The most intricate of shapes, both external and internal, may be cast. As a result, many other operations, such as machining, forging, and welding, can be minimized or eliminated.
Because of their physical properties, some metals can only be cast to shape since they cannot be hot-worked into bars, rods, plates, or other forms from ingot form as a preliminary step to other processing.
Construction may be simplified. Objects may be cast in a single piece which would otherwise require the assembly of several pieces if made by other methods.
Metal casting is a process highly adaptable to the requirements of mass production. Large numbers of a given casting can be produced very rapidly. For example, in the automotive industry, hundreds of thousands of cast engine blocks and transmission cases are produced each year.
Extremely large, heavy metal objects may be cast when they would be difficult or economically impossible to produce otherwise. Large pump housings, valves, and hydroelectric plant parts weighing up to 200 tons illustrate this advantage of the casting process.
Some engineering properties are obtained more favorably in cast metals.