Industry News

In an era when U.S. manufacturers face historic workforce shortages and an urgent need to inspire young talent, AFS member Humtown (Columbiana, Ohio) says it has transformed its factory floor into a hands-on learning lab, where students see, touch, and experience the possibilities of modern manufacturing. Over the past three years, more than 1,000 students across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania have benefited from hands-on manufacturing experiences at the company––both through on-site, student-led tours and in-school career exploration programs.

Doncasters announced the commissioning of a brand-new, fully automated shell line at its Groton, Connecticut facility––a major milestone within its 2025 Performance Improvement Plan and a key advancement in the company’s long-term manufacturing strategy.

The $13 million capital investment expands the Groton site’s operational footprint by 17,000 sq. ft and introduces next-generation automation and environmental control systems.

AFS Corporate Member Epic Machine (Fenton, Michigan), a producer of CNC precision machining and custom tooling, announced its certification as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The milestone positions Epic Machine to pursue new opportunities in both federal and private sectors that prioritize supplier diversity and the inclusion of women-owned enterprises.

Waupaca Foundry Plant 4 in Marinette, Wisconsin, has been recognized with the 2024 General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award (SQEA), marking the third time the company has received this prestigious honor, following recognition in 2018 and 2023.  

The SQEA recognizes GM’s top-performing manufacturing suppliers that meet or exceed rigorous criteria for quality, reliability, and operational excellence. To qualify, suppliers must demonstrate zero defects, 100% on-time delivery, and full compliance with GM’s production standards.

The Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) of the Valve and Fittings Industry recently announced that ANSI/MSS SP-55-2025, Quality Standard for Iron and Steel Castings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components | Visual Method for Evaluation of Surface Irregularities has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a revised American National Standard (ANS) and published by MSS.

Widespread challenges confront the heavy manufacturing sector, including a persistent labor shortage and recalls, according to an annual, global survey by ETQ, part of Hexagon. Fielded in January/February 2025, the survey asked 752 quality leaders and related project managers at manufacturing firms across the U.S., the U.K., and Germany about the quality trends, initiatives and current state of quality in their organizations.

AFS Corporate Member 3D Systems recently announced a collaboration with researchers from Penn State University and Arizona State University on two projects sponsored by NASA intended to enable ground-breaking alternatives to current thermal management solutions. Severe temperature fluctuations in space can damage sensitive spacecraft components, resulting in mission failure.

AFS Corporate Member Howell Foundry, St. Francisville, Louisiana, has invested just over $2 million in a Tinker Omega-Sinto thermal sand reclamation system and is on course to achieve ROI within five years of its installation in 2024.

As a tribute to the retiring chairman of Sinto America Inc., Jim Hesburgh, the company’s board of directors contributed $100,000 in Hesburgh’s name to Andean Health & Development in Ecuador.

AFS Corporate Member The C.A. Lawton Co. (Lawton) based in DePere, Wisconsin, has renewed its 2021 Tier 2 participation contract with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Green Tier program.