Released on September 26, 2011

Ed Endebrock, owner and president of Hydraulic Warehouse Inc., Lewiston, Idaho, recently launched a lost foam casting facility to satisfy some of the sourcing needs of his hydraulic parts company.

Endebrock said he started the metalcasting facility, Ende Machine and Foundry, Craigmont, Idaho, to lessen Hydraulic Warehouse’s reliance on castings sourced from low cost countries. After sourcing parts from China for about 15 years, he said rising prices no longer made the cost savings worth the logistical problems.

“You have to buy 450,000 lbs. at a time and send half the money up front,” Endebrock said. “It takes months [before the supplier starts] pouring, then you have to wait until they ship. It’s six months until you see the product, and if you have a problem, it’s even longer.”

Ende Machine and Foundry launched in mid-September with equipment purchased from several defunct businesses and a staff of four. Endebrock expects to reach 20 employees at peak production. The facility poured 1,500 lbs. of castings in its first week and expected to increase to 2,000 pounds in its second. At capacity, Endebrock said the 60,000-sq.-ft. plant will pour 240,000 lbs. per month running three shifts.

Ende Machine and Foundry is currently making only iron parts, but Endebrock said it has the capability to produce bronze and aluminum castings. While Endebrock said he has several orders in place from outside customers, 100% of the facility’s components currently are used in Hydraulic Warehouse’s pumps.

“Most of our equipment goes into the agriculture, mining and trucking industries, and those people are pretty down-to-earth,” Endebrock said. “They appreciate it when something is made in the USA.”

Endebrock said he selected lost foam for his casting facility because of the near-net-shape capabilities of the process, which helps it compete with low cost countries through the elimination of post-processing.