Four former employees of Gunite Corp. have purchased the idle factory and foundry and are relaunching operations as Rockford Brake Manufacturing.
The facility has been closed since February when Gunite’s parent company, Accuride, announced Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Founded in 1854 as the Eagle Foundry, the company’s 619,000-sq.-ft. facility sits on 41 acres and includes a grey iron foundry and machine shop that specializes in manufacturing brake drums for the commercial vehicle industry.
Youngstown State University (YSU) has been awarded a three-year certification by the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF), one of only six schools nationwide selected for the 2025-2026 cycle. The FEF certification recognizes colleges and universities that meet the foundation’s rigorous standards for excellence in metalcasting and foundry education.
AFS Corporate Member Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co., in conjunction with its subsidiary Neenah Foundry Co., has purchased Virginia-based Bingham & Taylor, a family-owned manufacturer of underground infrastructure access solutions serving water and gas utility customers across North America.
AFS Corporate Member ME Elecmetal opened the doors to the public at its Duluth, Minnesota, foundry for a Manufacturing Day Open House on Oct. 4. Attendees included employees, retirees, volunteers, local officials, and community members.
The event provided a look at modern metal casting and celebrated the vital role manufacturing plays in the regional and national economy. A special exhibit showcased ME Elecmetal’s ongoing $15 million induction furnace project designed to reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enhance working conditions.
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry, one of the world’s largest producers of gray, ductile, and austempered ductile iron castings, recently began the final stage of a multi-year, $100 million-plus capital investment program to modernize operations, enhance worker safety and use advanced foundry technology to meet customer needs.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Bethpage Water District in New York and the 150th anniversary of the Clow Eddy Hydrant, team members at Tyler Union and Clow Valve, both McWane Inc. companies and AFS Corporate Members, created six commemorative red, white and blue fire hydrants for the 2025 Ryder Cup, held at the Bethpage Black Golf Club.
Tyler Union, located in Anniston, Alabama, created the castings while machining, coating, assembly and custom painting was completed at Clow Valve’s facility in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Bevill State Community College (BSCC) received a generous $25,000 donation from AFS Corporate Member McWane Inc. in support of the Welding Technology program on the Sumiton, Alabama, campus. The contribution will directly benefit students by enhancing program resources, expanding opportunities, and preparing the next generation of skilled professionals for high-demand careers in welding.
Vesuvius plc (parent company of AFS Corporate Member Foseco) recently entered into an agreement to acquire UK-based Molten Metal Systems from AFS Corporate Member Morgan Advanced Materials for an enterprise value of U.S. $108.7 million. The transaction structure involves $23.5 million in cash for the non-Indian business, while the 75% stake in Indian-listed Morganite Crucible (India) Limited will be acquired through the issuance of 1,150,800 new shares by Vesuvius’s Indian subsidiary, Foseco India.
AFS Corporate Member Sinto America welcomed U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett of Michigan, (D-7th) to their manufacturing facility in Grand Ledge, Michigan, on August 25. The meeting highlighted the vital role foundries play in the U.S. economy, while providing an opportunity to discuss industry successes, challenges, and the foundry equipment needed to produce high-quality castings.
AFS Corporate Member 3D Systems has been awarded a $7.65 million U.S. Air Force contract for a Large-format Metal 3D Printer Advanced Technology Demonstrator (GEN-IIDMP-1000).
The award is the next phase of a program 3D Systems has worked on since 2023 that supports the development of large-scale, high-speed, flight relevant additive manufacturing print capabilities. This work will continue to be performed in its San Diego, California, and Rock Hill, South Carolina, locations, with an expected completion date of September 27, 2027.