Foundries turn metals into parts and also create metal castings by melting metal into a liquid, pouring it into a mold and then removing the mold. The metal castings created by the foundry are then manufactured into goods and equipment. The automotive and construction industries, oil field, mining and farm machinery manufacturers, railroads, and all sectors of the U.S. Military rely heavily on the skills of foundries to provide the castings they need in order to supply their good and services.

The first metal casting produced on US soil was created in Massachusetts in 1642 and today, the U.S. is the world's second-largest producer of castings. A few United States foundries have domestic and offshore warehouses, and supply castings globally.

There are many types of casting processes and the method used depends on what needs to be made. The molds used in casting can be made of sand, metal dies and even ceramics. Jewelry is normally made from a sand mold through centrifugal casting, where the mold is placed in a machine that spins the metal into all of the corners of the mold. Sand casting is one of the most popular types of casting, and is used to make anything from action figures to engines.

You don't have to own a business to benefit from the skills and services of a foundry. Maybe you would like more gaming models to add to your collection or engine parts for your trucking or automobile company. No matter what the need, you can find a foundry to make it all.

When considering different foundries, it is important to determine what types of materials and what method of casting your products require. First, you may want to think about the required quality of the casting surface. High-density, high-pressure green sand molding can produce a better surface finish and better casting dimensions. Also, consider the required dimensional accuracy of the casting as different types of casting can produce different results. It's also important to determine the number of castings required per order, as well as the cost of making the mold (green sand processes are normally the most economical).

A good foundry will offer many different materials with which to make the product you desire. Grey and ductile iron are some of the most requested metals, but when searching for a foundry for yourself or your business, you will want a foundry that has a plethora of metals at affordable prices to ensure that the foundry will be able to meet your business or personal needs. You should also look for a foundry that can provide a short lead-time, which is the amount of time it takes to get one unit to you.

Some foundries, such as G&W Foundry, provide customers with free samples before purchase. Jim Bruso, a representative of G&W Foundry, states that good customer service is the most important quality of a good foundry. By providing samples to customers they can ensure that the customer is receiving a quality product that meets their needs.

When you climb into your car today, or slip on your favorite necklace, be sure to think about the foundry that helped create these items. Many, many of the products we use and enjoy exist because of the skills of the foundry.