The paper presents ongoing research on smart metal castings, meaning the technologicalinnovation of elevating cast metal components into metal components with integratedsensor functionality. Since the innovation targets aim straight at low cost industrial serialproduction, specific high cost and high-end solutions like inclusion of advancedelectronic equipment and after mounted sensors are not part of this innovationdevelopment. Integrating signal carriers inside metal castings to achieve metal castingswith sensor functionality requires robust solutions for connecting the sensor signal to thesensor interrogator and interpreter. The actual transmission of the signal may be donewirelessly or by wire. However, for several reasons there is a challenge with establishingan isolated and distinct connection between the sensor contact, and the contact at theexternal connection, regardless of whether it is to an antenna for wireless transmission orto a wire. This paper presents metallurgical challenges associated with choices ofmaterials, and combinations of metallurgical challenges and production process relatedchallenges, including the high melting temperatures. Aims are to find the rightcombinations of metal alloys, production simplicity, signal stability and robustness. Thepaper will present some of the tests made in the project so far. The project is run in aconsortium of the two Sweden-based industrial companies Husqvarna and SKF, and thetwo Swedish research institutes Swerea SWECAST and RISE Acreo.