Kulbaga T

Abstract: Less then one year ago the industry was all caught up in e-commerce. A dot.com startup, metalmaker was attempting to come on-line as a common online marketplace for foundry goods and services. The vision also included providing contract and purchase order management, logistics and other administrative services. Metalmaker needed 100 million in funding to build a whole supply chain and has now closed down. That is not to say that is no room in the foundry industry for e-commerce but it is also apparent that the industry wants to proceed very carefully and slowly. Many foundries are using the some form of e-commerce and also have their own websites. However, they are hesitant to get into the pure auction approach to marketing castings.

Keywords: Casting, E-commerce, Foundry, Goods and services, Industry, Marketing castings.