Rio Tinto's Commitment to the Ductile Iron Foundry Industry

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WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
by
Reginald D. Forrest, Sorelmetal Technical Services
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (QIT/RBM) produces 
and supplies Sorelmetal to the Ductile Iron 
foundry industry worldwide. We feel justifiably 
proud of our record of almost 50 years of 
consistent supply of high purity, low manganese 
pig iron – Sorelmetal.
But that’s not all that we have done. From the 
very beginning of Ductile Iron production in the 
early 1950’s, Rio Tinto has demonstrated its 
commitment and support to the Ductile Iron 
foundry industry.
Some examples:
· Regular Technical Services visits by Rio Tinto 
foundry engineers to Sorelmetal customers –
offering comment and advice free of charge, 
to improve quality and productivity, reduce 
casting defects and production cost and 
generally update the technology of Ductile 
Iron production and application.
· Preparation and publication of books and 
articles on the production and use of Ductile 
Iron:
- Ductile Iron Techniques – Suggestions 
for Ductile Iron Production.
- The Sorelmetal Book of Ductile Iron, 
2004.
- Ductile Iron – Gating and Risering 
Lecture Notes.
- Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers 
(for the marketing of D.I.)
- Design Engineers Digest of Ductile Iron 
(for the marketing of D.I.)
- Papers aimed at improving the quality of 
Ductile Iron castings.
· QIT was the first to provide the industry with 
the details of the Tundish Cover System and 
was later responsible for successfully 
promoting and introducing the Tundish Cover 
and its several variants – today, the Tundish 
Cover is the most widely used magnesium 
treatment method for Ductile Iron production.
· Participation in Ductile Iron and Foundry 
Association Programs and Committees to 
promote increased quality and reliability of 
Ductile Iron castings.
· Rio Tinto regularly organises technical 
meetings (casting clinics) in various countries, 
where invited foundrymen from different 
foundries participate in presentations and 
discussions on wide ranging subjects –
including production problems and 
developments, achieving specified properties, 
applications of Ductile Iron castings and 
increasing the market for Ductile Iron 
castings.
· Rio Tinto has made great efforts over the 
years to increase the demand for Ductile Iron 
castings. These efforts include:
- Visiting engineering companies and 
various users of components to explain 
the advantages of using Ductile Iron 
castings.
- Presenting papers at engineering 
conferences and meetings to further the 
use of Ductile Iron castings.
- Advertising in engineering journals to 
promote demand for Ductile Iron 
castings.
- Organising Ductile Iron design 
competitions with prizes to encourage 
new Ductile Iron applications.
- Exhibit at engineering and design 
conventions, showing examples and 
cost savings when using Ductile Iron 
castings.
The production of Sorelmetal has improved over 
the years thanks to a continuous commitment to 
research and development in its production 
plants in Canada and South Africa, both of which 
are accredited with ISO 9001.
The quality and consistency of Sorelmetal is 
unquestioned. Coupled with its determination to 
assist the Ductile Iron foundry industry in 
improving casting quality and productivity as well 
as increasing the market for its castings, Rio 
Tinto feels it is making an important contribution
as a supplier.
Rio Tinto’s efforts are not always evident to the 
foundry’s material purchasing manager. We ask 
for no special favours when it comes to selection 
of low manganese iron supply, but we feel 
justified in pointing out that Rio Tinto is much 
more than just a supplier to the Ductile Iron 
foundry industry – we’re a committed part of it!
REV – March 2006