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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 11-K


                [ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the Fiscal Year                                   Commission
Ended August 31, 1997                            File Number 33-38176
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                          AMCAST INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                          401 (k) SALARY DEFERRAL PLAN
                                 (Name of Plan)
                          -----------------------------




                          AMCAST INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                          7887 Washington Village Drive
                               Dayton, Ohio 45459
                                 (937) 291-7000

               (Name of Issuer of Securities held pursuant to Plan
                and address of its principal executive office.)


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                              REQUIRED INFORMATION
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         The Amcast Industrial Corporation 401(k) Salary Deferral Plan (the
"Plan") is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.


         ITEM 4. In lieu of the requirements of Items 1, 2 and 3 of this Form
11-K, the following financial statements of the Plan, notes thereto, and Report
of Independent Auditors thereon are being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report:

         (a)      Statement of Net Assets available for Plan Benefits - August
                  31, 1997 and August 31, 1996;

         (b)      Statement of Changes in Net Assets available for Plan Benefits
                  - years ended August 31, 1997, and August 31, 1996;

         (c)      Notes to Financial Statements; and

         (d)      Report of Independent Auditors.

         The Consent of Independent Auditors to the incorporation by reference
of the foregoing financial statements in the Registration Statement on Form S-8
(No. 33-38176) pertaining to the Plan is being filed as Exhibit 23.1 to this
Report.



                                   SIGNATURES
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         THE PLAN. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Pension Committee of Amcast Industrial Corporation which
administers the Amcast Industrial Corporation 401(k) Salary Deferral Plan has
duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                     AMCAST INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                                     401(k) SALARY DEFERRAL PLAN



                                     By:    /s/ Douglas D. Watts
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Douglas D. Watts
                                            Authorized Committee Member
                                            Dated:   March 13, 1998


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                                    EXHIBITS
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         The following Exhibits are being filed with this Annual Report on Form
11-K:


  (23)   CONSENT OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL:

         23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young

  (99)   ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS

         99.1     Annual Financial Statements of Amcast Industrial Corporation
                  401(k) Salary Deferral Plan at August 31, 1997 and August 31,
                  1996 and for the two years ended August 31, 1997



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