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Latest News from CWM
CWM News Archive
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Jon Miller Appointed CWM Director of Sales
President Eric Treiber announced the appointment of Jonathan (Jon) Miller as CWM Director of Sales. He is supervising all sales activities, including managing the CWM force of sales-engineers which serve OEMs from major cities in the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico.
He joined CWM with 24 years of experience in the die casting industry, including 20 years in sales, marketing and engineering for one of the largest custom magnesium die casters in North America. His earlier Al and Zn die casting industry experience was as a die cast Quality Assurance Manager and as a Quality Engineer and Production Supervisor. He is a past American Society of Quality Control certified quality engineer, and a current member of the North American Die Casting Association and the International Magnesium Association, where he has served as a speaker, program chairman, and committee member.
Jon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Systems Analysis from Taylor University and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the Keller School of
Management.
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CWM 3-way Win in NADCA Casting Competition
Three entries by Chicago White Metal Casting were winners in each of their
categories in the 2009 Die Casting Design Contest of the North American
Die Casting Assn., scoring a first-ever triple win for CWM in this international contest.
 For Aluminum Die Castings, 1 to 10 lbs., CWM was the winner with a baseplate control support structure for a dental workstation, serving as a rigid platform
for mounting air, water and pneumatic control lines concealed with a cosmetic
cover. Cut-out features over a 6 in. length across the 8.5 in. center width of this
plate restricts the edge-to-edge metal flow, creating a challenging die fill. CWM
employed its Magmasoft simulation software in developing the optimum gating
system for this component.
For Aluminum Die Castings, under 1 lb., the winning as-cast die casting went
to the CWM automotive mirror mount. This casting achieves the structural
integrity and critical dimensional accuracy required to withstand years of
trouble-free operation through wide changes in temperature and humidity. The
ball end is held to a tolerance of +/-0.1 mm that must be maintained over
a long production run.
For Magnesium Die Castings, over .5 lbs., CWM's third winner was a set of two
hot-chamber Mg side-walls for a medical imager, providing exterior cosmetics
as well as critical functions to this state-of-the-art desktop unit: the die cast walls
assure cassette alignment and support for rollers and motors. Die cast Mg offered
optimum dimensional accuracy and repeatability, with flatness held as-cast to
.032 in. or less over almost a 20 in. length, and significant weight reduction. A
proprietary injection system eliminated edge gating, with metal injected directly
into the die casting.
More details, and photos, on the award-winning Mg medical imager side-wall die castings, above, go to "Case Study No. 37."
For photos of all three of the 2009 award-winning die castings, go to "Triple-Win Case Study No. 40."
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Magmasoft® Simulation Avoids a Horror Story
Since CWM put the advanced Magmasoft software simulation system to work, its accurate thermal and metal-flow predictions prior to tooling design and prototyping have helped achieve first-piece production success with some especially challenging die cast part designs.
A recent project was a particularly dramatic example of the prevention of what could have been a tooling and production horror story. The product designers had developed what they believed was an excellent design for a successful die casting and were anxious to proceed. CWM engineers were wary of complete die cavity filling for certain part features and recommended a detailed Magmasoft simulation. Before proceeding with tooling design, the analysis was performed using the customer's CAD data. Results of the simulation modeling not only confirmed CWM's suspicions, but demonstrated that the original part design would have resulted in production dies incapable of being modified for successful production.
Component design changes recommended were agreed to and new flow simulations were run. The final production part met all customer requirements.
To download a PDF Tech Brief on the operation and benefits of the Magmasoft system for die casting, click CWM_Brief#23, "Magmasoft Process Simulation" in the Application/Tech Brief section of CWM's OEM Resource Center on this website, with over 60 free design guides & aids. To go directly to the Resource Center, click: Entry Page.
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CWM CNC Centers Increased to 27
With the addition of two new Leadwell CNC machining centers to its CNC Machining Division, an MV-40 and MV-50 unit, Chicago White Metal has increased its number of centers to 27, V.P. Brian Andrews announced.
The new Leadwells, in addition to further expanding CWM’s capability for highest RPM spindle speeds and precision, enable still larger parts and more efficient multiple operations to be programmed. A wider range of prototyping, dedicated machining and post-casting machining can be performed in house.
For more on CWM's CNC capabilities, click here.
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Eric Treiber Chairs NADCA Govt. Affairs
Eric Treiber, President and COO of CWM, has been named Chairman of the North American Die Casting Association's Government Affairs Committee, it was announced by Dan Twarog, President of NADCA.
Fostering Alliances for the Industry
This Committee, on behalf of the entire die casting industry, is charged with aiding the fostering of strategic alliances with legislators in Washington and increasing the effectiveness of grassroots efforts of industry companies in helping achieve a positive legislative agenda. Its current program is focussed on the importance of retaining a strong, competitive manufacturing base in the U.S.
Eric brings to his chairmanship a background in helping develop industry-wide relationships with the U.S. EPA, which included participation in the agency’s Sustainable Industries Metalcasting Sector Program, plus the SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium Industry.
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New Engineering Director plus 4 other Appts.
Steve Wojtal: Director of Engineering
Formerly Tool & Die
Dept. Mgr., Steve has
been appointed CWM
Director of Engineering,
bringing his
deep tooling knowledge
and years of experience
to his new
role. Among other duties he will be overseeing the design
and
construction of all CWM tooling and supervising
the work of the project engineering
staff. Steve joined CWM in 1979.
Tom Mrock: New Program Introduction
Manager
In this newly created
NPI position, Tom will be
interfacing
with customers, CWM personnel
and suppliers in the
early
phases of newly awarded, as well
as potential, programs to establish the optimum finishing process. He joined CWM in 1983.
Dave Crevie: Tool & Die Dept. Supervisor
Moving from Tool &
Die Dept. Asst. Mgr.,
Dave
will be overseeing
all work in the maintenance and repair
of production tooling. He is a 22-year CWM veteran.
Dan O’Connor: Director of
Purchasing
Dan, who joined
CWM in 1984, will be directing
personnel engaged in procuring
services, components and supplies,
as well as material handling
activities in the Traffic Dept.
He was formerly
Manager of Traffic & Material Handling.
Francisco Acosta:
Traffic Supervisor
Francisco, a former
Purchasing Component
Expeditor, will be
coordinating all materials
shipments &
receipt of deliveries.
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NADCA Updates Die Casting Spec Standards
The acknowledged in-depth reference manual on product standards for the specification of custom die castings has been updated and released by the North American Die Casting Assn.
Among comprehensive alloy and related data is new information on RoHS and REACH compliance; a new simplified formula for calculating draft angles; information on tools for improving Product Integrity and First Article Inspection Requirements; and expanded information on avoiding porosity. Updated specification drawings have been added throughout.
The updated 2009 edition of this 220-page $120 "Product Standards" Manual is available to OEM product designers, engineers & purchasers, as well as independent product design consultants registered at CWM's OEM Resource Center, for the special CWM discount price of $75. It is also available from your CWM Regional Sales Representative.
For more details on the NADCA Product Standards Manual and special CWM Discount Order Form, go to: NADCA Standards Manual.
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CWM Again Cited for Outstanding Safety Record
Chicago White Metal Casting again received an Outstanding Safety Award from the North American Die Casting Association. One of a select group of die casters presented with the 2008 award, CWM repeated its safety peformance which brought it the award in 2007.
The annual NADCA Safety Award recognizes die casting industry companies that have met or exceeded industry criteria for operating a safe working environment for their employees, covering total operations whose reportable injury or illness level was below the national average of 7.0 for all manufacturing companies.
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500% Cost Saving: Die Cast vs Machined Brass
The low-volume production of a small precision component for a medical device, produced in CNC machined brass, was put through value analysis against possible alternative production efficiencies. Results of the review indicated that a CWM net-shape 4-slide miniature zinc die casting could replace the machined part with no sacrifice in mechanical properties, at a significant cost reduction. The precision component is now being die cast at a 500% unit cost saving.
To download a PDF of the full case study of this part, click here for Miniature Die Casting Case Study No. 39 on the Case Study page in the OEM Resource Center section.
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Guide to "Selecting Best Die Caster" Released
This concise 10-point OEM checklist can be a helpful guide to making the optimum supplier decision for successful results in producing a new housing of component as a custom die casting.
It is designed to help assure that OEM engineers and purchasers raise the right questions regarding custom die casting supplier capabilities and receive unbiased recommendations.
This "Application/Tech Brief" is just one of the nine content sections of CWM's OEM Resource Center on thlis website, where a wealth of free die casting design guides & aids are available for viewing and download.
To download this new PDF Tech Brief (no. 36) on "Selecting the Best Custom Die Caster for Your Next Project," go directly to the OEM Resource Center's Application/Tech Brief page.
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Employee of the Year & Annual Service Awards
Nick Ugarte Named 2008 "Employee of the Year."
Along with outstanding technical skills,
Employee of the Year Nick Ugarte brings a
positive approach and a high degree of professionalism
to his work. By targeting personal
improvement objectives he stays
abreast of new technologies.
He is committed to providing daily production
process updates to
help mobilize
production
teams across
various departments. Nick
was presented
with his special
$1,000 cash
award
at the annual
ceremony.
24 Service Awards to 10- to 35-year Veterans
Twenty-four CWMers were presented with
anniversary awards for service at the company’s
2008 Annual Awards Ceremony. Cash
gifts for service terms, ranging from 10 to 35
years, were presented by CEO Walter Treiber. The leading honoree was 35-year CWM veteran Ted Bystryk, Manager of the Secondary Machining Dept., including post-casting machining
& subassembly. Ted supervises the activities of
CWM’s Contract Manufacturing Div., from simple
assemblies to comprehensive packaging programs.
Photos and profiles of all of the honorees appears in the Winter-Spring '09 issue of "Inside CWM:" For PDF download, click here.
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New Mag Option for Chrome-Plated Plastic
The superior mechanical qualities of magnesium can now be combined with a premium cosmetic plated finish offering product designers a cost-effective new option. New joint material and process finishing developments have brought quality electroplating to Mg die casting for a wide range of new applications.
The new mag chrome-plated surface finishes for die cast housings and components are comparable to that achievable in high-quality zinc parts and superior to that of molded plastic.
Quality chrome plating for thin-wall, lightweight mag has long been a goal when an alternative to a painted surface was desired. Chicago White Metal Casting can now offer mag’s superior advantages in rigidity, impact strength and dent resistance with a premium-plated finish, at part weights comparable to plastic. Excellent heat dissipation and built-in EMI/RFI shielding are added benefits of Mg. The costly inserts often required for plastic parts can be eliminated.
For more on how this new Mag Alloy and Chrome Electroplating development could benefit your product planning, Email the CWM Sales Dept. or call 630-595-4424.
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5 Most Popular Diecast Literature Downloads
Over 7,800 die casting design and production documents have been downloaded in PDF format by OEM visitors to the OEM Resource Center of Chicago White Metal Casting's website. Here are the five most popular downloads (over 900 downloads have been made of CWM's "Design & Specification Guide" alone):
Design & Spec Guide for Custom Parts
16-pages, at the Design Guide Section
12 Ways to Reduce Costs of Die Cast Parts
6-pages, at the Design Guide Section
Quick Guide to Die Cast Surface Finishing
8-pages, at the Design Guide Section
Evaluating Materials & Processes
4-pages, at the Engineering Bulletin Section
Design & Production Preplanning
1-page, at the Engineering Bulletin Section
In addition to the over 70 such custom design guides, bulletins and tech-briefs available-- published by CWM and industry sources-- there is a Frequently Asked Question section on die casting design and production subjects. Plus a Webinar section of 5-min. to 10-min. Online Webinars that can be viewed free, 24/7. After completing a brief registration, OEMs can return to the Center at any time using only their email address.
For a 1-page Quick Tour of the OEM Resource Center, Click Here.
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