a process for producing a shaped metallic article includes the steps of melting a metal alloy , reducing the temperature of the molten metal to the liquidus temperature , casting the molten metal at the liquidus temperature into a mould and solidifying the molten metal to obtain a feedstock material . the feedstock material is subsequently heated to a temperature between the liquidus and solidus temperatures to produce a self - supporting thixotropic material which is then formed to the desired shape . casting the feedstock material from a melt at substantially the liquidus temperature produces a microstructure that is especially suitable for subsequent forming of the thixotropic material and this allows use of slower forming speeds and lower forming pressure during the forming step .