The next Research Committee Meeting will be held on January 10, 11, 2001at the Ramada O'Hare in Rosemont, IL.  For room reservations, call (847) 827-5131 and mention the Ductile Iron Society.  

The Annual meeting of the Ductile Iron Society will be held on June 13, 14, 15, 2001 at the Waterloo Motor Inn in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada with a visit to WesCast, Wingham, Ontario.  

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

     Eric Salmon has joined Superior Graphite Co. as an area sales manager, based in Oberruti, Switzerland.  He is responsible for sales and technical support of Superior's metallurgical products, including Desulco^® and Ark^® Electrodes.
     Salmon's coverage area encompasses Austria, the Benelux countries, France, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. 
     Superior's reputation as a world-class manufacturer of graphite-based products is among the features that attracted him to the company.
     "Superior wants to sell products on their technical merit rather than focusing on price," he adds.  "Also, the company is aggressive in research and development of cutting-edge technology."
     Salmon previously worked for Timcal Ltd. in Sins, Switzerland, as project leader for the introduction of new lubrication technology in hot-strip mills.
     He has a doctorate in geology and geophysik from the Institut de physique du Globe, Strasbourg, France.
     Desulco is the purest form of carbon additive available and is one of  Superior Graphites main products.  Ark Electrodes operate under extreme heat in electric arc furnaces to melt steel scrap for the iron and steel industries.
     Based in Chicago, Superior Graphite is a high-temperature technology manufacturing company that uses unique technologies to add value to carbons and graphites.

     Superior Graphite has promoted Andreas Jentsch to vice president of sales and marketing for the European division.  In his new position, he is responsible for the company's metallurgical and industrial product line in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
     Based in Frankenberg, Germany, Jentsch will help increase Superior's international market share for all products and ensure the company continues to improve its already-strong customer focus.
     Jentsch joined Superior in 1994 as a regional sales engineer in the European division.  He became a sales manager in 1998, a position he held until being named vice president of sales and marketing in April.
     In addition to his years of experience at Superior, Jentsch brings to his new post four years of outside experience.  He worked at Walzengiesserei Karl Buch in Siegen, Germany, as a production engineer in the roll foundry and as a technical sales engineer for Africa, the European Union and North America.
     Based in Chicago, Superior Graphite is a global producer of high-purity graphites and carbons used by numerous industries around the world.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

     Dublin, Ohio (USA) Ashland Specialty Chemical Company, a division of Ashland Inc. has commenced operations at its first manufacturing plant in China, a facility in the company's Foundry Products Division.  The wholly owned 50,000-square-foot facility is located in the Changzhou New District, a high-tech industrial development zone, between Nanjing and Shanghai, China.  It will formally operate as Ashland (Changzhou) Chemical Co., Ltd.
     Production is now under way following a dedication and grand opening ceremony held at the plant on October 21 with government officials, company representatives, customers and others.
     The facility's initial work force is approximately 25 employees.  The office, blending, and resin manufacturing complex produces ISOCURE^®, ISOSET^® and PEP SET^® foundry binders and related foundry products used by automotive, transportation, machine tool and other industries to make items such as industrial and automotive engines, train components, and earth-moving equipment.  The plant offers the Foundry Products Division's comprehensive product line and technical support services to customers in the People's Republic of China and throughout the Asia-Pacific Rim.
     "This exciting new venture is a reflection of Ashland's commitment to global support of the foundry industry.  It expands on our successful history in this region of the world and also signifies the continued business growth we expect in the years ahead.  Not only is it an important step for our Foundry Products Division, but it also paves a path for possible future developments by other segments of Ashland Specialty Chemical Company," said Michael D. Killian, vice president and general manager, Ashland Specialty Chemical's Foundry Products Division.
     Philip D. Lepianka, director of global marketing for the division, also commented about the opportunities of serving an increasingly important economic region, and China's industry, which has the world's largest number of foundries and ranks second in casting production.
     "China has the potential of becoming one of the world's largest auto markets.  Many of our customers, particularly in the auto industry, are investing in China and looking to Ashland to supply them with world-class, quality products and technical services.  That industry, in combination with other heavy industries, could drive China to be a significant engine of growth in the region," Lepianka said.
     Ashland's foundry business in China, and the manufacturing plant, will be managed by Jiang Fu, who reports to Lepianka.  Fu, a native of Beijing, has been associated with the foundry industry since 1984 and joined the company in 1992, serving as the Foundry Products Division's chief representative in China since 1994.
     "Once again we would like to thank the officials at the Changzhou New District who have been very supportive and helpful as Ashland developed this wholly owned foreign investment," said John P. Cushman, manufacturing director for the division.  "Our relationship with Changzhou dates to 1985 when we first entered the marketplace through a technology license for our foundry chemicals.  Their cooperation and the trust and respect we built through the years with these representatives and our business associates made this progress possible."

     Grede Foundries, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is proud to announce that its Greenwood, S.C., foundry has achieved a significant safety milestone.  With over 400 people employed at this facility, they have successfully completed an entire fiscal year from November, 1999, through October, 2000, without experiencing any industrial injuries deemed serious enough to be recorded by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  This is the first time in the 80-year history of the Company any of its foundries has accomplished the incredible feat of operating an entire year with an OSHA recordable incident rate of zero.  (The OSAH recordable incident rate is calculated as the number of injuries serious enough to require more than simple first aid per 200,000 hours worked.)
     This accomplishment is the direct result of the Company's Safety Policy, which states:  "It is a fundamental principle of Grede Foundries that no job is so important and no service is so urgent that we cannot take time to perform our work safely.  No operation shall be carried on in any plant until safety is assured."
     This achievement is particularly noteworthy when compared to other OSHA recordable incident rate statistics reported to the US National Safety Council, as follows:

Foundry Industry Average = 20.0
All Industry Average = 10.0

     Overall, Grede Foundries' OSHA incident rate for FY2000 was 2.0, with all of its foundries well below the all industry average.
     Grede Foundries operates 12 foundries in the US and the UK and is recognized leading producer of high quality castings in gray iron, ductile iron, and steel.

     INTERMET Corporation today reported third-quarter sales of $240 million, an increase of $15 million compared with the same period last year.  The increase is due primarily to continuing strong domestic and European light-vehicle sales and to the light-metals acquisitions made at the end of 1999.
     Third-quarter earnings were 32 cents per diluted share on net income of $8.0 million compared with 29 cents per diluted share on net income of $7.4 million in the third quarter of 1999.  Third-quarter earnings reflect a one-time gain of 11 cents from insurance related to the replacement of fixed assets from damaged plants, while the continuing weakness of the Euro has caused some bottom-line deterioration for the company.  Operational earnings for the third quarter were 21 cents per diluted share.
     INTERMET posted record sales for the first nine months of 2000 with year-to-date sales of $829 million, up $113 million from strong 1999 nine-month sales of $716 million.  Year-to-date net income was $29.4 ($1.16 per diluted share), down $6.8 million from $36.2 million ($1.41 per duluted share) in 1999.  2000 revenues year-to-date relfected strong domestic and European automotive sales and positive contributions from INTERMET's light-metals acquisitions.
     The INTERMET board of directors voted to approve a quarterly dividend of 4 cents per share, payable December 29, 2000, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2000.
     "Our earnings from operations declined compared with the third quarter of 1999 due to several continuing production issues," said John Doddridge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "Our Columbus, Georgia, foundry continues to struggle with the ramp-up of new equipment.  And, as previously reported, our Alexander City, Alabama, operation has been in the process of launching several complex parts.  The plant has resolved most of its production issues; however, as a Tier 1 supplier, it continues to be impacted by difficulties with two machining suppliers.
     "We expect that both the Columbus and Alexander City foundries will make substantial progress in the fourth quarter," Doddridge continued.  "However, there appears to be a risk of slowing vehicle production in the fourth quarter, which could affect us."
     "We are pleased that our New River Foundry has successfully restarted one of its two lines and is running smoothly," said Mike Ryan, INTERMET's Executive Vice President of Operations.  "The second line is expected to start in early December.  This added capacity is providing immediate relief from the over-capacity demand we have been experiencing at tour other ferrous-metals plants."

     Superior Graphite Co.'s Russellville, Ark., plant is one of 25 exceptional manufacturing facilities to be named finalists in a competition that recognizes America's top manufacturers.
     The recognition, announced in July, came from IndustryWeek magazine's annual "America's Best Plants" award program.  The magazine was particularly impressed with the Arkansas plant's production, citing a 54.3 percent increase in annual sales per employee since 1995.
     "We're very proud of this achievement, as it confirms that we're a leading world-class company," says Chad Edelan, the plant's quality and technical manager.  "The selection proves that we make quality products efficiently; that we take care of our employees; and that we operate a safe facility."
     Superior was selected as being in the top tier of U.S. manufacturers, according to IndustryWeek spokesman David Drickhamer.
     "These results require that everyone - not just the managers - take ownership of the process and truly understand various improvement strategies," Drickhamer says.
     A record number of applicants vied for the coveted top 10 winner's list, which will be published in the magazine's October issue.
     IndustryWeek lauds plants that have made significant, measurable and sustainable progress over five years in areas including quality; customer and supplier relations; use of technology; cost reductions; on-time delivery rates; inventory management; safety; productivity; and product development.
     In addition to enhanced productivity, Superior's Arkansas plant has improved its safety rates.  Lost time-accidents have dropped 77 percent since 1995, while reportable incidents fell 83 percent in the same period.
     The facility also has improved its delivery and lead times for customer orders, averaging 99.64 percent on-time delivery in 1999.
     "Our employees are the real key to the success of our organization," says Scott Anderson, assistant vice president of production.  "Through training, empowerment and trust, we have been able to make great improvements in all areas of the plant.  We consider employee development a top priority throughout Superior Graphite Co."
     The plant employs 130 people and manufactures graphite electrodes used in steel and foundry electric arc furnaces.  In addition to serving the North American market, Superior supplies electrodes to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.
     Based in Chicago, Superior Graphite is a global producer of high-purity graphites and carbons used by numerous industries around the world.

     Superior Graphite accepts prestigious industry award.  Chicago (Dec.1, 2000) - Superior Graphite Co. received top industry honors for workforce excellence in developing and producing graphite that makes alkaline batteries last longer at its Plant #4 Bedford Park location.
     During a luncheon ceremony in Chicago, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) congratulated Superior Graphite for being No. 1 in Workforce Excellence among a number of small U.S. companies.  The award recognizes the exemplary work of Superior Grahite's Battery Manufacturing Team, which developed new graphite that extends alkaline battery life by 31 percent.
     NAM recognized the team for its ingenuity and speed in identifying a market need, developing a product to fill that need and implementing a production plan.

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