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.
Anderson Foundries announced the acquisition of Muncie Castings LLC, an aluminum foundry based in Muncie, Indiana. By joining forces with its existing iron foundry, Dakota Foundry, Webster, South Dakota, the company is focused on delivering complete, vertically integrated manufacturing solutions.
The expanded foundry capabilities will enable the company to serve clients across a wider range of industries, from agriculture and construction to industrial design and custom manufacturing, with both iron and aluminum casting expertise.
After acquiring the 3D-sand printing-business of AFS Corporate Member ExOne in September and gaining control of voxeljet AG in July through a court-ordered restructuring plan, investment firm Anzu Partners announced it would combine the two industrial additive manufacturers into ExOne Global Holdings.
ExOne Global Holdings will maintain operating subsidiaries in Germany, the U.S., Japan, China, and India that comprise the combined organization. Together, ExOne and voxeljet have deployed more than 500 industrial 3D printers.
On Oct. 3, AFS Corporate Member McWane Ductile’s foundry in Provo, Utah, was honored with the 2025 Award of Merit and Honor from the Utah Safety Council. The award is given to companies that maintain an injury incident rate below the national average for their industry and demonstrate continuous improvement in safety performance.
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.
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.