Meeting of the Expert Committee 06 for Die Casting
Yesterday, not far from my house, in Lázně Libverda, a spring meeting of the Expert Committee 06 for Die Casting took place. I have already had the honor to meet a few people from this section and I appreciate their long-term efforts to move forward in the field of die casting. I can name Mr. Vlastimil Bryksí, Mrs. Ing. Barbora Bryksí Stunová, Ph.D., and of course Mr. Ing. Václav Krňávek, who is the patron of all this. Dr. Marko Grzinčič is no less a capable participant, but not only because he is a true expert in foundry, but mainly because in the past we were connected by our common hobby, rock climbing.
And because the meeting mainly discussed casting shot sleeves, two pictures from Euroguss. According to the labels, steel 1.2344, nitrided with post-oxidation creating black Fe304 on the surface. The meeting mainly discussed the shot sleeve equipped with a replaceable liner, but it was no longer specified what heat treatment processes are applied to them. HTS only presented that all materials are from Kovintrade, and in the case of the inserts, it is S360 steel, which is roughly equivalent to 1.2367.
My impression from the presentations and discussions is that the heat treatment of shot sleeves is not essential for foundries, it is only a standardized part that is purchased and must be permanently available as a spare part ready for immediate replacement. And its lifespan? There was talk of values of up to 20 thousand shots. This is not so much, but it seems that the reasons are somewhere else. For example, the angle of introduction of the melt into the chamber, the correct alignment of the chamber to the axis, expansion pistons that partially eliminate the change in the inner diameter, and above all the lubrication of the piston. These problems were solved here, but nothing about the influence of material, heat treatment or surface treatment with the effect on abrasion and soldering.
But what was like the golden point of the meeting was a visit to the brand new DGS Frýdlant pressure foundry, which is already very close to GIGA Casting. Although the largest press is 4,400 tons, this is very close to the largest castings. The company’s headquarters are in St. Gallen, Switzerland, but otherwise it produces here in the Czech Republic in Liberec and Frýdlant, and then in China. Unfortunately, that’s where the dies come from. I can’t say anything about them, I just saw them. According to the technical director, however, they do not have major problems with them, just such a silent call: “have you ever seen a die from which water does not flow”?
And the lifespan? It is around 100 thousand shots. So they probably already have sufficient know-how in China. Otherwise, the overall impression of DGS is excellent, really modern, clean operation with the production of components for BMW, Porsche, Audi, with a well-thought-out layout and great people who accompanied us. Thanks for that.
=======================================================================================================
Are you solving a similar problem? I will help you with the analysis…
40+ years of experience in the field
30+ years of experience… HT-PROGRES, Bodycote, Galvamet
cooperation… VŠB, Czechimplant, ECM Technologies, TAV Vacuum Furnaces, GHC Invest
12+ years of expert activity
Want to ask for a solution or want a non-binding consultation? Click on this link, I will usually respond within 24 hours. Contact email
========================================================================================================
Jiří Stanislav, Ing. CSc.
Consultant and forensic expert
========================================================================================================
14/5/2026
