Industry News

Sure Cast Foundry Inc., an AFS Corporate Member in Blaine, Minnesota, has relocated into its newly constructed 19,000-s.f.-facility across the street from its former plant. The additional 5,000 s.f. provides storage and office space not previously available to staff and includes a conference room for hosting customers. Designed with the future in mind, the new facility is ready for further expansion of 10,000 s.f. off a rear wall––the foundry’s goal is to vertically integrate with its own machine shop in the near term.

A January resolution of the AFS Board of Directors has renamed the AFS library the Peters-Robison AFS Metalcasting Library in gratitude to the legacy of the late R.D. (Butch) Peters and the late Stephen T. Robison.

The original Cast Metals Institute (CMI) Library was named for Peters, who was president of Brillion Iron Works from 1933-1973. He was recognized for his longstanding dedication to metalcasting education and for contributions made by the R.D. and Linda Peters Foundation to CMI in the 1980s.

Gränges will invest $52 million to expand its recycling and casting operations in Huntingdon, Tennessee, enabling its market launch of near-zero carbon aluminum solutions in 2024 aimed at meeting growing demand for sustainable products in North America. The new center will be powered via renewable electricity as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Green Invest program.

Waupaca Foundry donated the cost of OSHA 10 training for 20 participants in April at The Refuge, a 503c charitable organization in Cleveland, Tennessee, that offers access to resources, information, and opportunities for people in the community struggling with difficult economic or social circumstances. The training teaches basic information about on-the-job safety for work in an industrial setting, reported The Chattanoogan.com.

Linamar Corporation has acquired GF Casting Solutions’ 50% interest in the two companies’ 2015 joint venture, GF Linamar LLC (GFL) located in Mills River, North Carolina––as a result, Linamar will assume 100% ownership and operational control of the business. GF Casting Solutions (GF) is a division of Georg Fischer AG.

Combining expertise in high-pressure diecasting and machining to provide lightweight solutions for automotive and commercial vehicle customers, GFL manufactures structural and powertrain components in aluminum and magnesium.

AFS Corporate Member Kimura Foundry America, Inc. (Shelbyville, Indiana) will install a new ExOne S-Max 3D sand printer this quarter to increase capacity and meet diverse market demands for high quality castings with quick turnaround times. It becomes the fourth sand mold and core printer for the foundry’s U.S. location; the company also operates six at its headquarters in Japan.

AFS Corporate Member Grede Holdings LLC (Southfield, MI) announced a sharpened focus on e-mobility to leverage electric vehicle opportunities for the light vehicle, commercial vehicle, and industrial markets. Developing and quoting millions of dollars in cast iron solutions for the electrification market, the company said its increasing commitment aligns with a growing e-mobility market they expect will rapidly accelerate from 2025 to 2030.

The Advanced Casting Research Center (ACRS) unveiled its new state-of-the-art metal processing lab at University of California–Irvine on March 3. Researchers, professors, and leading metallurgists from around the country gathered for the grand opening event. 

AFS Corporate Member Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF, Manitowoc, Wisconsin) has acquired the assets of castings manufacturer DEE, Inc. in Crookston, Minnesota. The acquisition will expand WAF’s current operations while creating new opportunities with the increased capacity. 

Cushman Foundry, Blue Ash, Ohio, was acquired in January by AFS Corporate Member CaneKast. Cushman Foundry’s history stretches back over 30 years as an independent producer of high-quality aluminum castings for many industries, including the fire suppression, industrial fan, and control markets. Before that, Cushman Foundry was a captive facility for one of the current company’s largest customers.