Articles: Industry News

Magellan Aerospace Corporation has signed a long-term agreement (LTA) extension with Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies business, to manufacture complex magnesium and aluminum castings for various military and commercial aerospace platforms. The castings will be produced by Magellan’s facilities in Renfrew, Ontario, and Glendale, Arizona.

In addition to F-15, F-16, and F-18 castings for Collins legacy programs, the agreement also encompasses the supply of castings to support F-35 Lightning II, KC-46, A320neo, 787 and 777X programs.

Amsterdam-based Stellantis plans to invest a total of $155 million in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and support the goal of 50% battery electric sales in the U.S. by 2030.

General Die Casters Inc. (Twinsburg, Ohio) is joining forces with Dart Casting Inc. (Alsip, Illinois) under common ownership. Both organizations will continue under their current names and operate 41 casting machines—ranging between 400 and 1,200 tons—and 28 CNC machining centers, creating one of the leading middle-market diecasting companies in the Midwest. The merger creates the ability to leverage each company’s capabilities and customer base to continue a trajectory of growth.

AFS Corporate Member Boose Aluminum Foundry (Reamstown, Pennsylvania) has received a land development plan waiver to rebuild its facilities after a devastating fire on April 19, 2022. Local township supervisors have approved the company’s proposed new 1,490-sq.-ft. structure to replace 11,740 sq. ft. of a destroyed building.

The remaining 10,250 sq. ft will be converted to gravel and an existing 250-sq.-ft. concrete pad will be removed and reverted to grass. The finished project reduces the amount of impervious surfaces—which impact stormwater runoff—by 
6,177 sq. ft.

AFS Corporate Member Fisher Barton (Waukesha, Wisconsin) held a groundbreaking ceremony March 21 for its new industrial building and site development for its Accurate Specialties’ Turning Center of Excellence.

General Motors Co. and Lithium Americas Corp. plan to jointly develop the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, the largest known source of lithium in the U.S. and the third largest in the world. Under their agreement, GM will make a $650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas—the largest-ever investment by an automaker to produce battery raw materials. 

Calderys, a provider of refractory products and services for the casting industry, has become an independent company following its acquisition by U.S.-based Platinum Equity. Paris-based Calderys will encompass the full scope of the High Temperature Solutions business area formerly under Imerys. 
Calderys comprises a global network of experts and 36 industrial sites in 16 countries.

A Missouri University of Science and Technology research team was recently awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to research technologies to improve the operating efficiency of electric arc furnaces (EAFs) used for steelmaking.

Pace Industries LLC is investing $2.8 million to expand manufacturing operations at its facility in Jackson, Tennessee. The aluminum, zinc, and magnesium diecasting manufacturer will add 49 new jobs while meeting increased customer demand from a wide range of industries. “Pace Industries has always believed that the greatest asset a company has is its employees, and through this expansion, we hope to sustain permanent growth and the financial independence of our employees while raising the quality of life experienced in Jackson,” said Pace Industries General Manager Jerry Peterson. 

AFS Corporate Member Great Lakes Castings (GLC), based in Ludington, Michigan, received $79,785 from the state’s Going PRO Talent Fund. GLC employs 225 people at its gray iron foundry.

Going PRO awarded 54 Northwest Michigan employers a total of $1,700,109 for employee training.