AFS Corporate Member Betz Industries (Grand Rapids, Michigan) is planning to invest $3.5 million to add a new 41,280 sq. ft. facility in Walker, Michigan, that would offer machining services. The gray and ductile iron caster produces castings for multiple industries.
According to a report from MiBiz.com, the addition could add 15 new jobs and will allow the company to machine products instead of sub-contracting to other facilities.
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry (Waupaca, Wisconsin) was honored by Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing with one of five available professional excellence awards. Waupaca is the first Tier II supplier to be honored with one of these awards.
Waupaca has supplied iron castings to TIEM since 2002. In 2017, Waupaca was contracted to produce 21 parts at its gray and ductile iron foundries in Waupaca and Marinette, Wisconsin, and Tell City, Indiana.
Consolidated Precision Products Corp. (Cleveland), a manufacturer of components and sub-assemblies primarily for the commercial aerospace and defense markets, announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Selmet Inc. (Albany, Oregon).
Selmet is a manufacturer of titanium castings and machined components for the aerospace and defense industries. Founded in 1983, Selmet operates an investment casting foundry.
With the acquisition of Selmet, CPP will expand its offering to include titanium castings.
ASTM International made two announcements related to standards that have implications in metalcasting.
Proposed standards support improved zinc diecasting alloys
ASTM International’s committee on nonferrous metals and alloys is proposing two new standards. One is for a zinc-aluminum-copper alloy with improved strength while the other seeks to determine the requirements for die castings with thin walls which can help reduce industry costs.
Ryobi Die Casting (Shelbyville, Indiana), a supplier of aluminum diecastings was recognized with an Excellence in Quality Award from Honda at its Annual Supplier Conference.
Honda has more than 700 (OEM) suppliers that provide parts to 16 Honda plants in North America that produce Honda and Acura automobiles and light trucks and the engines and transmissions that power them. Ryobi Die Casting was one of only 45 out of 736 OEM parts suppliers serving Honda with parts and components for mass production recognized with an award.
AFS Corporate Member ATEK Metal Technologies (New Hampton, Iowa) is expanding its plant and technical capabilities to keep up with demand. The company has recently completed a significant expansion of its metal casting, heat treatment and finished machining capabilities.
The merger between AFS Corporate Members Unimin Corporation and Fairmount Santrol is complete, and the new name of the company is Covia Holdings Corporation (Chesterland, Ohio).
AFS Corporate Member Spuncast Inc. (Watertown, Wisconsin) donated $5,000 to Watertown High School to support its manufacturing courses.
“We are enthusiastic to continue supporting the future of our community, especially since the Watertown community has supported our business throughout the past 42 years,” Don Payne, Spuncast CEO, said according to the Watertown Daily Times.
According to the report, the school has been working to finalize curriculum and select equipment for classes during the 2018-19 school year. and was working to raise $60,000.
AFS Corporate Member General Motors (Detroit) will power its casting operations in Bedford, Indiana, and Defiance, Ohio, with wind energy. The company is buying a total of 200 megawatts of wind energy from wind farms in Ohio and Illinois to power some facilities in Indiana and Ohio.
Albco Foundry (Lisbon, Ohio) has received ISO 9001:2015 certification from AMPLUS Global Associates.
“Becoming ISO 9001:2015 certified demonstrates our commitment to provide superior products and services that meet the requirements of our customers,” Joe Staffeld, owner, Albco Foundry, said according to BusinessJournalDaily.com. “As the industry and improvements in machinery and technology advance, it’s critical as an organization to be proactive and remain relevant through ISO 9001 standards.”