The precision of FisherCast�s magnesium die casting machines allows OEMs to replace aluminum small- and medium-sized die-cast components with light-weight, high-strength magnesium.

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Imperial Zinc Corp Frech USA

With automotive manufacturers and other industrial clients needing to reduce weight to meet environmental regulations, more OEMs are looking for innovative component designs and materials that not only provide lighter weight and are cost-competitive, but also meet their tight tolerances and quality specifications. Peterborough, Ontario, Canada-based Fishercast Global is one firm well aware of the changing trends in the industrial segment, and is helping its clients meet high quality standards with innovative processes, engineering expertise and a large product offering.

FisherCast is well-known in the industrial marketplace for its precision, net shape zinc alloy die-cast components and unique component assembly process, and has transferred its expertise to magnesium die casting. This provides OEMs with the opportunity to choose the structural material best suited to their applications. Many are converting from aluminum cast components to magnesium to reduce weight and eliminate machining costs, or from plastic to magnesium for high temperature applications.  

The backbone of the business centers on FisherCast’s flash-free, net shape die casting process and its ability to form longstanding partnerships with some of the industry’s top players. “We are always working to integrate closely with the customer and work with their project engineering team to help the client remove cost and improve functionality,”  Executive Vice President Bob Espey says. “We can hold high tolerances and fine features right out of the tool, so we do not have any post-processing of the part, which makes it a very competitive process against aluminum. We can help our customers save money over the competition.”

Through FisherCast Global’s two divisions, the company provides its customers with a full range of manufacturing services. FisherCast produces close-tolerance, net shape die-cast zinc and magnesium small components, while the FisherTech Division develops joining and assembly solutions, and manufactures systems for assembling components, and terminating wire and cable. Although the automotive sector is the most predominant, it remains less than 50 percent of the company’s business, Espey notes. In addition to dealing with Tier 1 suppliers, the company also targets Tier 2 suppliers in industrial controls, appliances, electronic components, power tools, computers and more. The company has more than 100 customers in 25 countries, including Rockwell International, Whirlpool Corporation, ZF Lemforder Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Co., Autoliv, Snap-On Tools Corp. and Black & Decker Inc.

In 2007, FisherCast produced an estimated 500 million components globally, and Espey anticipates 10 percent growth in 2008.

Building its Reputation
A team of some 300 employees, many with strong technical backgrounds, help FisherCast foster fresh ideas on how to improve components or parts. “We have a full engineering and technical staff to work with customers to optimize component design to take maximum advantage of our materials and processes, and to build our precision tooling,” Espey notes.

One of the company’s strategies going forward is to further develop its R&D efforts, and recent patents on applications of molten metal technology are opening up new and unique ways for manufacturers to improve their applications and productivity, while cutting costs Espey says.