A die casting system (10) includes a die cavity (20), a shot tube (24), a melting system (32) and a vacuum system (34). The shot tube (24) is in fluid communication with the die cavity (20) and can deliver a charge of material thereto. The melting system (32) is positioned adjacent to the die cavity (20), and the vacuum system defines a first chamber (C1) and a second chamber (C2) separated from the first chamber (c1) by an isolation valve (36). The melting system (32) is disposed within the first chamber (C1), and the die cavity (20) is disposed within the second chamber (C2).
The die casting system can be part of a die casting cell, which also includes a mechanism which accesses the die cavity through an isolation valve and at least one post-cast station for performing a secondary operation. The invention also extends to a method of manufacturing a component in such a die casting system.