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WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
by
Reginald D. Forrest, Sorelmetal Technical Services
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (QIT/RBM) produces
and supplies Sorelmetal to the Ductile Iron
foundry industry worldwide. We feel justifiably
proud of our record of almost 50 years of
consistent supply of high purity, low manganese
pig iron – Sorelmetal.
But that’s not all that we have done. From the
very beginning of Ductile Iron production in the
early 1950’s, Rio Tinto has demonstrated its
commitment and support to the Ductile Iron
foundry industry.
Some examples:
· Regular Technical Services visits by Rio Tinto
foundry engineers to Sorelmetal customers –
offering comment and advice free of charge,
to improve quality and productivity, reduce
casting defects and production cost and
generally update the technology of Ductile
Iron production and application.
· Preparation and publication of books and
articles on the production and use of Ductile
Iron:
- Ductile Iron Techniques – Suggestions
for Ductile Iron Production.
- The Sorelmetal Book of Ductile Iron,
2004.
- Ductile Iron – Gating and Risering
Lecture Notes.
- Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers
(for the marketing of D.I.)
- Design Engineers Digest of Ductile Iron
(for the marketing of D.I.)
- Papers aimed at improving the quality of
Ductile Iron castings.
· QIT was the first to provide the industry with
the details of the Tundish Cover System and
was later responsible for successfully
promoting and introducing the Tundish Cover
and its several variants – today, the Tundish
Cover is the most widely used magnesium
treatment method for Ductile Iron production.
· Participation in Ductile Iron and Foundry
Association Programs and Committees to
promote increased quality and reliability of
Ductile Iron castings.
· Rio Tinto regularly organises technical
meetings (casting clinics) in various countries,
where invited foundrymen from different
foundries participate in presentations and
discussions on wide ranging subjects –
including production problems and
developments, achieving specified properties,
applications of Ductile Iron castings and
increasing the market for Ductile Iron
castings.
· Rio Tinto has made great efforts over the
years to increase the demand for Ductile Iron
castings. These efforts include:
- Visiting engineering companies and
various users of components to explain
the advantages of using Ductile Iron
castings.
- Presenting papers at engineering
conferences and meetings to further the
use of Ductile Iron castings.
- Advertising in engineering journals to
promote demand for Ductile Iron
castings.
- Organising Ductile Iron design
competitions with prizes to encourage
new Ductile Iron applications.
 - Exhibit at engineering and design
conventions, showing examples and
cost savings when using Ductile Iron
castings.
The production of Sorelmetal has improved over
the years thanks to a continuous commitment to
research and development in its production
plants in Canada and South Africa, both of which
are accredited with ISO 9001.
The quality and consistency of Sorelmetal is
unquestioned. Coupled with its determination to
assist the Ductile Iron foundry industry in
improving casting quality and productivity as well
as increasing the market for its castings, Rio
Tinto feels it is making an important contribution
as a supplier.
Rio Tinto’s efforts are not always evident to the
foundry’s material purchasing manager. We ask
for no special favours when it comes to selection
of low manganese iron supply, but we feel
justified in pointing out that Rio Tinto is much
more than just a supplier to the Ductile Iron
foundry industry – we’re a committed part of it!
REV – March 2006