Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.
U.S. Workers
5,830
Median Salary
$48,940
10-Year Growth
-4.7%
Annual Openings
600
Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
16 of 16 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.
AI: Fully automatable - Machine‑vision inspection systems can reliably detect mold cleanliness, surface defects, and coating issues and are widely deployable.
Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated pouring systems with closed‑loop control can regulate molten metal flow into molds with the precision required and are already used in industry.
Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.
AI: Fully automatable - Actuation of ladle stoppers and control of flow heights are mechanical controls that can be fully automated and integrated with process control systems.
Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.
AI: Fully automatable - Temperature sensors, color/thermal imaging, and automated control loops allow AI and controllers to read conditions and adjust heating to spec.
Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.
AI: Fully automatable - Turning valves and controlling water sprays are straightforward to automate with actuators, sensors, and PLCs and are commonly fully automated in industrial cooling processes.
Stencil identifying information on ingots and pigs, using special hand tools.
AI: Fully automatable - Stenciling or marking ingots can be fully automated using stamping, laser, or inkjet systems that reliably apply identifying information.
Transport metal ingots to storage areas, using forklifts.
AI: Fully automatable - Autonomous forklifts and AGVs are mature and widely deployed enough by 2025 to transport ingots to storage under appropriate safety and site control systems.
Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
AI: Partial - While AI can schedule or signal sampling and some plants have automated samplers, collecting molten metal samples often still requires manual intervention and specialized tooling.
Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.
AI: Partial - Automated feeders, dosing systems, and robotic loaders can handle specified batching in controlled foundries, but variable batches, safety oversight, and irregular containers still require human involvement.
Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage.
AI: Partial - Robotic pourers and controlled metering systems can add metal to molds in standardized processes, but compensating for unpredictable shrinkage patterns often depends on human judgment and inspection.
Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.
AI: Partial - Automated skimming tools and heat-resistant robotic manipulators can remove some slag and collect scrap, yet variable slag behavior, extreme heat, and complex cleanup tasks still frequently need human intervention.
Remove metal ingots or cores from molds, using hand tools, cranes, and chain hoists.
AI: Partial - Overhead cranes, robotic demolding, and automated hoists can remove ingots in many facilities, but variability in molds, irregular shapes, and occasional complex rigging keep humans involved.
Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment.
AI: Partial - Robotic assembly cells can embed cores in highly standardized production lines, but delicate handling of varied cores and adaptive placement tasks mean most shops still use human workers for this work.
Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
AI: Partial - Positioning of ladles, nozzles, and equipment can be automated with robots, actuators, and AGVs, but ad hoc setups, fine manual adjustments, and human coordination/safety signaling remain common.
Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners.
AI: Partial - Slag removal with long bars or oxygen burners is hazardous and highly manual; some robotic/remote aids exist but AI/automation does not fully replace skilled human operators as of 2025.
Repair and maintain metal forms and equipment, using hand tools, sledges, and bars.
AI: Partial - AI can assist with diagnostics and some repetitive maintenance tasks, but repair and maintenance of forms and equipment require complex manual dexterity and situational problem-solving that is not fully automatable.