Dark Days for Energy Efficiency

After years of research, Charles Bates is close to perfecting a more energy-efficient method for casting engine blocks, a technique that industry would love to put into wider use. The University of Alabama engineer, who uses X-rays to monitor the shaping of molten metal, says only one big technical hurdle remains in refining a process that uses 30% less energy than traditional casting methods. “We’ve been making progress by leaps and bounds,” he adds.

But Bates may be stopped short. The U.S. Energy Dept. wants to slash funding for the efficiency program that supports his work. This perplexes the foundry industry. “It’s a great program, and we’d be sorry to see it go,” says Bryan Baker, vice-president of Vulcan Engineering, which supplies casting equipment to General Motors, BMW, and others.
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