OREANDA-NEWS. October 14, 2010. The Russian manufacturers of castings seriously stake on the spheroidal graphite cast-iron (SGI). The market dictates strict requirements for quality, and the products made in this type of the cast iron fully meet the customer requirements. In the world this material has already gained prestige for a long time and firmly due to its relatively moderate price and good mechanical properties. And it is not by chance the foundry men of Russia, of the former Soviet republics and foreign countries gathered in Naberezhnye Chelny on October 5 -6. The International Scientific-Working Conference SG-Iron and CG-Iron Are the Metals of Future was held there. The representatives of six countries took part in it that is about 200 participants, approximately one hundred enterprises, companies and scientific centers associated with the foundry industry. The meeting was patronized by the Russian Association of Foundrymen (RAL), the Tartar Regional Division of RAL, KAMAZ Inc. and KAMAZ-Metallurgy Plc..

The mass character as an evident distinguishing feature of the conference is beyond the question. 192 delegates were enrolled for the conference. Naberezhnye Chelny received the guests from the major foundries of Russia such as the AvtoVAZ Foundry, GAZ Plc., Mtsensk Foundry, etc.. There was no lack of attention to the forum on the part of numerous representatives of the leading European companies manufacturing the foundry equipment and materials.

The second feature which is no less important is a specific character of the subject. The idea to exchange experience in order to commercialize the process and master the quantity production of castings in SGI underlies the communication. And it is logical to note the third feature of the conference that there is only one narrow-targeted subject but widely covered there. More than 20 reports were given only during the first day of work.

The second day of business relations included the reports and visits to the production areas. Later on, talking to the journalists, Ivan A. Dibrov, the president of RAL, will particularly emphasize the complete openness shown by the foundry of KAMAZ Inc. when covering the subject as they not only shared their experience but arranged the tours to the production areas for the participants to take a rare chance to see the ideas implemented under the real conditions of the foundry, that is the complete SGI production cycle starting with the manufacture of a cored wire. Besides the Cast Iron Foundry, the conferees also visited the Steel Foundry (steel castings production area).

It was not less interesting to see the final production stage of KAMAZ large-duty trucks on the main assembly line at the KAMAZ Automobile Plant.

The conferees are speaking.

Oleg Serednikov, the chief metallurgist, LeMaz Ltd., Lebedyan, a guest of the conference:

- “The most positive impressions. High level of the organization of the meeting. Good selection of the participants that is why the reports comprehensively cover the subject. Fruitful discussions. The subject of SGI is interesting by itself and we have come here because of it. Our company is an oil-production oriented one as we manufacture oil pumps. We do not use a SGI but the types of alloyed cast iron. However, the time dictates its will, the customer would like to see the products in SGI. Therefore, we have planned for future to introduce this material. Sure, it is interesting for us to communicate with experts.”

Sergei Korolev, the director, NPP ODO Eutectica, Minsk, a reporter:

- “ We have worked with the foundry since 2004. It has been a multipronged job. I directly took part in mastering the technologies at KAMAZ Inc.. At present, when so many years have passed, based on the dynamics of production volumes, we can consider the results as positive. The technology works. In whole, one of those few foundries that have overcome with dignity the difficulties of the last years is the foundry of KAMAZ Inc.. It is indicative.”

Vladimir Sivko, the former chief metallurgist of KAMAZ Inc., the former chief engineer of the foundry, a guest:

-“I am especially delighted with the fact that our youth is devoted to the foundry practice, and it is not an easy job. The specialists of KAMAZ-Metallurgy Plc. made the good reports, they were clear and based on practice and so aroused the interest of the audience. My great experience of the participant of the similar international conferences permits me today to make such evaluation without modesty. As a whole, the conference was prepared at a quite high scientific and perceptive level. I think that all the conferees will share my opinion. Any communication like this is useful. Even though it is not at once but in time many things will make sense and become important.”

Constanze Muschna, HEINRICH WAGNER SINTO" (HWS), Germany, a reporter:

-“I am glad for Russia, for the leading enterprise of the automobile industry in particular and not of the other industries that raised the question of manufacture of SGI castings at such a high level. KAMAZ Inc. works for the truck of good quality, and it is the foundry that forms the basis of this. It is correct.

I appreciate KAMAZ that has arranged such a conference and I would like that the industry in Russia followed a perspective line of development. Therefore, it is excellent that the conference has gathered the practitioners.”

Ivan Dibrov, the president of the Russian Association of Foundrymen (RAL), the chief editor of the Russian Foundryman:

-“ There is no doubt that the conference has achieved its goal. And even more. First we considered the quorum to be twice less. It is worth to note as well that more than a half of the audience is represented by the persons engaged in production. Usually, the events of the kind are attractive for the salespersons searching for any customers to buy some equipment or materials. Today they are less in number than the foundrymen, both the practitioners and the theorists. And it is clear why. Because the subject is very interesting and important.

It is for the first time that today the matter of investments in the SGI production for the automobile industry is under consideration at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. And the foundries oriented to the automobile industry and interested in making the good quality SGI have a chance to be included into the Financing Program. This fact also emphasizes the urgency of the today’s business meeting which afforded the opportunity to tell about itself alongside with its other advantages. It is known as yet that KAMAZ Inc., GAS and AvtoVAZ will be unambiguously covered by the Program.