Croatian perspectives in metal castig production.

Novoselovic, Daniel ; Budic, Hrvoje ; Solenicki, Goran 等

1. INTRODUCTION

Casting is one of technologies for achieving of a specific form of a metal objects by pouring a molten metal into a mould and allowing it to cool. The molten metal takes shape and size of the mould cavity and retains it after solidification (Bonacic-Mandinic & Budic, 2001).

Casting technology is one of the oldest and most efficient ways of product forming. In spite of diverse, highly competitive and new production technologies, enormous demand for castings, due to their simple manufacturing process, will continue High productivity and easiness of production of replicas make it extraordinarily suitable for serial and mass production. Frequently however it is also the only technology available for manufacture of highly complex components with internal cavities (such as motor blocs and similar), or for production of large and heavy machine casings. (Budic, 2006).

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTING IN CROATIA

To make casting technology competitive, high requirements regarding quality and accuracy of castings, their mechanical and other properties has been established, because only up to 5% of defective castings are permitted (i.e. only random error).This means that production of good castings requires great skill, even more because process of formation of casting cannot be observed visually, because the melt fills in the closed mould.

In countries in transition among which Republic Croatia also belongs, casting production has diminished since 1990 even up to 50% (depending on kind of castings). Depiction of the casting production in Republic Croatia from 1990 until 2003 is shown in Fig. 1. (Budic & Bonacic Mandinic, 2004). Namely, with disintegration of the market, it came to significant downfall of production of castings for domestic machine building industry, with some parts of this production ceasing to exist.

Production of castings designed for Western markets remained the same, or shows signs of mild growth. If we want to become notable casting producer for Western and overseas industrial and developed countries, it is necessary to solve a large number of different organizational and technological tasks, casting quality management being the most important of all.

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Present situation in huge majority of Croatian foundries is far from good (in spite of huge export potential), which enables them only to survival. There are no possibilities of major development and progress. Namely, western markets, where there is a system of unity of technological and commercial functions, system of fractal production (product development in one country, assembly in another, while products find their customers mostly in third country markets) is presupposition for further development.

To advance foundries to that technological level, not only high quality understanding of global function, but also top technological expertise about produced castings is required. These requirements cannot be introduced into production process without extraordinary effort and engagement of the country's own scientific and human potential.

This opinion is also shared by relevant world experts and financial institutions for which realized profit represents measure of success and criteria for financing of the projects. To achieve this goal, it must be strived to acquire optimum of production parameters. Therefore, the casting does not have to be the best by its quality and the cheapest by the price, but must be competitive, i.e. better than the other products available on the global market.

Hence, the increase of productivity of the foundries could be achieved by research of influential parameters on quality of the castings and development of the matrix of the nonconformances in the casting industry. Quality has been selected as primary criteria, because it represents the most important peculiarity of the market competition.

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTING INDUSTRY IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

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Production of castings in industrially developed countries will not increase (slight downfall is to be expected). A certain re-structuring is to be expected within casting industry itself. (Bonacic Mandinic, 1995). In Fig. 2, we can see production of castings for ten biggest world producers. Staff Report (2007). Significant utilization of gray casting in automobile industry will occur. It will be replaced by aluminum alloy castings, while steel casting will be greatly replaced by nodular casting. Tempering casting will mainly loose market positions. Competitiveness of polymer materials will continue.

Regarding new materials (ceramics, composite materials, polymer concrete and similar), it cannot be expected that they will replace metal, primarily because in most cases their properties are complimentary and not competitive, so that they will be used together with classical materials in new constructions.

4. INCREASE OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FOUNDRIES ON THE MARKET

Relating to increase of the success of the foundries on the market, there is a potential possibility of utilization of domestic and international sources of financing.

One of the more important things is the Law on Stimulation of Investments brought by Croatian Parliament on December 8th, 2006. It regulates incentives for investment of domestic and foreign judicial and physical persons with the goal of economic growth, development and realization of economic policy of the Republic of Croatia, its inclusion into international trends of trade and strengthening of its competitiveness.

Pursuant to this law, custom and tax benefits and allowances for expenditures arising from opening of new working places relating to investments, allowances for training courses for investments, stimulating measures for development and subventions for large investments having significant economic interest have been provided. Important are also international sources of financing provided through cooperation with EU and the World Bank.

Through the above specified sources of financing it is possible to purchase the equipment, technology and machinery, which contributes to expansion of production activities, product processing and implies the effects on the human factor, which will in such a way accommodate to new business principles and become capable and qualified work force on the market.

Use of new and innovative products and technologies, the acquirement of the new business processes leads to increase of quality of the output of the enterprise and reduction of all expenditures. In this way production activities in the segment of the economy are spreading, which naturally leads to better business practice and successful appearance on the market.

Capital and joint venture investments with domestic and international partners are also possible, as well as creation of business clusters and networks.

Such sources of financing would stimulate development of revenue activities and create more enticing business environment, which would lead to increase of total revenue and profit, and result in growth of the enterprise in the economic sense of word.

5. CONCLUSION

The precondition for Croatian foundries to become respectable manufacturer of castings for Western and overseas companies in industrial and developed countries is to solve a large number of different organizational and technological tasks. Problem of quality of castings is of the primary importance. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the efficiency and improve quality of the castings, which in near future (up to forthcoming 5 years) would enable Croatian foundries more significant participation on the Western markets. To increase of the success of the foundries on the market, there is a potential possibility of utilization of domestic and international sources of financing

The presented results come out of the scientific project (Increase of Efficiency and Quality of Castings--Croatian Perspectives), realized with support of the Ministry of Science and Sport of the Republic Croatia.

6. REFERENCES

Bonacic Mandinic, Z.; Budic, I. (2001). Fundamentals molding technology--Part I, Strojarski fakultet u Slavonskom Brodu, ISBN: 953-6048-19-1, Slavonski Brod

Bonacic Mandinic, Z. (1995). Increase of Efficiency and Quality of Castings--Croatian Perspectives, Znanstveno strucni ljevacki skup, Zagreb 1995

Budic, I.; Bonacic Mandinic, Z. (2004). Fundamentals molding technology--Part II, Strojarski fakultet u Slavonskom Brodu, ISBN: 953-6048-28-0, Slavonski Brod

Budic, I.; (2006). Special procedures of casting--Part I, Strojarski fakultet u Slavonskom Brodu, ISBN: 953-604835-3, Slavonski Brod

Staff Report (2007). 41st Census of World Casting Production--2006, MODERN CASTING (December 2007). 22-25. Availabe from: http://www.moderncasting.com/