAlum embraces various technologies . “ All 14 of our diecast machines are fully automated and equipped with their own furnace , setting us apart from most foundries that rely on bulk melting . I believe this approach is one of the key drivers of the exceptional quality of our products , in combination with using top quality metal which we melt locally , allowing for better control . Prior to 2020 , we relied on external sources for additive manufacturing , but we faced challenges in achieving the desired longevity of the tooling inserts we printed . Since our tools are too large to be manufactured on-site , we adopted a different approach . In critical areas of the component , we create a pocket in the die where we can enclose a 3D-printed insert , enabling us to have better control over those crucial parts . By taking on the process ourselves , we addressed
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