Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catalyst, a catalyst precursor, or a catalyst support comprising: (a) mixing a refractory metal oxide or precursor thereof with a liquid to form a paste; (b) adding said paste to an extruder, the extruder having a die plate comprising one or more dies, each die having a plurality of apertures, the outlet of each aperture having a cross sectional area of 6 mm2 or less; (c) extruding the paste through the apertures to form catalyst support extrudates; wherein the inlet of the apertures has a greater cross sectional area than the outlet of said apertures; and wherein for at least one die the combined cross sectional area of all apertures at the inlet relative to the total cross sectional area of the die at the inlet is higher than 50%.

Abstract: A casting die for the production of a cylinder block/crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes at least one sleeve, which may be moved relative to its axis and is fitted in each case with a cylinder liner, the sleeve keeping open the cylinder bore of the cylinder block/crankcase and extending from a wall on the cylinder-head side of the die to a wall on the crankshaft side of the casting die. The cylinder liner ends at least 3 mm before the wall on the cylinder-head side of the casting die, and the cylinder liner is held at a distance from the wall on the cylinder-head side of the casting die by a spacer.