On March 30, Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining, fire protection and flow control solutions, acquired Horizon Metals Inc., located in Nephi, Utah. Victaulic stated the addition of the 1.4-million sq.-ft. foundry increases its capacity for large-diameter piping solutions and is aligned with the strategy to manufacture these products in the U.S.
Embrace Software Inc., a provider of business software solutions, has acquired Guardian Software Systems, Inc. (“Guardian”), a developer of ERP and MES software tailored for the metalcasting and foundry industry. This acquisition will expand Embrace’s product offerings and strengthen its position in the manufacturing software market.
Pending certain approvals, A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. will begin construction this year on a state-of-the-art brass foundry on a 100-acre parcel in the Southwest Wisconsin town of Dickeyville, which will be the largest project in the company’s 167-year history.
“In a time when most companies go where the best incentive packages take them, we made the commitment early on to build our next foundry where our current foundry co-workers live, and that is right here in the tri-state area,” said Rob McDonald, CEO of A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
General Motors recognized Ryobi Die Casting (USA), Inc. as a 2022 Supplier of the Year, which recognizes global suppliers that distinguish themselves by exceeding the automaker’s requirements and enabling it to providing customers with innovative technologies and high quality products. GM celebrated this fourth-time winner and all its honorees at its 31st annual Supplier of the Year event in San Antonio, Texas.
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry has expanded production capabilities at Plant 1 located in Waupaca, Wisconsin, adding horizontal molding to existing vertical molding capabilities. Installation on the new line began in February. To mark its new capabilities, the foundry held a “first pour” event on April 18.
As premium car buyer priorities move from speed, style, and luxury to greater interest in the origin, sustainability, and emissions profile of car materials, a new mantra has emerged: “Green is the new black.” This fundamental shift in the automotive market has led to the creation of a new, innovative partnership between Rio Tinto and the BMW Group, which share a common goal of developing more responsible, sustainable, traceable, and secure supply chains.
AFS Corporate Member Fisher Barton (Waukesha, Wisconsin) held a groundbreaking ceremony March 21 for its new industrial building and site development for its Accurate Specialties’ Turning Center of Excellence.
General Die Casters Inc. (Twinsburg, Ohio) is joining forces with Dart Casting Inc. (Alsip, Illinois) under common ownership. Both organizations will continue under their current names and operate 41 casting machines—ranging between 400 and 1,200 tons—and 28 CNC machining centers, creating one of the leading middle-market diecasting companies in the Midwest. The merger creates the ability to leverage each company’s capabilities and customer base to continue a trajectory of growth.
Magellan Aerospace Corporation has signed a long-term agreement (LTA) extension with Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies business, to manufacture complex magnesium and aluminum castings for various military and commercial aerospace platforms. The castings will be produced by Magellan’s facilities in Renfrew, Ontario, and Glendale, Arizona.
In addition to F-15, F-16, and F-18 castings for Collins legacy programs, the agreement also encompasses the supply of castings to support F-35 Lightning II, KC-46, A320neo, 787 and 777X programs.
AFS Corporate Member Boose Aluminum Foundry (Reamstown, Pennsylvania) has received a land development plan waiver to rebuild its facilities after a devastating fire on April 19, 2022. Local township supervisors have approved the company’s proposed new 1,490-sq.-ft. structure to replace 11,740 sq. ft. of a destroyed building.
The remaining 10,250 sq. ft will be converted to gravel and an existing 250-sq.-ft. concrete pad will be removed and reverted to grass. The finished project reduces the amount of impervious surfaces—which impact stormwater runoff—by
6,177 sq. ft.