E-Archive

VOL. 23 November ISSUE YEAR 2022

Articles

in Vol. 23 - November Issue - Year 2022
Full Casting Traceability: The Missing Link For Foundry Scrap Reduction Is Here
The TAG code uniquely identifies each casting

The TAG code uniquely identifies each casting

Operators use a smart hand scanner to input scrap casting codes and link them to defect types in the TAG database

Operators use a smart hand scanner to input scrap casting codes and link them to defect types in the TAG database

DISA TAG units within pattern plates add a unique ID to every casting

DISA TAG units within pattern plates add a unique ID to every casting

In the Spotlight

A Norican Group technology, DISA develops and manufactures a complete range of metal casting production solutions for the ferrous and non-ferrous foundry industries. Headquartered in Taastrup, Denmark, DISA is the world-leading supplier of complete foundry solutions and services, as well as state-of-the-art green-sand moulding equipment. DISA also offers its class-leading Monitizer digital solutions, developed in partnership with Norican Digital Lab, that support the whole digital journey from data collection to AI-driven casting quality optimisation. Monitizer works in all types of foundries and processes, and with any vendor equipment, to deliver serious process improvements – fast.

DISA has released Trace and Guidance (TAG), an innovative casting-level tracking system. It creates the missing link between process and quality data, allowing green-sand foundries to achieve full casting traceability.

For the first time, foundries can trace every single casting they produce instead of relying on less-accurate batch data. With DISA TAG, they can create an individual-casting-level view of their whole process. 

“Finding the root cause of scrap can be extremely difficult, making it hard to reduce quality-related costs,” said Per Larsen, Innovation Manager at DISA. “DISA TAG adds a unique ID to each casting which operators simply scan to link the casting to a specific defect cause or to look up the process parameters used to make it. DISA TAG promises to be a game changer, helping to reduce quality costs to previously unseen levels.”

Harness the full power of process data

The DISA TAG system works in three steps. First, foundries install marking units in their pattern plates to give each casting a unique TAG ID. After casting sorting, a hand scanner is used to read the codes of scrapped castings and link them to specific defect types. That quality data is automatically stored in the TAG database.

In the final step, each casting’s unique code and specific defect are linked to that casting’s process data. Engineers can then correlate specific detects with the process data to find hidden insights and the root causes of defects.

DISA TAG is also a perfect match for automated analytics that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI). The casting-level data helps the AI self-learn much more quickly, improves optimisation accuracy and so maximises scrap reduction. It’s an essential part of the journey to zero defect manufacturing and a more sustainable future.
“Granular, casting-level data make it much easier to decide exactly which combination of process parameters created a bad casting,” explained Per. “DISA TAG helps to solve complex quality problems, reveals hidden insights and enhances AI-driven process quality optimisation.”

A step change in traceability and accuracy

DISA TAG cuts wasted material, energy and time in more than one way. For example, operators can classify a set of castings as “bad”, use hand scanners to quickly identify them after shot blasting –ensuring that good castings aren’t scrapped and re-melted too.
If a customer enquires about an issue with a casting months later, the foundry can simply scan the casting’s TAG ID to locate its process data and investigate.

“For foundries that collect and analyse data on their process – or are planning to – DISA TAG takes them to the next level of traceability and accuracy,” said Per. “It helps guide them to the correct actions that improve quality, reduce reworking and scrap, cut costs and increase sustainability.”

For Information: 
DISA Industries A/S
Højager 8, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark
Tel. +45.44.50 50 50
Fax +45.44.94 52 25
E-mail: Disa.Industries@disagroup.com