Rob Blair

Cast in Steel 2025 Competition You’re Invited to the 2025 Cast in Steel Competition! We are thrilled to invite you to the 2025 Cast in Steel Competition, featuring George Washington’s Swords. This year’s event is going to be more exciting than ever, as we’re turning the entire competition into a TV series! Join us as …

Castings are seen as a mature and limited technology.  There is great excitement in using information technology (IT) and additive manufacturing (AM) to supplement or replace castings.  These new technologies are seen as capable of more flexibility, faster production and higher quality than castings.  This month’s Casteel Commentary makes the case that IT and AM …

It’s the time of year when Raymond rustles up a new set of predictions for how the coming year is going to go. Read on for more… Cast in Steel 2025 Competition Time is ticking! Don’t miss your chance to join the 2025 SFSA Cast In Steel (CIS) competition—sign up your team today! This year, teams will …

Cast in Steel has been a surprising success.  While the hope was that a few of our university research partners would have teams and we could encourage some students to get into our industry, it has exploded in impact and enthusiasm.  This year’s competition is supported by the DoD to reach young people to encourage …

Our strategic issues, identified by members and the board of directors, includes two issues that have been of constant concern for us, recruiting and retaining the best people for the industry and changing the perception of our industry from a rust belt legacy industry that is dirty, dark, and dangerous; to one that is vital, …

After watching both party’s conventions and hearing the promises made by their respective nominees, I thought it would be appropriate to review additive manufacturing in this months Casteel Commentary.  Like the promise to end wars on the first day in office or to being peace in the Middle East, policy makers and business leaders believe …

Our strategic issues, identified by members and the board of directors, includes two issues that have been of constant concern for us, recruiting and retaining the best people for the industry and changing the perception of our industry from a rust belt legacy industry that is dirty, dark, and dangerous; to one that is vital, …

Hiring the right people is most critical to our future.  With a limited potential workforce, few potential employees and many potential employers, we will need to engage young people with our vision of meaningful important work in a community that cares and collaborates that needs their contribution.  Before we are able to recruit, we must …

Automation, modernization, and innovation are essential for our steel casting industry’s future.  We have been handicapped by public policy, excess global capacity and economic market conditions that have not allowed us to be profitable enough to make or justify the investments needed.  Our industry is likely to face a challenging future where we have neither …

Why have capital intensive industries like ours been low in profitability and unable to justify investment?  This I think is the fundamental question we face.  My best understanding is that we are located in a region that has legacy and a practice of burdening us with economic externalities that cause our costs to be high …