In the early 1990s, falling interest rates, increased casting demand, and the closing of some foundry capacity led to a significant improvement in metalcasting business. Those companies that survived and continued to grow in sales and profits through the late 1980s and early 1990s are more knowledgeable about the importance of education, marketing, and customer relations. For both ferrous and non-ferrous castings, international trade accounts for a very small but growing percentage of the U.S. casting market. The U.S. ferrous metal casting industry has seen a considerable decline in aggregate production, overwhelmingly due to a drop in gray iron production. Total industry employment decreased by about 20,000 between the late 1980s and early 1990s, although employment levels were up somewhat in 1995.
Capacity is currently close to full utilization.
Small foundries spend a higher proportion of their funds available for capital improvements on pollution control equipment. The industry as a whole, however, invests significantly in new capital. Workshop on U.S. Metal Casting Technical Priorities and Strategies , Rand Critical Technologies Institute, March 1994. New investments in the non-ferrous sectors of the industry were about average compared to other industries. Today, the U.S. metalcasting industry and its technical societies, often working in partnership with government, academia, and its supplier base, have significant research programs in place.