Released on February 25, 2011

Travis Pattern & Foundry Inc., Spokane, Wash., announced it has installed another automatic matchplate molding system in its metalcasting facility.

The primarily aluminum caster said it will add the system to its three existing automated lines. The machine is scheduled to be operational by the end of March.

“This new line will expand our already substantial casting capabilities for aluminum, as well as brass and cast iron work,” said Gene Johnson, project manager at Travis Pattern. “We’re seeing an upturn in our business and purchased the machine in anticipation of increasing demand.”

The molding system, provided by Hunter Automated Machinery Corp., Schaumburg, Ill., uses gravity-fill technology and produces sand molds up to 20 x 24 x 12 in. The machine is capable of producing 180 cycles per hour using 400 lbs. of sand.

Travis Pattern casts more than 7 million lbs. of aluminum products annually, primarily for the irrigation, power transmission substation and general-purpose fittings markets. The company also makes a variety of brass and cast iron products and is the originator of Li’l Mac sinker molds for the fishing industry.

Johnson estimated approximately 90% of the jobs run on the new matchplate machine will be aluminum, with the balance being brass.

“We typically run jobs in the hundreds up to 1,000 pieces,” Johnson said. “The fast pattern changeover and flexibility of the system really speeds our production.”