Articles: Industry News

AFS Corporate Member Humtown Products was one of 68 businesses being recognized nationally as a Legacy Business by the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to a story at wfmj.com.

On August 23, the SBA presented a trophy recognizing Humtown Products as a legacy business at its newly expanded manufacturing facility on Cherry Fork Ave. in Leetonia, Ohio.

According to SBA, Humtown, like other Legacy Businesses, has benefitted from SBA resources in its early stages.

Linamar is constructing a 91.5-sq.ft. Giga casting facility in Welland, Ontario, Canada, that’s expected to be completed January 2024 and operational in 2025, according to a report by Dave Johnson in the Welland Tribune.  

Serving the automotive, agricultural, and industrial sectors, the company will purchase high-press diecasting equipment for the new facility—each weighing in excess of 6,000 tons, a category with just 25–30 machines in use worldwide. 

AFS Corporate Member The Lawton Standard Co. has added AMSCO Wear Products, Inc., located in Wilmington, Delaware, to its family. AMSCO has been providing cost-effective, wear-resistant steel since 1915. AMSCO’s products include wear parts for steel recycling, mining, and waste-to-energy industries.

SinterCast set a series production all-time high of 4.1 million Engine Equivalents in June, surpassing the four million Engine Equivalent milestone for the first time. This followed production of 3.9 million Engine Equivalents in May, marking an end to the variable production that affected the first four months of the year. 

AFS Corporate Member The Ford Meter Box Co. Inc. (Wabash, Indiana) will expand and modernize its foundry operations and increase downstream production capacity.

The 125-year-old firm manufactures waterworks components for private and public infrastructure markets. Its production departments encompass foundry, machining, assembly, warehousing, and supporting skilled trades operations.

Ford Meter Box plans to construct a 300,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art nonferrous foundry on a 90-acre site in Wabash’s northeast industrial park, pending local approvals.

Messe Düsseldorf, host of trade fairs in the metalcasting industry, says it will expand its portfolio with the addition of GIFA Mexico. The event will take place October 16–18, 2024, in Mexico City.

AGCO Corp. recognized two foundries among its eight Supplier of the Year awards: Ferroloy Inc. and American Castings.

“AGCO is pleased to recognize our suppliers, who have helped us proactively meet farmers’ needs across North America,” said Tim Millwood, AGCO senior vice president and chief supply chain officer. “Our suppliers are essential to AGCO’s ability to deliver farmer-focused solutions to sustainably feed our world.”

Nemak Wisconsin has received municipal approval to begin construction of a 49,500-sq.-ft. expansion of its manufacturing facility in Sheboygan. 

The addition will be located on the north side of the existing facility, with 35,300 sq. ft. dedicated to a diecasting production area with storage. The space will accommodate two 4,500-ton diecasting machines and auxiliary equipment.
Construction started last month and is expected to be completed by September 2024. 

MxD has launched the Curriculum and Pathways Integrating Technology and Learning (CAPITAL) skills development program. The CAPITAL program, supported by $6.2 million in federal funding, is designed to address the anticipated shortage of two million manufacturing workers and provide resources directly aimed at meeting current and emerging workforce needs.

The 5th annual Cast in Steel competition put on by the Steel Founders Society of America (SFSA) brought the wow factor this year, attracting 34 teams from 31 universities to give their best shot at creating an African spear point. This year’s grand prize winner, announced April 25 following performance testing the day before, was the Steel Broncos team from California Polytechnic University-Pomona including Alexander Ann, Elise Boyd, Anthony Landaverde, William Manzon, and Nikole Sauter.