An educated buyer is our best customer.”

Ever hear that line? 

It was the main marketing tagline of Sy Syms, founder of the off-price clothing chain, Syms, which had a subsidiary called Filene’s Basement. He took his company public in 1983, when, gee, I’m sure I was just a wee toddler (who was in college).

When I think about our purpose at Casting Source—our raison d’etre (thank God for my double major)––that line keeps waving in front of me. 

Why else would AFS invest to put out a magazine to cultivate a better understanding of metalcasting for casting buyers and design engineers? Answer: The more educated you are about casting processes, the better, wiser customer you will truly be.

Today, I still have the same reaction that I had when I first heard that AFS publishes a magazine for professionals at casting buying companies. 

That reaction? “Brilliant!” Give casting buyers and engineers a look “behind the curtain” at the foundry, with regular technical examples, advice, perspectives, ideas, and resources – OMG, what a concept. 

The more you know, the better your decisions will be, and the better you’ll be respected within your organization as you ensure component weight reduction, tight tolerances, thin walls, complex geometries, and … lower costs.

One last thought and then I’ll take my seat: Everyone, including you, has an available education at their fingertips. Yes, the internet: so potentially helpful and yet, how shall I say it, so potentially evil?

One of the most poignant and equally hilarious memes I’ve seen lately features a picture of Abraham Lincoln beside the following text: “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet just because there’s a picture with a quote next to it.”

Excuse me while I dry my cackling eyes. Please take heed against the dubious information that is AI-scraped without discretion about metalcasting on the internet. However, here are two sources upon which you may firmly rely: (1) AFS (publications, web resources, and the upcoming technical sessions, metalcaster exhibits, and Casting Source Theater programing at Cast Expo in Atlanta!) AND (2) your trustworthy AFS-Member foundry, whose engineers provide you with unrivaled, consultative, technical expertise to achieve your greatest expectations and more.   

Please enjoy the enclosed content intended for the advancement of your professional success. And as always, thank you for reading!