Released on February 28, 2008

The American Foundry Society (AFS), Schaumburg, Ill., has announced the winners of the 2007 Millionaires Safety Award, which recognizes facilities that reach at least 1 million consecutive man-hours worked without incurring an occupational injury or illness that results in days away from work.

The 2007 winners include Grede Foundries, Inc., Greenwood, S.C., 6 million man-hours; John Deere Foundry, Waterloo, Iowa, 5 million man-hours; Nemak Tennessee, Dickson, Tenn., 3 million man-hours; Union Foundry Co., Anniston, Ala., 2 million man-hours; Intermet Corp./New River Foundry, Radford, Va., 2 million man-hours; Tyler Pipe Co., Tyler, Texas, 1 million man-hours; Intermet Corp./Archer Creek Foundry, Lynchburg, Va., 1 million man-hours; Lufkin Industries, Inc. Foundry Division, Lufkin, Texas, 1 million man-hours; Grede Foundries, Inc./St. Cloud Foundry, St. Cloud, Minn., 1 million man-hours; Tyco Fire & Building Products-Anniston Plant, Anniston, Ala., 1 million man-hours; Americast Technologies, Inc./Amite Foundry & Machine, Amite, La., 1 million man-hours; Ward Manufacturing, LLC, Blossburg, Penn., 1 million man-hours.

The metalcasting industry as a whole recorded its second consecutive decrease in recordable injury and illness cases in 2006, according to the results of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) study.

“The Millionaires Safety Award recognizes outstanding commitment to the health and safety of metalcasters,” said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president. “These companies have worked hard to ensure the health and safety of their employees, and are well deserving of this award.”

The Millionaires Safety Awards will be presented at the 2008 Metalcasting Congress President’s Luncheon, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, at CastExpo’08 in Atlanta.