Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT), a national manufacturing innovation institute operated by the American Lightweight Materials Innovation Institute (ALMMII), announced it is loaning its tilt-pour casting machine to Michigan Technological University to enhance teaching and research at the school’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Foundry.
Speyside Foundry Holdings (Ann Arbor, Michigan), a portfolio company of Speyside Equity Fund I LP, announced the acquisition of AFS Corporate Member Weatherly Casting and Machine Company (Weatherly, Pennsylvania) and Hazleton Casting Company (Hazleton, Pennsylvania).
Both transactions were completed June 12.
The northern Michigan company invested heavily in a new state-of-the-art facility, showing its commitment to its core customers and the whole industry.
When AFS Corporate Member EJ broke ground on its new metalcasting facility in February 2017, it was an important milestone for the company and its commitment to its future and the industry as a whole.
MacLean Power Systems announced a $5.3 million investment to upgrade equipment and the 67,000 sq. ft. foundry in Alabaster, Alabama. The current foundry employs 90 and sits on 22 acres.
In a news release, the company said the the investment will "bring advanced aluminum mold making and mold handling operations to the foundry, which now offers aluminum casting and fiberglass products finishing and assembly." Development will begin in the middle of 2019, and production is expected in the first quarter of next year.
AFS Corporate Member Clow Valve (Oskaloosa, Iowa) has again been approved for the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) Voluntary Protection Program Star status.
Clow Valve has been a VPP site since 2007. The VPP promotes effective worksite-based safety and health and is an elite honor awarded to businesses that demonstrate safety compliance, employee involvement, employee training, and plant improvements that go above and beyond compliance. Approval into the VPP is OSHA’S official recognition of the efforts of the employers and employees.
AMERICAN Flow Control, the valve and hydrant division of AFS Corporate Member AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company (Birmingham, Alabama), has announced the formation of AMERICAN Innovation LLC. According to a news release, the company is dedicated to research and development and intends to construct a facility, the AMERICAN Flow Control Center for Innovative Excellence, in Crawfordsville, Indiana, this summer.
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry Inc., a Hitachi Metals group company, announced it is opening a machining operation adjacent to its gray iron foundry located on the east side of Waupaca, Wisconsin. The new machining plant will machine brake components for the commercial vehicle market produced at Waupaca Foundry.
The facility has 50,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and will initially employ 15 skilled workers. The decision to expand operations beyond raw castings was to support customer demand.
ATLANTA – Another successful CastExpo wrapped up Tuesday.
After 3 1/2 days of full-scale exhibits, cutting-edge technology demos, packed aisles, exciting new equipment, innovative sessions and a show floor full of energy, CastExpo said goodbye until 2022 in Columbus, Ohio.
“CastExpo 2019 was very well-received by all of our various audiences, and we were thrilled to have more than 5,000 guests from 32 countries in attendance,” AFS CEO Doug Kurkul said.
ATLANTA – Frank Abagnale Jr. frequently delivers speeches about forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents. His keynote address Monday at CastExpo focused on his life story, which was made into a blockbuster hit movie by Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio.
ATLANTA – When he was asked to reflect on his career accomplishments, Von L. Richards talked about his emotions walking the CastExpo show floor. Everywhere he turned, he saw former students working in important industry and academic roles and keeping metalcasting on a positive trajectory.
Seeing that made a mark.
“That’s really great,” Richards said. “If I not only contributed to the industry, but also to the furtherance of the industry with the new academics that are involved in the industry.”