Casting organizations offer a slew of opportunities for positive exposure for your business. In addition to members of the metal casting councils who work within the industry in some capacity, you will have opportunities to meet and get to know other casting organization members, including businesses that support the metal casting group.

Affiliation with metal casting associations provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests, while you support the industry. Membership in casting organizations often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Regional organizations for metal casting offer even more chances to network with local business and industry leaders in your community. Use your membership in metal casting associations in a number of different ways.

1. Expand your network through metal casting groups

2. Support the industry by participating in associations for the metal casting industry

3. Stay informed with metal casting organization publications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop business contacts in a metal casting organization

Metal casting organizations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At metal casting association events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work with the metal casting industry. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: The American Foundry Association promotes the interests of the metal casting industry through lobbying and networking efforts, as well as news and insight into changes within the industry. The American Metalcasting Consortium is a metal casting group that brings research and supply chain issues to its members in a variety of forums.

Show your interest by joining metal casting associations

If you want to do business with metal casting companies in any kind of capacity, you will want to express your support as well as meet national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in metal casting councils with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: The Casting Industry Suppliers Association primarily supports those companies that supply goods and services to metal casting groups. The North American Die Casting Association supports the industry from a number of different perspectives for you to engage in.

Keep your company in the loop with metal casting associations

While you may not have time to participate in a trade group or volunteer on another committee, you can take advantage of membership in groups for metal casting through the myriad publications they put out. By keeping up with the reports and news in the industry, you can pick and choose which events will be most beneficial for you to attend while keeping updated on changes or news that affect the organizations for metal casting industry-wide.

I recommend: The Iron Casting Research Institute offers all kinds of services your company can use in addition to a variety of research and news publications. Through the Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society, you can receive a number of publications, training videos and guide books written for the industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Send your top management team and salespeople to various metal casting associations so that your company is well represented at every possible venue.