Hallam is preparing an easy-reference technical journal for customers setting out “benchmark” mechanical properties for pressure, sand and gravity castings based on current test results for a variety of castings and aluminium and zinc alloys.

Quality and Health and Safety Manager Jonathan Richardson set out the background to the initiative:-

“The idea actually came from one of our customers, via their Quality Manager, who was helping to prepare a tender document for a contract with a USA-based customer of their own. The QM commented that public domain information was fairly sparse and asked if we had anything more comprehensive. We realised that we could generate this from in-house testing results, so we have embarked on this as a project. We are exploring the possibility of working with Brunel University in preparing an authoritative document and in the meantime putting together our own information from test results.”

Technical Director Greg Hallam commented:-

“This is a really interesting idea. We can set our own test values against published information from ALFED and NADCA for example and continue to experiment to find ways of enhancing mechanical property values. This information is also relevant to related areas such as mould tool longevity, where fatigue strength values have an important effect.”