For Tomorrow’s
Foundry Talent
Our mission is simple but urgent.
The ICF is building tomorrow’s foundry talent—through apprenticeships, scholarships, and hands-on training that preserve institutional knowledge and fuel the next generation of industrial resilience.
Casting faces a critical skills gap.
By 2033, the manufacturing industry will need 3.8 million people to meet demand. Without bold action, nearly half of those jobs could remain unfilled.
Investment casting faces an even sharper challenge. As seasoned experts retire, the industry must move quickly to train and attract the next generation of talent. With its highly specialized skills and critical role in aerospace, defense, and energy, casting cannot afford to fall behind.
U.S. manufacturing is only as strong as its workforce.
Every year, more experience leaves the foundry floor than enters it.
If nothing changes, America’s ability to produce critical castings domestically will erode. The ICF is reversing that trend by investing in apprenticeships, scholarships, and hands-on learning that preserve hard-won expertise and build tomorrow’s workforce.
“Casting is the first link, and often the bottleneck, in every critical supply chain.
Without it, nothing flies, drives, or powers up.”
— Investment Casting Institute
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