Précicast is the only aluminium foundry in the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region. Established in 1996 by Mr. Marc Tremblay, this industrial sector company has its place of business in Ville de La Baie, Saguenay.
Précicast is unique in Canada because it uses a plaster-moulding technology developed in Europe to cast high-precision aluminium parts.
Précicast products are exclusively made of aluminium, the base material of the process, by the company’s highly skilled team. Aluminium alloys are often referred to as “light alloys”, since they have a much lower density than the other foundry metals.
Since aluminium is a valuable and durable material, Précicast products offer highly beneficial characteristics for customers :
Précicast’s reputation extends beyond borders due to its highly skilled team, whose members have fully mastered their state-of-the-art equipment. Moulder-melters, machinist-programmers, designers, and labourers, who finish the aluminium parts with exacting standards, Précicast specialists work in a niche environment and expertly operate their workshop equipment: drying furnace, thermal processing furnace, numerically-controlled machine (4-axis CNC), among others.
The Précicast plaster-moulding process uses two-part demountable moulds, similar to sand-casting moulds. If cores are required, they are made separately in core boxes and then inserted into two half-parts to form the required cavities.
Plaster moulds are made by mixing plaster, refractory materials and water. The resulting mixture is cast onto models and hardened for 5-15 minutes.
Drying is a critical step of mould making, as all the moisture must be removed to prevent contamination from the gas that releases from the steam when liquid metal is poured into the moulds.
The insulating properties of dry plaster moulds prevent the metal from cooling to quickly, thus enabling a slow solidifying process that lets the aluminium flow into the thinnest mould sections. Moreover, the moulds are permeable, which allows the gases to vent out of the metal.
Once the metal is fully solidified, the moulds are carefully dismantled and the cast and feed systems are removed. The finishing process involves removing the separation lines, sanding, and/or acid washing.
Aluminium-based, plaster-moulded parts are often used as prototypes for new designs, thus contributing to the development of new products in various activity sectors. Prototypes can be made very quickly with the SL process. Continuous R&D is at the core of Précicast’s operations as customers often submit ideas for end-to-end design and realization by the team.
Cast pieces are frequently used as prototypes for die-cast parts with the same properties (dimensional stability and very fine surface finish). Précicast works closely with its customers’ engineering departments for the design of stylish and complex custom parts with very thin walls. Customers are supported throughout the fabrication process, and Précicast always endeavours to make innovative, groundbreaking recommendations.
Précicast’s expertise extends far beyond manufacturing. Above all, the company provides technological solutions and knowhow aiming to improve the performance of its customers’ equipment.
Over the years, Précicast has developed reverse engineering expertise. In practical terms, a customer can submit a fabricated part or object and the Précicast team analyses it meticulously, in order to produce a detailed technical drawing. Then, a plaster mould is designed, and the aluminium part can be reproduced in desired quantities.
Plaster-moulded aluminium parts can be customized to suit the needs of any activity sector: electronic and optical, automotive and recreational vehicles, military, transportation, telecommunications, pulp & paper, medical, pharmaceutical, aeronautics, robotics, and industrial design. Précicast can design any type of components based on customers’ technical specifications. For aluminium parts, Précicast has the expertise required to achieve specific requirements.
Since Précicast has unequalled proficiency in the manufacturing of plaster-moulded aluminium parts, this unique process can apply to many areas of expertise, and the company can fill orders for a wide range of customers across Canada and the United States.