The U.S. metalcasting industry is a global leader in the metalcasting industry and is the second-highest casting producing nation. The U.S. industry consists of 2,170 operating casting facilities (2008), of which approximately 700 produce ferrous castings and 1,400 produce nonferrous castings. Although the number of casting facilities in the U.S. has declined in the last 50 years, the productivity of the remaining facilities has increased. In 1991, there were 3,200 casting plants in the U.S., but more castings were produced in 2007 with 1,000 fewer metalcasters. Production capacity is only off by 4% compared to 1991.

Casting End-Use Markets

2008 Shipment Mix by Sales

Industry Stats:

• 80% of U.S. firms are small businesses with less than 100 employees
• Sales in 2007 totaled $32.3 billion; production reached 13.4 million tons
• From 1991 to 2001, aluminum production grew 91% from 1.1 million to 2.1 million tons
• From 1991 to 2001, magnesium production grew 331% from 29,000 to 125,000 tons
• 2,170 operating casting faciliites
• 200,000 employees
• 2008 projections: $34 billion in sales, 13.9 million tons produced
• 2017 projections: $42 billion in sales, 14.14 million tons produced

2006 Census of World Casting Production