The panel's overall comparisons of the status and trends in advanced casting technologies and applications in the United States compared to that in Japan and Europe are shown in Table E.1. Research institutes and some universities are performing leading studies in these areas. Japanese foundries strive for a deeper fundamental process understanding than the United States and use that understanding to focus their process controls. The foundries will bring Japanese process technology but not necessarily automation. Japanese processes are often slower but more robust than those in the United States.
Japanese companies invest more in worker education and training than do their U.S. counterparts.
With respect to safety, the Japanese place more emphasis on training than on safety equipment. There is also interaction in project allocation to reduce duplication. However, facilities for foundry-related research and education in universities lag behind those in the United States. Recent foundry technological developments in Europe are significant . These include advanced permanent molding, flexible machines for metal mold casting, improved molding and solidification practices for sand casting, and rapid prototyping.