AFS Corporate Member Torrance Castings hosted the AFS Engineering Division on February 18 to tour a new molding line and mold/casting cooling for which the company received the Engineering and Smart Manufacturing Division’s Plant Engineering Award. The award recognizes companies for plant engineering achievements and innovative solutions for modern issues faced in the foundry industry. Torrance Castings used automated casting cooling racks to eliminate the process bottleneck associated with variable cooling times.
Articles: Industry News
03.11.25: Waupaca Foundry names new CEO
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry has named Michael Hawthorne as its new chief executive officer. He succeeds Mike Nikolai, who served the company for three decades.
“We’re excited to welcome Mike Hawthorne to the Waupaca Foundry family,” said Chairman Daniel Collin. “He brings over 30 years of industry experience and understands the roles that engineering, design, system integration, and operational excellence play in achieving breakthrough results.”
AFS Corporate Member Wabi Iron & Steel, New Liskeard, Ontario, will receive $3.3 million from FedNor’s Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation Fund.
03.11.25: FEF Instructor Retires
Russ Rosmait, FEF Key Professor at Pittsburg State University for 37 years, retired at the end of 2024.
In 1983, Rosmait took a position with AFS as assistant director of education for the Cast Metals Institute. In this role, he helped employees hone their skills and introduce them to new processes, which resonated with his teaching aspirations and solidified his resolve to make a difference in the foundry industry. He worked at AFS until 1986 and then transitioned to a foundry process engineer position at Marathon Electric, a gray iron foundry in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Bradken’s Specialty Products North America (SPNAM) business has been sold to Los Angeles-based investment firm TerraMar Capital. SPNAM manufactures highly-engineered, large, complex, mission critical castings for customers in defense, specialized industrial, rail and transit markets.
02.06.25: Register Now to Attend CastExpo
CastExpo, North American’s largest metalcasting exposition, tradeshow, and Congress, is just around the corner on April 12-15 in Atlanta, Georgia.
02.06.25: MAGMA to expand into Mexico
AFS Corporate Member MAGMA Foundry Technologies Inc. has announced its expansion to the Monterrey, Mexico region, establishing a branch office to provide services to the Mexican metalcasting industry.
Its newest location, located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, is expected to open this quarter. Based on their growing business demands, MAGMA aims to accelerate growth in the Mexican market and strengthen communication by engaging in client initiatives, educating current customers, and building strategic partnerships.
02.06.25: Lawton Standard featured in TV series
National TV show World’s Greatest! visited AFS Corporate Member Lawton Standard Company’s De Pere, Wisconsin location to film a segment on the foundry’s innovation and leadership in the metalcasting industry. The episode documents the foundry’s evolution of iron and steel casting from its origin in 1879 to today.
AFS Corporate Members have received a complimentary 2025 Metalcasting Forecast and Trends Report. This economic report, compiled from numerous government and industry sources, is packed with information to help you navigate the dynamic metalcasting landscape. It includes strategic insights with current data that will help drive business intelligence and financial optimization throughout the year.
The recent edition provides predictions on sales growth, including a projection of 4.2% increase in casting sales in 2025, reaching $50.1 billion.
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry is one of 22 employers statewide recognized as a 2024 Vets Ready Employer by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and its Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES). The annual award recognizes Wisconsin employers that have gone above and beyond to hire and support veterans and their families.
Approximately 10% of the foundry’s workforce are veterans of the armed services, and several team members have been employed while on active duty with the National Guard. The firm employs 3,500 people nationwide.