Abstract :
This paper sets out to give a balanced and comprehensive account of the progress made in the `casting industry¿¿. Casting is fundamental to the metals industry and to the national economy as a whole. UK business in the field probably exceeds ¿¿700m p.a. and provides work for over 150 000 employees, as well as underpinning much of the engineering industry. At present different branches of the industry are facing an increasing number of common problems, and finding much common ground in their response to them.