Industry News

AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry Inc. (Waupaca Wisconsin), a Hitachi Metals company, announced it has entered into separate manufacturing agreements with fellow Corporate Members Dotson Iron Castings (Mankato, Minnesota) and Kohler Industrial Castings (Kohler, Wisconsin).

Per the announcement, Waupaca Foundry customers requesting horizontal molding will access Kohler’s and Dotson’s capabilities with a supply chain managed by Waupaca Foundry.

AFS Corporate Member Eagle Alloy Inc. (Muskegon, Michigan) was recognized by John Deere as a 2018 partner-level supplier. In a news release, Eagle said the partner-level status is Deere & Company’s highest supplier rating.

"Eagle Alloy was selected for the honor in recognition of our dedication to providing products and services of outstanding quality as well as our commitment to continuous improvement," the company said in a release.

Eagle employees Mark Hollenbeck and Nic Tarzwell accepted the honor on February 13th in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Toyota announced investment plans of nearly $750 million at five of its plants as part of a pledge to invest $13 billion in its U.S. operations by 2021. AFS Corporate Member Bodine Aluminum’s Troy, Missouri, foundry is set to receive $62 million and its Jackson, Tennessee, foundry to receive $50 million.

James M. Proctor II, senior vice president and general counsel for AFS Corporate Member McWane Inc. testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Feb. 26.

The special hearing was on “Examining How Federal Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change.”

Signicast (Charlotte, North Carolina), a Form Technologies company, announced it has signed an agreement to acquire CIREX, a European investment casting specialist based in the Netherlands from Amsterdam-based companies Convent and Nedvest.

Mark Lamoncha, CEO and president of AFS Corporate Member Humtown Products (Columbiana, Ohio), was appointed to the Ohio State Board of Education by Governor John Kasich. His term began January 2, 2019 and runs through December 31, 2022.  The board is made up of 19 members – 11 who are elected and eight who are appointed by the governor. 

Sundaram-Clayton Limited, an Indian manufacturer and supplier of aluminum cast products, announced plans to expand its Dorchester County (South Carolina) operations. In a news release, the company said it will invest $40 million and expects to create 100 new jobs.

According to local newspaper and broadcast reports, Doncasters Southern Tool (Oxford, Alabama) is planning on adding at least 50 jobs through a $4.7 million expansion of its plant that also saw equipment upgrades.

The Anniston Star reported that the Oxford (Alabama) City Council approved a $93,700 property tax abatement for the company. That action was taken in December.

CEO Kevin Brown has bought Omaha Steel Castings (Wahoo, Nebraska).

According to the Lincoln Journal-Star, Brown purchased the company from Allan Lozier. Brown had been running the company since June 2014.

“I am very appreciative of the confidence shown in me by Allan with this sale,” Brown said in a news release. “His belief in and support of Omaha Steel has been critical over these last four years.”

Omaha Steel was founded in Omaha, Nebraska and moved to Wahoo in 2014. 

Petmin USA, a subsidiary of South African company Petmin, is planning to build a new pig iron plant in Ashtabula, Ohio.

Bradley Doig, president and CEO of Petmin USA, told the Star Beacon the proposed $474 million facility would be Petmin’s first in the U.S. The proposed plant would produce nodular pig iron, which is used in castings for automotive, aerospace, rail, construction, and other industries.