History of the foundry trade
From hand casting to modern metal foundries
As a foundry technician you work with one of the oldest technologies humans know: melting metal and pouring it into a mould so it solidifies into a specific shape. The trade has evolved from simple handwork to advanced industrial foundries but the basic idea is the same.
§What casting actually is
Casting is about making metal liquid by heating it, pouring it into a mould and letting it solidify. Once solidified, the item has taken the shape of the mould. This makes it possible to make complicated parts which would be very difficult to make in other ways.
§A trade that follows the technology
Over time, methods have become more precise and efficient. Where forms were once shaped and cast with simple means, modern foundries today use sand molds, permanent molds and mechanical casting. This has made it possible to make parts with high precision in large quantities.
| Development | What it meant for the trade |
|---|---|
| Early hand casting | Simple items shaped and melted with simple means |
| Industrialisation | Larger ovens and more systematic production |
| Sand moulds | Opportunity for complex topics in the form of pressed sand |
| Machine and pressure casting | Higher pace and uniformity in series production |
| Today | Calculation, design and quality assurance as part of the profession |
§What the foundry makes today
Modern foundries produce parts for many purposes. They can be components for cars, agricultural machinery or ships. Common to them is that they must be strong, precise and withstand stress which places demands on every stage of the process.
§The foundry technician's place
Today the foundry technician is in the entire chain: from calculating and drawing the mould over the melting and casting itself to post-treatment and testing of the finished item. This makes the profession broad and combines both mind and hand.
“Casting is both ancient art and modern technology at the same time. You work with fire and metal, but control it with calculation and planning.”