History of the Aluminum Die Casting Process

The die casting industry has come a long way in involving into the modern aluminum die casting process that we know today.  The die casting process first started in 1838 when the first die casting equipment was invented.  In 1849, the first die casting patent was granted for a machine that was small and hand operated.  This early die casting machine was used for mechanized printing production.  Another major breakthrough was made when Otto Mergenthaler designed the automatic type casting machine called the Linotype in 1885.  The Linotype grew to become the leading machine in publishing world until approximately 1970.

After this development, the die casting process experienced exponential growth.  The die casting industry began to specialize in creating a large volume of cost-effective yet complex parts.  The aluminum die casting process as well as the zinc die casting process really began to take off in the year 1914, and the use of magnesium and copper was not far behind.  The aluminum die casting process has evolved over the years, but the basic components remain the same.

Despite the stability of the aluminum die casting process, researchers see new developments on the horizon.  Those in the die casting industry are looking to create castings with more finished surfaces and at a faster rate.  For example, researches are working to develop a high-pressure die casting process that injects aluminum into the mold as a semi-solid.

Although this history of the aluminum die casting process can seem short, the amount of progress that has been made in the die casting industry is astonishing.  The aluminum die casting process is one of the most widely used manufacturing processes today.  For a process that was created specifically for the printing industry, it is amazing that the aluminum die casting process can now be found in many products that countless of people use on a daily basis.  From the automotive industry to mobile phone manufacturing, almost every manufacturing industry can take advantage of the enhanced aluminum die casting process.