Special Issue on Casting Technology Automation and Control

Kazuhiko Terashima, p. 227 Simple, low-cost casting technology is essential to transforming materials into products that are used for important components in the automobile, precision machining, and fabrication fields. The casting industry is currently becoming involved in global manufacturing competition as areas such as press, forging, spray-coating, and machining becoming increasingly active. Against this background, the casting society is striving to achieve high quality, lightening, high production, and low cost. This special issue was planned in discussions with Dr. S. Moromugi and provides insight on high-technology furnace, molding, sand process, pouring, inspection of iron casting using green sand, together with innovative casting methods such as sand press casting, die casting, full molding, and IT technology for managing of cast products. This special issue’s advanced papers were selected as representative of individual fields that should prove interesting, stimulating, and of great practical use to both general readers and specialists alike. We thank the authors for their kind attention to the many interesting papers contributed to this issue. Shunji Moromugi, p. 228 Casting, one of the most basic and oldest manufacturing processes, dates back over five centuries. Casting technologies developed over a long period and involve a wide varieties of methods and techniques for improving product quality. Product efficiency has been dramatically improved thanks to advances in casting automation. Even so, many hands are still needed in some casting production because experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable crafts persons are the key to success in yet unautomated casting production processes. Many fields still await the development of automation in casting. With progress in globalization, economy concerns with automation in basic metal processing are increasing rapidly, especially in newly industrialized nations. This special issue presents many valuable papers and development reports by researchers and engineers active on the front lines of casting automation development. This special issue will serve as a useful reference providing much practical information and many new insights into automation technology for casting engineers worldwide. We thank guest editor Professor Kazuhiko Terashima for his invaluable assistance throughout the editing process. This special issue would not have been possible without him. We also thank the authors and editors for their contributions to this issue.