Released on January 17, 2008

Lunt Manufacturing, Schaumburg, Ill., recent winner of several metalcasting awards, will close its doors Jan. 18, according to local news reports.

The magnesium diecaster serves a variety of end-use industries, including power tools, electronics and automobiles. Its E70 cross car beam for BMW won it 2007 casting of the year honors from both the American Foundry Society and North American Die Casting Association.

According to its website, Lunt has been in business since 1973 providing product design and engineering, prototyping, die construction, machining, painting, assembly and packaging of finished magnesium die castings. It operates diecasting facilities in Schaumburg and Hampshire, Ill., and maintains an office in Detroit.

Officials for the company told reporters at the Daily Herald in Chicago that pressures from foreign competition precipitated the closing.