“Inductotherm hopes to play a pivotal role in advancing aluminium casting technology in the coming years through continued investment in technology, product, and process improvements,” Ed Chmielecki, Sales Manager Light Metal Applications – Inductotherm Corp.

Ed has 21 years in the metal casting industry, primarily in non-ferrous metal. He has been with Inductotherm Corp. since September 2019 as Sales Manager for Light Metal Applications and District Manager covering the South-Central US. Before joining Inductotherm, Ed was a Regional Sales Manager for a Crucible Company, and prior to that was a Furnace Services Engineer covering North America, installing, and servicing Electric Resistance and Gas Fired Crucible furnaces. At Inductotherm, he now uses his years of experience to show customers the benefits of using induction melting to reduce their carbon footprint while producing cleaner molten aluminium more efficiently.

AL Circle: Please briefly overview your foundry equipment and machinery, highlighting their key features.

Ed Chmielecki: Inductotherm has manufactured more than 38,500 melting and heating systems for metal and metal casting producers around the globe. We design and manufacture the most advanced induction melting, heating, and pouring systems for virtually all metal and material processing. We have been proven to have the most efficient, dependable, and effective systems on the market today.

AL Circle: How have you advanced induction melting, heating, holding, and pouring systems, especially for aluminium? Do you customise and tailor-make your equipment to meet the specific needs of the metal industries you serve?

Ed Chmielecki: In aluminium applications, Inductotherm’s coreless induction furnaces help in the reduction of a facility’s carbon footprint while providing cleaner metal compared to furnaces using combustion technology. They also offer alloy flexibility over large reverb furnaces. As with all Inductotherm equipment, our aluminium systems are designed to meet customer requirements.

AL Circle: How do you think digitisation has revolutionised the metal foundry industry? Have you been able to keep pace with the advancements?

Ed Chmielecki: Our MiPlant®IIoT platform powered by iSense™ sensor technology has been a game changer. It offers data collection and real-time monitoring to allow for predictive maintenance and operational cost reduction, which can contribute significantly to enhancing aluminium casting.

AL Circle: Please share with us how sustainability has influenced the foundry industry in North America. Specifically, how are aluminium foundries preparing to reduce carbon footprint in their operations?

Ed Chmielecki: Aluminium foundries have been working towards reducing their carbon footprint by a combination of utilising increased recycling and new technologies. Inductotherm hopes to play a pivotal role in advancing aluminium casting technology in the coming years through continued investment in technology, product, and process improvements. For example, over the past few years, we have developed multiple products specifically engineered for the aluminium casting industry.

AL Circle: What sets your foundry equipment class apart in the market? We would like to know your journey to become what you are today.

Ed Chmielecki: Inductotherm was founded on simple principles—to provide the foundry industry with efficient and advanced induction equipment and to offer the absolute best service in the industry. Since 1953, our core values of customer service, quality and reliability, value, along with design and technology, have been the keys to our continued success.

AL Circle: How do you ensure quality control and safety protocols of your foundry machinery?

Ed Chmielecki: We help the metal casting industry grow stronger through our advanced technologies, continuous education, and ongoing support. We strive to continue to manufacture the highest quality equipment and work towards ensuring that the equipment is the most efficient in order to promote a sustainable environment. We offer online materials to provide vital information about the safer operation of Inductotherm equipment. We encourage everyone involved in foundry operations to take advantage of these resources and understand the essential precautions and procedures for heating and melting metals more safely. Inductotherm’s safety training materials are free to all foundries and melt shops, whether they have Inductotherm equipment or not, and can be found on our website.

AL Circle: What does it take to maintain your foundry machines? What is the typical lifespan of your equipment?

 Ed Chmielecki: Foundries have been turning to Inductotherm for long-lasting, low-maintenance equipment for over seventy years. We currently have equipment running in the field over forty years old, which is common with our equipment. Our furnaces are built with superior coil designs to provide the highest efficiency and withstand even the toughest conditions due to their rugged structural strength. This helps ensure extended lining life and enhanced durability. Our philosophy has always been to exceed expectations by manufacturing high-quality, durable equipment suited to our customers’ needs.