OVERVIEW OF THE PRODUCTION OF CASTING MACHINES IN THE WORLD AND EXAMPLES OF THE USE OF ROBOTS IN CASTING PROCESSES

Processy litʹâ, 2019, Tom 136, №4, p.52-63

Abstract

UDK 621.74/339.13.021

An integral part of the global metallurgical and foundry industry is the market for casting machines. Due to of engineering and scientific though enterprises have created a unique equipment that allows to provide high performance characteristics of metal products. The analysis of the world market of casting machines in 2001–2017, including trends in trade, and the top 10 countries, world exporters and importers is presented. During 2001–2008 years the export of casting machines in the world increased from 572.3 to 1195.3 million USD, i. e. in 2.1 times. The global economic crisis of 2009 significantly reduced sales and they resumed in 2011 (USD 1351.9 million). In 2017, the level of sales of casting machines decreased by 35.2 % against the 2011 figure, although for the period from 2011 to 2017 casting production in the world increased from 98.6 to 109.9 million tons, or 11.5 %. This is due to the increased productivity of such machines, increased casting capacity and a decrease in the number of foundries by 6.3 %. The global market for foundry machines reflects the technological and business processes that take place in the foundry industry. The top three exporters of casting machines in 2017 are formed by Japan (23.5 %), Italy (20.0 %) and China (13.7 %). At the same time, among the leading importers are China (20.9 %), Mexico (9.3 %) and the USA (8.4 %). One of the areas of automation of casting equipment is the use of robots, which is especially important for small-scale and «hot» production, where, for example, conveyor methods are not fully justified. The work of the near future will allow replacing people in most of the main and auxiliary operations of the production cycle, which will contribute to the completion of complex automation of technological processes in various industries, in particular in the foundrymetallurgical industry with a number of hazardous and harmful production conditions in hot shops.