Early 1970s The Semi-Solid Metalworking (SSM) process is conceived of at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It combines aspects of casting with aspects of forging.

1971 The Japanese develop V-Process molding. This method uses unbonded sand and a vacuum.

1971 Rheocasting is developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1971 U.S. Congress passes the Clean Air Act and OSHA, the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

1972 The first production Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) component is produced by Wagner Castings Company.

1974 Fiat introduces the in-mold process for ductile iron treatment.

1976 Compacted graphite iron (CGI), an iron with elongated graphite particles with rounded edges and roughened surfaces, is developed in the U.K. It has characteristics of both gray and ductile iron.

1982 The Warm Box binder system is introduced.

1993 First foundry application of a plasma ladle refiner (melting and refining in one vessel) occurs at Maynard Steel Casting Company in Milwaukee, WI.

1995 Babcock and Wilcox, Barberton, OH, patent a lost foam vacuum casting process to produce stainless steel castings with low carbon content.

1996 Cast metal matrix composites are first used in a production model automobile in the brake rotors for the Lotus Elise.

1997 Electromagnetic casting processes developed by Argonne and Inland Steel Corporation. Electromagnetic edge containment greatly reduces cost and energy expenditures in steel production.