Industry News

AFS Corporate Member REFCOTEC, Inc. (Orrville, Ohio) has purchased the assets of EXOCHEM Corp, a supplier of riser sleeves and other consumable products to the foundry and steel industries since 1968. The ISO-certified company operates production facilities in Lorain, Ohio, and in East Palestine, Ohio. The acquisition follows REFCOTEC’s strategic goal of continuing to diversify within the foundry segment with a focus on high quality, efficient manufacturing. 

Novelis, based in Atlanta, will move into Phase 2 expansion of its recently-opened operation in Todd County, Kentucky. The aluminum producer and recycler is investing about $365 million to construct a new recycling center that will create 140 jobs for local residents, according to reporting by ABC 36, WTVQ.

In the last two months of 2021, AFS Corporate Member Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. acquired two local properties for a combined $13.85 million, according to a report from the Charlotte Business Journal. 

The Lawton Standard Co. recently added the facilities and employees of QESC (Quality Electric Steel Castings, Houston, Texas) to its growing casting business. The new site will operate as a sister operation to The C.A. Lawton Co., De Pere, Wisconsin; The C.A. Lawton Co., Minster, Ohio; Temperform, LLC, Novi, Michigan; and Penn-Mar Castings, LLC, Hanover, Pennsylvania. Each company will access the other’s products and benefit from adopting best practices across the family.

AFS Corporate Member Benton Foundry (Benton, Pennsylvania) was awarded a $3 million grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), according to Senator John R. Gordner (R-27) and Representative David Millard (R-109). 

The company’s footprint will expand by 70,000 sq.ft. and new robotic equipment will be installed. This will result in at least 50 new jobs and a rise in daily production to 200 tons, an increase of 50 tons per day. 

General Motors is planning a $51 million upgrade at its aluminum die casting foundry in southern Indiana to support manufacturing of the upcoming electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup.

GM said it will install state-of-the-art equipment at its sprawling Bedford plant, which this year began producing electric drive unit castings for the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup and 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, The Herald-Times reported.

Production of the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup will begin in December at GM’s Factory ZERO assembly plant, located in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan.

Industrial Opportunity Partners has sold AFS Corporate Member Aarrowcast Inc. to Charter Manufacturing, a producer of carbon-steel bar, rod, and wire products headquartered in Mequon, Wisconsin. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. 

AFS Corporate Member Inductotherm continued its annual support in 2021 of the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) through the Henry M. Rowan (HMR) Family Foundation to further his desire to give “where it would do the most good for the most people.” Thanks to the unwavering support from the HMR Family Foundation since the endowment was created in 2013, FEF was able once again to sustain this commitment to provide uninterrupted scholarships of over $200,000 to 169 students from this fund. 

A revision of ASTM E1444 was published in October, replacing the 2016 version. This revision is a part of a standard review cycle to address changes in the aerospace industry.

More than 70 changes and updates go into effect in this specification. Following are some of the significant changes. 

Impro, Wanchai, Hong Kong—a global components manufacturer serving auto, engine, construction and agriculture equipment, medical and energy markets—will soon open a new sand casting foundry located on almost 68 acres in San Louis Potosi, Mexico.