MEICHU INC.

　MEICHU began production of automotive press molds in 1950 and introduced the current full-mold casting method in 1967. Full-mold casting is a casting process where a mold made from polystyrene foam is covered in sand. High temperature molten metal (molten steel) is then poured into the mold which vaporizes the foam leaving only the casting. In this process, the role of the core wash and mold paint is to prevent a reaction between the molten metal and sand (hardening) and to release the gas resulting from thermal decomposition of the foam model, and the performance of the core wash and mold paint directly relates to the quality of the casting.

　MEICHU was initially using a core wash and mold paint from another supplier, but it was difficult to obtain satisfactory casting quality, so we were going through a process of trial and error. It was through this process that we came across a Kao-Quaker product. "Kao Quaker's product was the most highly rated after testing coating agents from a variety of manufacturers," recalls Director/Plant Manager, Oshima.

　Casting using the full-mold casting process poses two major issues: "burn-on" and "residue" (residue resulting from the burnt gas of the mold remaining on the surface of the casting). These two issues proved to be extremely challenging, because improvement of one would worsen the other. MEICHU and Kao-Quaker engaged in talks with the aim of rectifying these two conflicting issues and after repeated testing, began work on the development of a new core wash and mold paint together. This resulted in FURNCLEAN PC-290.