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wCOMPANY OVERVIEW

Founded in 1970 by Joseph Ortogni, Walcast is a family-run foundry based in Belgium, specialized in precision mould making for tableware and glass manufacturing. Walcast’s excellency lies in its experience acquired through decades of relentless and accurate work, making it a quality label recognized throughout the world. Walcast is a supplier to world-famous glass industries such as Arc International, Bormioli, Pasabahce and many others.

WALCAST

THE FAVORITE PARTNER OF THE GLASS INDUSTRYRAW & PRECISION CASTING

Joseph Ortogni’s extensive metallurgical experience and knowledge of foundry work

were the keys of his success. He created his own manufacturing process, which made the foundry a market leader. Two years ago, Fabrice Ortogni, Joseph’s son, took over the business, and he continues the foundry’s work under the Walcast name.

THE PROFILE OF FABRICE ORTOGNI

Fabrice Ortogni grew up sur-rounded by the scenery, the smells and the industrial enchantment of Walcast. There, in close con-tact with these foundry machines, the young man fully explored his passion for designing elegantly and efficiently shaped objects.

He pursued industrial design at La Cambre University in Brussels, where his end-of-studies thesis revealed a playful spirit, keen on technique and with an original sense of humor. He distinguished himself by creating an ultra-light two-seat submarine that could be used just as easily as a pedal-boat and could dive to a depth of four meters. The experience made him aware of his own ingenuity and of the poten-tial that everybody possesses.

For 15 years he worked in the family foundry as a designer in close collabo-ration with clients, helping them in the development and manufacture of their projects. His involvement began from the conception of the product to the fitting of the product molds on machines for clients all over the world. Through these many assignments he acquired his experience as a founder.

For the last two years, he has run the company and kept the name of Walcast to honor its

reputation and its 45 years of experience in glass-forming and precision mould-making. Above all else, Fabrice Ortogni wanted to retain the

unique technical process as a family heri- tage, not wishing to see any of its unique features disappear. He himself oversees the technical and commercial management of the company, following the inval-

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uable advice of his father, Joseph Ortogni. The young manager reacts as quickly as possible to the orders while maintaining high flexibility with regards to custom-ers’ requirements, as Walcast has always done, and with the same level of energy.

THE WALCAST PRODUCTSWalcast is specialized in glass-

forming and precision mould-making with special alloys for the glass industry, manufacturing glass products through pressing spin-ning procedures:

raw moulds with four millimetres thicknesses for mould makers;moulds for tableware: plates, cups, bowls, vases, with or with-

out decoration, in all sizes and in all forms;moulds for car headlights;moulds for glass bricks and any glass lighting items;moulds for washing machine windows.The foundry is able to make sin-

gle technical items or a small series with weights from 5 to 200 kg.

The manager makes a point of honor in using the best raw materi-als that are transformed into high-value products with the best form finishing.

Walcast also offers semi-finished products for clients that order par-tially finished tooling, which they then complete themselves in their own workshop.

DESIGNING AND CREATING

The company works alongside the client for the creation of arti-cles according to their needs and wishes.

Fabrice Ortogni, who trained as a designer in France and the United States, proposes profiles

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and decorations in accordance with the manufacturing equip-ment of the client.

Creating a new line of prod-ucts is a lengthy process:1. the designer proposes com-

puter-assisted drawings of the prototype;

2. a plexy prototype is made using a rapid prototyping machine;

3. the client chooses the proto-types;

4. a number of test moulds are produced for the creation of the glass items;

5. necessary modifications are made;

6. engineering plans are drawn up in accordance with the specifications of the machines.This is a time of close collabo-ration between Walcast and its client’s technicians;

7. once the engineering plans have been completed and approved, the production of the moulds can begin. Thanks to this close collabo-

ration, Walcast has developed strong, trusting relationships with its clients.

The company also offers com-plete services in helping the cus-tomers on their production sites for the setup of new moulds on machines across the world.

THE TECHNICAL PROCESSThe manufacturing process used

by Walcast comes from patented precision foundry technology using inert and stable ceramic moulds. This unique process leads to the creation of moulds with a fine surface shape and perfect surface quality similar to those achieved by using electro-erosion or mechani-cal machining. Thanks to this pre-cision, the number of tool opera-tions can be reduced or completely eliminated. Finishing and engrav-ing operations are heavily reduced and companies save time, energy and money. In addition, only a very short processing time is required and enables more frequent pro-duction changeovers. Walcast can perform up to five different cast-ings per day.

RAPIDITY - REACTIVITYTwo years ago, the foundry

moved to a new site, situated in

an industrial zone close to major European highways with easy accessibility and plenty of space.

In the mould shop, the space for each machine has been studied to save time and secure each and every part of the process. Thanks to this organization, Walcast can offer competitive prices and more flexi-bility to ensure short deliveries.

GLA

SS

TEC

20

14 Walcast will be present at

glasstec, October 2014.Hall 13 Stand F08.It will be a pleasure for us to welcome you to our stand and to give you more information about our company.Don’t hesitate to come and visit us!

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wCOMPANY OVERVIEW

Avenue de Lambusart, 256220 FLEURUS

BELGIUMMr Fabrice Ortogni

Tel: +32 (0)71 878420 Mob: +32 475 583696

E-mail:design@walcast.be