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2023 Foundry Management & Technology Outlook Survey
1.
What is the principal metal that you cast? (Check only one)
Aluminum
Brass/Bronze
Ductile Iron
Gray Iron
Steel
None/Industry Supplier
Other (please specify)
2.
How many employees work in your metalcasting operation?
Under 20
20 to 49
50 to 99
100 to 249
250 and over
3.
How will your 2022 casting shipments (tonnage) compare with 2021 shipments?
Stay the same
Increase
Decrease
4.
Briefly explain what has been the primary reason for this 2022 outcome.
5.
If you selected "increase" for Q3, by what percentage (estimate)?
0-10%
11-25%
26-50%
51-75%
76-90%
over 90%
6.
If you selected "decrease" for Q3, by what percentage (estimate)?
0-10%
11-25%
26-50%
51-75%
76-90%
over 90%
7.
How do you expect your 2023 casting shipments (tonnage) to compare with 2022 shipments?
Stay the same
Increase
Decrease
8.
Briefly explain why you expect this 2023 outcome.
9.
If you selected "increase" for Q7, by what percentage (estimate)?
0-10%
11-25%
26-50%
51-75%
76-90%
over 90%
10.
If you selected "decrease" for Q7, by what percentage (estimate)?
0-10%
11-25%
26-50%
51-75%
76-90%
over 90%
11.
How do you estimate your business’s 2023 capital expenditures will compare to 2022 capital expenditures?
Stay the same
Increase
Decrease
12.
If you selected "increase" for Q11, by what percentage (estimate)?
0-10%
11-25%
26-50%
51-75%
76-90%
over 90%
13.
If you selected "decrease" for Q11, by what percentage (estimate)?
0-10%
11-25%
26-50%
51-75%
76-90%
over 90%
14.
What types of capital expenditures are you planning in 2023? (Check all that apply)
New Plant
New Equipment
Expansion/Addition to existing plant
None
15.
Please estimate your total planned capital expenditures for 2023.
Less than $100,000
$101,000 to $250,000
$251,000 to $500,000
$501,000 to $1 million
$1 million to $5 million
More than $5 million
16.
What are your borrowing plans for 2022?
Increase debt
Retire debt
Stay about the same
Not currently carrying any debt
Seeking new equity investment
17.
Did you purchase any of the following types of equipment during 2022? (Check all that apply)
Air compressors
Automatic pouring system
Blast cleaning equipment
Continuous mixers
Conveyors
Coremaking machines
Cranes/hoists
Cutoff equipment
Design software/hardware
Diecasting machines
Grinding equipment
Heat treating equipment
Investment casting system
Lab equipment
Lift trucks or loaders
Lost foam system
Machine tools
Melting equipment
Molding machines
Permanent mold system
Pollution controls
Power control equipment/systems
Process computers
Rapid prototyping equipment
Robots/manipulators
Sand Prep equipment
Sand reclamation equipment
Shakeout/punchout equipment
Simulation software
Testing/inspection equipment
Other (please specify)
18.
Do you plan to purchase any of the following types of equipment in 2023? (Check all that apply)
Air compressors
Automatic pouring system
Blast cleaning equipment
Continuous mixers
Conveyors
Coremaking machines
Cranes/hoists
Cutoff equipment
Design software/hardware
Diecasting machines
Grinding equipment
Heat treating equipment
Investment casting system
Lab equipment
Lift trucks or loaders
Lost foam system
Machine tools
Melting equipment
Molding machines
Permanent mold system
Pollution controls
Power control equipment/systems
Process computers
Rapid prototyping equipment
Robots/manipulators
Sand Prep equipment
Sand reclamation equipment
Shakeout/punchout equipment
Simulation software
Testing/inspection equipment
Other (please specify)
19.
Indicate which of the following issues have been significant problems for your operation during 2022: (Check all that apply)
Availability of Capital
Energy Costs
Energy Shortages
EPA Requirements
Human Resources
Imported Castings
Interest Rates
Labor Costs
Labor Shortage
Lack of Orders
Material Shortages
Medical/Insurance Costs
On-Time Delivery of Castings
OSHA Requirements
Plant Management
Plant Operations
Product Liability
Product Marketing/Sales
Quality of Castings
Raw Materials Cost
Skills Shortage
Supply Chain Disruptions
Tariffs
Training
Workers' Compensation Costs
Other (please specify)
20.
Please briefly describe why these issues have been significant at your operation.
21.
Indicate which of the following issues are likely to present
significant problems for your operation during 2023: (Check all that apply)
Availability of Capital
Energy Costs
Energy Shortages
EPA Requirements
Human Resources
Imported Castings
Interest Rates
Labor Costs
Labor Shortage
Lack of Orders
Material Shortages
Medical/Insurance Costs
On-Time Delivery of Castings
OSHA Requirements
Plant Management
Plant Operations
Product Liability
Product Marketing/Sales
Quality of Castings
Raw Materials Cost
Skills Shortage
Supply Chain Disruptions
Tariffs
Training
Workers' Compensation Costs
Other (please specify)
22.
Please briefly describe why these issues may be significant at your operation.
23.
How are imported castings affecting your business?
No effect
Imported castings remain a competitive factor
Tariffs have impacted our customers’ demand for castings
Imported castings are becoming less of a competitive factor
We’re developing our own export business
24.
Please explain in detail your response to Q23.
25.
Have you gained new orders from reshored manufacturing programs?
Yes
No
26.
What percentage of "normal" plant capacity is represented by your 2022 average monthly casting production? ("Normal" being the number of employees, shifts, and days your plant typically operates.)
0-50%
51-60%
61-75%
76-90%
91-100%
over 100%
27.
How do you feel the overall U.S. economy (GDP) will perform in 2023 compared to 2022?
Significantly Improve
Improve Somewhat
Remain About The Same
Decline Somewhat
Decline Dramatically
28.
Do you plan to increase employment totals during 2023?
Yes
No
29.
Which of these will be most effective at encouraging professional growth in metalcasting?
Additional scholarships and internships
Additional or alternate training programs (programs at colleges, trade schools)
More/better skills training
More active involvement by metalcasters with trade associations, universities and colleges, etc.
New professional associations (geographical? market-focused? industry-specific etc.)
Other (please specify)
30.
Which of these market segments offers the most promise for the growth of your metalcasting operation?
Alternative energy (nuclear, wind, solar)
Automotive engines
Other automotive components
Electric vehicle market
Off-road vehicle and equipment
Medical / surgical equipment or devices
Infrastructure and construction
Oil/natural gas
None of the above
Other (please specify)
31.
Any additional comments that you may have regarding the state of the metalcasting industry and its business outlook will be appreciated. Your comments are confidential. We may quote relevant comments, without attribution, for our report in the December 2022 issue.
32.
I would like to be contacted by an editor for comments in more detail.
Yes
33.
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