Investment Casting Institute

What Investment Casting Institute does

The Investment Casting Institute (ICI) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1953 and headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. It is the only North American trade association dedicated to the investment casting industry, serving approximately 270-285 member companies split roughly evenly between foundries and industry suppliers, alongside academic institutions, casting purchasers, and international members. The industry ICI represents contributes more than $7B annually to the North American manufacturing economy, supports over 40,000 U.S. jobs, and has a $20B+ economic ripple effect.

ICI's core offerings span three pillars: technical knowledge products (INCAST Magazine published jointly with the European Investment Casters' Federation, the Atlas of Wax & Casting Defects, Ceramic Testing Guidebook, Standard Test Procedures, and process video library); training and certification programs (the Process Control Standards Program with Bronze, Silver, and Gold certification levels, Industry Certification Course, Process Control Seminar, and webinars); and community/networking events (the 73rd Annual Technical Conference & Equipment Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Spring Member Meeting, Regional Meetings, and university job fairs). A distinctive asset is the ICON (Integrated Casting Order Network) platform, co-developed with the Defense Logistics Agency, which connects qualified foundries, forge shops, and machine shops with U.S. government procurement activity.

ICI's business model is a nonprofit membership association funded primarily by annual membership dues assessed on a sliding scale tied to self-reported member sales (Foundry, Supplier, Customer, International, and Hybrid tiers, plus a no-dues Academic tier), supplemented by transaction-based revenue from conference registration, publication sales through a BigCommerce storefront, and certification program fees. Distribution is conducted through direct membership enrollment, a members-only portal, in-person events, and digital content channels including a YouTube webinar library. ICI also monetizes the ICON platform and the MSC Industrial Supply member-benefit partnership as value-added services. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from member companies and is operated by a small staff of approximately 16 employees under Executive Director Tim Sullivan.

Name

Investment Casting Institute

Legal name

Investment Casting Institute

Website

https://investmentcasting.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Investment Casting Institute is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1953 that serves as the only North American trade body for the investment casting industry, supporting 270-285 member foundries, suppliers, and academic institutions through publications, certification programs, conferences, and the ICON government-procurement platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Trade Association Services

NAICS

Steel Investment Foundries (331512)

SIC

Iron & Steel Foundries (3320)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Casting (Continuous Casting, Ingots, Semi-Finished Slabs/Billets/Blooms) (IMAKABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aluminum Casting & Ingot/Billet/Slab Production (IMAKACAE)

Keywords

• Investment casting association
• Casting industry publications
• Metal casting certification
• Foundry industry training
• Trade association events

Headquarters

HQ city

Montvale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues assessed on a sliding scale based on sales generated. Foundry and Supplier members self-report sales brackets. Academic members are exempt from dues. Customer members pay fixed per-site dues. Individual members pay Board-established dues. Hybrid members pay based on total sales plus administrative fee.
2. Publications Sales: Sale of technical publications including INCAST Magazine subscriptions (available to members as part of membership, non-members can purchase), Atlas of Wax & Casting Defects, Ceramic Testing Guidebook, Standard Test Procedure for Pattern Materials, and process videos.
3. Conference and Event Fees: Revenue from Technical Conference & Equipment Expo, Spring Member Meeting, Regional Meetings, and certification courses. The 73rd Annual Technical Conference & Equipment Expo is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Investment Casting Institute is a nonprofit trade association that serves the North American investment casting industry through membership services, technical publications (INCAST Magazine, Atlas of Wax & Casting Defects, Ceramic Testing Guidebook), tiered certification and training programs (Process Control Standards Program, Industry Certification Course, Process Control Seminar, Webinars), industry events (Annual Technical Conference & Expo, Spring Member Meeting, Regional Meetings), and the ICON procurement platform co-developed with the Defense Logistics Agency.

Product overview

The Investment Casting Institute (ICI) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1953 serving the investment casting industry. Rather than a single technology product, ICI offers a portfolio of professional services including publications (INCAST Magazine, technical guidebooks like the Atlas of Wax & Casting Defects and Ceramic Testing Guidebook), certification programs (Industry Certification Course, Process Control Standards Program with Bronze/Silver/Gold levels), training programs (Process Control Seminar, Webinars), events (Annual Technical Conference & Expo, Spring Member Meeting, Regional Meetings), competitions (Casting Contest, University Casting Contest, Innovator of the Year Award, Hall of Honor), scholarships (Intern Scholarship Program), and member benefits (ICON procurement platform, MSC Industrial Supply partnership). The organization supports nearly 270 member companies with educational resources, industry advocacy, and networking opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INCAST Magazine: Monthly industry magazine published in partnership with the European Investment Casters' Federation (EICF).
• ICON (Integrated Casting Order Network)
• PCSP (Process Control Standards Program)

Products and services

• INCAST Magazine Monthly magazine published exclusively for the global investment casting industry, covering industry news, technical articles, and market analysis for investment casters, equipment suppliers, and OEMs in aerospace, industrial gas turbine, automotive, medical, and general industry markets. Subscriptions are available to non-members for purchase.
• Atlas of Wax & Casting Defects Comprehensive reference guide covering wax, shell, and casting defects with detailed explanations, high-quality images for identification, and suggestions for minimizing or avoiding defects during the casting process. Includes an interactive diagnostic tool for defect identification and correction. Sold via ICI's e-commerce storefront.
• Ceramic Testing Guidebook Digital guidebook covering testing procedures for ceramic shell materials, colloidal silica binders, slurries, and shell building processes. Updated with state-of-the-art equipment, industry best practices, photos, and instructional videos.
• Standard Test Procedure for Pattern Materials Interactive guide with step-by-step instructions for safe and accurate performance of incoming wax material testing, including photographic depictions and video demonstrations.
• Process Control Standards Program (PCSP) Self-evaluation mechanism for precision investment casting foundries to assess their process control. Offers three certification levels: Bronze (self-survey, 40% criteria), Silver (independent survey, 60% criteria), and Gold (independent survey, 80% criteria). Certification is valid for two years.
• Industry Certification Course Hands-on training program — the only industry certification dedicated to the investment casting process. Available only to ICI Member Companies with limited enrollment to ensure focused, high-quality learning.
• Process Control Seminar Foundational seminar covering process control principles in investment casting, structured into four sections: Introduction to Process Control, Wax Area Process Control, Shell Area Process Control, and Dewax/Burnout/Casting Process Control.
• Webinars Educational webinars on emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in the investment casting industry, available at no additional cost to ICI members. Past webinars available on demand via YouTube channel.
• Annual Technical Conference & Equipment Expo The industry's primary forum for advancing the science, engineering, and practical application of investment casting across aerospace, defense, medical, energy, and industrial markets. Held annually with technical paper presentations and an equipment expo.
• Spring Member Meeting Business and leadership development meeting with two parallel tracks: Rising Leaders Track (personalized leadership skills and communication) and Industry & Operations Track (business operations and strategy for seasoned leaders). Next meeting scheduled for Tampa, Florida in 2027.
• Regional Meetings Half-day educational sessions from industry professionals followed by facility tours, including breakfast and lunch. Free of charge and open to the entire industry regardless of membership status.
• ICON (Integrated Casting Order Network) Award-winning procurement and capture management platform developed in collaboration with the Defense Logistics Agency. Connects qualified foundries, forge shops, and machine shops with government procurement opportunities. ICON Core is provided as a complimentary benefit to ICI Members.
• Process Videos Comprehensive video library detailing fundamental principles and process steps employed by investment casters worldwide. Includes The Investment Casting Process & Applications video providing an overview and step-by-step demonstration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Investment Casting contributes $7B+ annually to North American manufacturing economy with $20B+ economic ripple effect
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• European Investment Casters' Federation (EICF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018Partnership formed in June 2018 to jointly publish INCAST Magazine. The magazine expanded its reach to users and buyers of investment castings worldwide. ICI is the largest investment casting trade association in the world; together with EICF they serve the global industry.
• Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefense Logistics Agency collaborated with ICI to develop the ICON (Integrated Casting Order Network) platform - an award-winning procurement and capture management system for U.S. metal manufacturers. ICON connects qualified foundries with real government procurement activity. DLA procures more than $47.1 billion in goods and services annually.
• MSC Industrial Supply Co.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerICI partners with MSC Industrial Supply offering ICI members exclusive access to discounts (8-20% on various product categories including abrasives, carbide indexable, cutting blades, drills, hand tools, power tools, safety PPE, fasteners), services, and technologies. Members receive access to 2.4+ million industrial SKUs with same-day shipping and 99% fill rate.
• Metal Manufacturers (via ICON)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICON platform connects qualified foundries, forge shops, and machine shops with government procurement activity and with each other. ICI Members receive complementary access to ICON Core.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Industrial Minerals Association - North America: Trade association representing industrial mineral producers whose products (refractories, ceramics, silica) are critical inputs to investment casting processes. Thematically adjacent enabling-industry trade association.
• National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA): U.S. trade association for precision custom manufacturers including machining and tooling — a downstream step from investment casting and often co-located with foundries in ICI's aerospace and defense supply chain.

Broad incumbents

• ASM International: The professional society for materials scientists and engineers, serving a broader audience than ICI but overlapping heavily with investment casting metallurgy, failure analysis, and process engineering communities that ICI's technical conferences address.
• North American Die Casting Association (NADCA): Trade association for the die casting industry (a competing/adjacent casting process to investment casting). Comparable as a North American casting trade association but serving a different process technology with overlapping end markets (automotive, industrial).

Direct peers

• American Foundry Society: The largest U.S. metalcasting trade association serving foundries of all process types (sand, investment, die, permanent mold). Directly comparable as a North American industry association providing technical resources, certification, events, and advocacy to foundries — though broader in scope than ICI's investment-casting specialization.
• Steel Founders' Society of America (SFSA): U.S. trade association specifically for steel foundries — a key subset of ICI's membership base. Highly comparable as a specialized foundry industry association offering technical training, research, and conferences for steel casting professionals.
• European Investment Casters' Federation (EICF): ICI's formal publishing partner for INCAST Magazine since 2018 — the European equivalent trade association for the investment casting industry. Direct peer serving foundries across Europe with parallel mission, conferences, and certification programs.
• Non-Ferrous Founders' Society (NFFS): U.S. trade association for non-ferrous foundries (aluminum, copper, bronze). Direct peer with overlapping membership and even shares the ICON procurement platform with ICI; represents the closest natural partner/counterpart in the casting trade association ecosystem.
• Investment Casting Suppliers Association (ICSA): A specialized trade group within the investment casting ecosystem focused on suppliers of materials, equipment, and services to foundries — directly comparable to ICI's Supplier Membership category.

Emerging players

• Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF): Industry association for powder metallurgy and metal additive manufacturing — the technologies most likely to disrupt traditional investment casting. Thematically adjacent and increasingly relevant as ICI members adopt additive pattern-making.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/InvestmentCastingInst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/investment-casting-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Investment Casting Institute