Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 16

among our functional groups. This cohesiveness provides an agile way that quickly speeds up an integration of service and products to be configured to address each customer’s specific need. The following are five actions that exemplify the Solutions Provider mindset aimed at helping and supporting foundries and core- shops. 1. FIRST PRIORITIES FIRST When this current raw materials crisis started early in the year, our main responsibility was, and still is, focused on keeping our customers whole. As key raw materials became tight, prices rose, as well as did freight cost. In spite of these hurdles, we understood that securing raw materials and finished goods to our customer base is critical. Hence, we worked extensively on several supply agreements with key suppliers and global partners to keep the necessary allocation flowing in. We are fortunate to be part of HA Group. A global enterprise whose affiliates work together in times of crisis to be creative in finding sustainable solutions. We also had to make a decision on ordering products way ahead of time, although the demand forecast in order to secure the key raw materials to manufacture and ship the products was not yet set in stone. 2. REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS In spite of the extraordinary efforts made in securing the necessary materials, many times we faced allocations or even force majeure. In those instances in which the product prices were significantly increased, or when the supply for those products remains extremely tight, we have put forward a set of replacement products that could offer temporary relief (economical or supply assurance). It is important to mention that the application of these alternative products may result in some trade off adopting a new process or technology, which is the reason why point five “Partnering with our customers” is a key success factor to be considered. The following graphs show some examples of case replacement products that can offer an immediate relief. 3. INVESTING IN DOMESTIC SOLUTIONS While many suppliers are divesting on their operations by decreasing their manufacturing footprint in the US, removing technical services and applications lab services, we believe that bringing back the manufacturing capabilities of products makes sense. It is true that not all products can be made in-house nor all raw materials can be procured from sources inside Coating Conditions: Sand: Silica Resin: 1.0%, Catalyst: 30% BOR One emerging replacement product than can offset the rise in pricing of Furfuryl Alcohol Resins is the Phenolic Modified Resin No-Bake (PNB) system. During a time where Furfuryl Alcohol is in limited supply, as well as being at all time high prices, PNB systems are able to offer similar strengths as other furan resins with the ability to have a “drop-in” replacement that would require very little change by making the switch. On top of having similar characteristics, it also boasts the benefits of having more readily available raw materials as well as a lower cost alternative during these times of inflated prices. Coating Conditions: Sand: Silica Resin System: Alphaset 9010 Resin level: 1.0%, Co-reactant: 30% BOR 14