ICME’s aim is to be the lead organisation for training and professional development to help our members make the most of their careers, supporting the wider cast metals industry.
For individuals:
We can support your professional development by offering a range of technical programmes as well as leadership & management courses. We can help you to find relevant training programmes that can lead to internationally recognised qualifications. We can connect you with grant providers as well as colleges that offer a variety of training programmes.
For employers:
We can help you to find apprentice providers and direct you to support with recruiting apprentices. We can support your employees develop their knowledge and skills: through regional events, technical training, leadership and management short courses, upskilling programmes, skills gap analyses and more. We also offer end point assessment of certain apprentice programmes.
Careers in Casting:
If you are interested in a career in the industry, contact us to learn more about the exciting job roles on offer and to be put in touch with organisations who can help you get started, perhaps as an apprentice or as a career change.
Future Proofing the Industry:
ICME and our Members have helped to develop a range of qualifications and courses in casting technology and patternmaking – this is a vital service for the UK industry. If you would like to support this important work, contact us to find out how you can help. A good first step would be by joining ICME.
Want to know more and can’t find what you are looking for? Contact us on training@icme.org.uk for further assistance.
Training Courses
Click on a course below to read more about it:
ICME have developed a comprehensive new essential management programme specifically aimed at managers, team leaders, supervisors and those aspiring to be leaders in the foundry and castings industry.
This is your opportunity to learn about the tools of management and increase your knowledge of good practice to become a successful leader.
What is the Diploma and who is it for?
It is a dedicated foundry and casting specific qualification ideal for a range of individuals from those new to the industry, or early career professionals as well as Technicians and Supervisors and anyone aspiring to these roles. If your company has a need to develop employees, this course would be ideal. The Diploma is accredited by Awarding Body, EAL with certification provided upon completion.
The Diploma provides knowledge and practical skills in various Casting (engineering) subjects, including:
- Engineering and Environmental Health and Safety
- Engineering Organisational Efficiency and Improvement
- Consumable Mould Casting Processes
- Permanent Mould Casting Processes
- Design for Casting
- Sand Moulding and Core Making
- Processing and Casting of Molten Metal
- Metallurgical Testing
How is the Diploma delivered?
It is delivered through a blend of online exams, delivery sessions and tutorials by industry tutors (in 3-day block groups over an 18-month duration), written answers, assessed practical work and co-ordinated self-study through a range of support materials.
All those completing the course will receive ICME membership (MICME) for the duration of the programme for anyone who is not already a member and may be eligible for registration as an Engineering Technician (on the Engineering Council Register of professional engineers) through ICME.
The qualification is available nationally and requires 600 guided learning hours which will be covered through delivery sessions and a small amount of self-directed study.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements to complete this Diploma qualification. Must have the potential to achieve all aspects of the qualification, including being able to demonstrate a minimum level of literacy and numeracy to be fully compliant with all Health and Safety aspects.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of the principles and underlying concepts of metal properties.
The course will focus on:
- Introduction to Aluminium Alloys and their mechanical properties
- Effects of Microstructure on mechanical properties
- Aluminium alloys microstructural specimen preparation
- Solution treatment , grain refining and modification of Aluminium alloys
- Heat Treatment of Aluminium alloys
- Effect of alloying elements on metallurgical structures and properties
- Casting defects
Who should attend?
This one-day course will be suitable for technicians, engineers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of Aluminium Casting
Metallurgy.
The course is also suitable for non-technical staff seeking to learn about the underlying concepts of metal and metal properties.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of the preparation, testing and process control of greensand moulding systems.
The course will focus on:
- Overview of a greensand and what are the basic moulding requirements to produce quality castings.
- What are the basic components of greensand for moulding and their function.
- What are the first stages of control of a moulding sand.
- Mixing and handling of greensand moulding systems.
- Testing and process control of greensand moulding systems.
- Alternative greensand additives to enhance moulding performance and efficiency.
- Health safety and environmental considerations and possible future developments.
Who should attend?
These sessions would be suitable for technicians, engineers, managers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of the principles operating an efficient greensand moulding system. The course is also suitable for non-technical staff seeking to learn about the key components and steps needed to produce quality cast components using greensand moulding.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of design for casting.
The course will focus on:
- Casting processes – an overview
- Principles of casting design
- Dos and don’ts of design for casting
- Introduction to casting metallurgy and solidification
- Casting repair – common defects and rectification
- Where to get help with sourcing castings
- Using simulation in casting design
- Global trends in the casting industry
Who should attend?
The course will be suitable for engineers and designers of castings and those involved in the specification of castings. The course assumes a basic awareness of casting as a route to manufacture.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of the metallurgy of ferrous casting alloys including grey and ductile irons, compacted graphite irons (CGI) and austempered ductile irons (ADI).
The course will focus on:
- Introduction to cast irons – Brief history, standards, grades and properties
- Ferrous metallurgy – graphite forms, chemical composition, alloying and phase changes
- Metal treatments and process control
- SGI – production and control
- CGI – production and control
- ADI – production and control
- Special grades; SiMo, Ni-Resist, and other cast irons
- Ferrous casting defects
Who should attend?
Melt shop operators and supervisors, technicians, charge hands, new recruits and apprentices and all those looking to improve their knowledge of cast iron metallurgy.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
Who is it for?
This one day course will be suitable for technicians, engineers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of the principles of High pressure die casting. The course is also suitable for non-technical staff to seeking to learn about the underlying concepts of High pressure die casting.
Course includes:
- The fundamentals of the high pressure die casting process and the alloys available
- Automation and ancillary equipment that are important to the process
- Calculating & controlling the cost of a casting
- The basics of die design – calculating locking forces, layouts, runners, gates and venting
- Quality issues that arise in high pressure die casting, what they are, what causes them and how they can be avoided
An ICME CPD course attendance certificate will be issued to all attendees.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
Who is it for?
This course is for new recruits to the industry and operators who want to have an overview of the casting process. An ICME course attendance certificate will be issued to all attendees.
Course includes:
- What is casting – introduction to the process and some terminology
- Process steps in making a casting
- Some different casting processes
- Where are castings used – some applications for castings
- The global casting industry
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of the preparation and use of chemically bonded sand systems.
The course will focus on:
- Overview of chemically bonded sand systems
- Classification and compositions
- Mixing and sand control for moulding
- Binders for coremaking
- Special sands
- H&S and COSHH issues
- Reclamation and re-use
- Future developments
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of how to design running and feeding systems to produce sound castings in various casting processes and materials.
The course will focus on:
- Explain the advantages and disadvantages of different casting process and how this might affect your decision to choose
- Understand the differences between pressurised and unpressurised running systems, and reasons for selecting them
- Describe the different elements of the running system and explain how they impact on the pouring of a mould
- Apply knowledge to calculate simple running systems based on case studies given
- Understand the solidification of casting alloys
- Explain the different types of feeders
- Understand how to calculate feeder sizes and types to maximise yield whilst maintaining casting integrity
Who should attend?
These sessions would be suitable for technicians, engineers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of the principles of running and feeding castings. The course is also suitable for non-technical staff seeking to learn about the steps needed to produce quality cast components.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What’s in it for you?
To understand the construction, operation and fundamental technology of melting in an induction furnace.
The course will focus on:
- Induction Melting Basics
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Furnace Operation and safety precautions
- Charging and pre-heating systems
- Refractory lining
- Electrical operation
- Other electric furnaces – Automatic pouring, Channel Holding & Vacuum Melting Furnaces
- Metallurgy of melting in electric induction furnaces
Who should attend?
Melt shop operators and supervisors, technicians, charge hands, new recruits and apprentices and all those looking to improve their knowledge what a furnace is and how it works.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
Who is it for?
An introductory course that will suit both technical and non-technical staff looking to gain an appreciation of the pressure die casting process. If you are a designer, a buyer, a quality engineer, or even a young technician looking at a career in the industry, you need to know how it’s done, what can be cast and the key aspects of the discipline. This short course should be of interest to you. An ICME course attendance certificate will be issued to all attendees.
Course includes:
- What is pressure die casting? – an introduction to the process and it’s terminology.
- The basics of hot & cold chamber pressure die casting, what are they and why they are used.
- The available alloys and some of the applications where they are used.
- The injection process and some basic quality considerations.
- The equipment and the tooling with some basic calculations to get you started.
- Opportunities for pressure die casting in the modern circular economy.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What is in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of Lean improvement tools and their application in a metal casting environment.
This course includes:
- Be able to describe how Kaizen can support your business
- Recognise the importance of the involvement of your staff in improvement processes
- Have knowledge of and be able to apply the 7 kaizen concepts into your business.
- Identify opportunities to apply continuous improvement techniques in a casting environment.
- Appreciate the benefits of clear visual management systems to the foundry business.
- Understand a range of problem-solving tools that can be put into practice in a foundry environment to improve the operation.
- Demonstrate flow process analysis as a tool to improve both workforce and process efficiency inside a casting environment.
Who should attend?
The program will be suitable for technicians, engineers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of the principles of lean. The course is also suitable for non-technical staff to seeking to learn about the concepts and potential application of lean in the production of cast components.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What is in it for you?
Improve your knowledge of the principles and underlying concepts of metal properties.
Outline programme:
- Simple phase diagrams
- Solidification Metallurgy
- Aluminium Alloys Standards and Specifications
- Steel Metallurgy
- Cast Iron Metallurgy
- Copper and Copper Alloys
- Defects and their causes
- Mechanical Properties and testing methods
- Heat treatment and surface treatments – basic intro
- Casting design
Who should attend?
This two day course will be suitable for technicians, engineers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of the principles of metallurgy. The course is also suitable for non-technical staff to seeking to learn about the underlying concepts of metal and metal properties.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What is in it for you?
Improve your understanding of the basic principles of Cores, Core Production and Assembly and the understanding to be able to make informed decisions to improve casting quality through the different technologies of making cores.
The course will focus on:
- Types of sand used in coremaking.
- Outline the binder configurations and production methods relating to Heat cured binder systems and Cold box binder systems.
- Mixing techniques, for different systems of coremaking.
- Describe coremaking techniques with reference to Volume. production of cores, Hand and Jobbing production of cores (small to medium batches), Additives used in coremaking and Coatings used in core production.
- Core sand testing, Permeability, scratch hardness, LOI, Tensile tests etc.
- Recognise core location, ‘coring up’ and securing methods.
- Describe the techniques of core assembly, trial fitting & mould closing.
- Recognise the methods of checking core locations and metal thickness.
- Quality issues with cores and causes of scrap.
Who should attend?
Core shop operators, charge hands, supervisors, technicians, new recruits and apprentices and all those looking to improve their knowledge of core making and assembly.
The course is also suitable for non-technical staff seeking to learn about the steps needed to produce quality cast components.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
What is in it for you?
A 1-day entry level course on metallurgy, with particular attention to the structure of metals and how structures and properties develop in ferrous alloys commonly found in the casting industry.
The course will focus on:
- Solidification and Crystal Structure
- The Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram – Cast Irons
- The Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram – Steels
- Mechanical Properties and Testing
- Properties and Applications: Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous
Who should attend?
This one-day course will be suitable for technicians, engineers and staff working in technical areas looking for an understanding of basic metallurgy.
The course is also suitable for non-technical staff seeking to learn about the underlying concepts of metal and metal properties.
Get in touch
For more information, please email ICME at training@icme.org.uk or call 0121 752 1810
Do you know we offer Bespoke Training?
Are you struggling to fill your skills gaps? Is there no training available that suits your needs?
ICME can offer any of our training courses delivered directly to you on site.
Everything we deliver is delivered by our team of time served industry experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
ICME will discuss your individual training needs and tailor our training specifically to you and your company.
2025 ICME Training Calendar
January 2025
February 2025
Design for Casting – 18th & 19th
Aluminium Casting Metallurgy – 25th
March 2025
Introduction to Casting – AM – 18th March
April 2025
Metallurgy for Non Metallurgists – 30th April & 1st May
May 2025
Introduction to Pressure Die Casting – AM – 8th May – Sheffield location
June 2025
Introduction to Chemically Bonded Sand Systems – 25th & 26th
July 2025
August 2025
September 2025
Investment Casting Short Course – 10th & 11th
Lean Principles in a Casting Environment – 16th & 17th
Pressure Die Casting Quality & Process – 17th – Sheffield Location
October 2025
Quality Coremaking and Core Assembly – 15th & 16th
Total Productive Maintenance – 22nd & 23rd
November 2025
Introduction to Melting – 12th
Aluminium Metal Control – 17th & 18th
Metallurgy Basics – 27th
December 2025
An introduction to Greensand Testing and Process Control – 3rd & 4th
What Our Course Participants Are Saying
“Very good teacher, full of knowledge and understanding of castings and foundries.
Learnt a lot about my own department and other departments.”
“The course has been extremely informative, not only from a Lean Principles point, but in-depth casting techniques and process. For someone new to the foundry environment this has been invaluable.”
“Instructor had a very detailed knowledge and techniques when delivering the course material, and I have gained a better understanding of the methoding process in relation to casting.”
Training Grants Available
GET UP TO 50% TOWARDS COURSE FEES, BOOKS, TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
The Foundry Training Trust is a registered charity that offers financial grant support towards the costs of professional development to enable individuals improve their knowledge and skills in the cast metals and related industries.