AFS Corporate Member Torrance Castings hosted the AFS Engineering Division on February 18 to tour a new molding line and mold/casting cooling for which the company received the Engineering and Smart Manufacturing Division’s Plant Engineering Award. The award recognizes companies for plant engineering achievements and innovative solutions for modern issues faced in the foundry industry. Torrance Castings used automated casting cooling racks to eliminate the process bottleneck associated with variable cooling times.
Articles: Industry News
03.11.25: Waupaca Foundry names new CEO
AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry has named Michael Hawthorne as its new chief executive officer. He succeeds Mike Nikolai, who served the company for three decades.
“We’re excited to welcome Mike Hawthorne to the Waupaca Foundry family,” said Chairman Daniel Collin. “He brings over 30 years of industry experience and understands the roles that engineering, design, system integration, and operational excellence play in achieving breakthrough results.”
AFS Corporate Member Wabi Iron & Steel, New Liskeard, Ontario, will receive $3.3 million from FedNor’s Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation Fund.
03.11.25: FEF Instructor Retires
Russ Rosmait, FEF Key Professor at Pittsburg State University for 27 years, retired at the end of 2024.
In 1983, Rosmait took a position with AFS as assistant director of education for the Cast Metals Institute. In this role, he helped employees hone their skills and introduce them to new processes, which resonated with his teaching aspirations and solidified his resolve to make a difference in the foundry industry. He worked at AFS until 1986 and then transitioned to a foundry process engineer position at Marathon Electric, a gray iron foundry in Wausau, Wisconsin.
03.11.25: Daubert Cromwell Expands Online Store
AFS Corporate Member Daubert Cromwell recently expanded its Quick Ship online store to support the needs of metalworking, heavy equipment, aviation , and other industries requiring fast delivery of critical packaging for metals.
The company says its corrosion prevention products form a protective barrier that maintains metals’ integrity throughout production, storage, and shipment. The online Quick Ship store has expanded to carry over 40 of Daubert Cromwell’s VCI paper wraps, poly bags, emitters, and rust preventive surface-applied liquids.
Honda has provided a first look at its innovative approach to manufacture electric vehicles (EV) by late 2025 at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio, detailing the company’s flexible approach that positions Honda to build internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid-electric, and battery electric vehicles (EVs) on the same production lines.
03.11.25: AM Division Meets at Howell Foundry
The Additive Manufacturing Division held a quarterly business meeting on February 20 in Saint Francisville, Louisiana, hosted by AFS Corporate Member Howell Foundry, LLC, which provided a facility tour. Division Secretary-Elect Dr. Jason Walker, OSU CDME, presented Zed Howell with two commemorative castings recognizing the company’s support and hospitality. The aluminum and aluminum bronze alloy castings are products of 3D printed sand molds supplied by Corporate Member Matthews International and were cast at The Ohio State University.
03.11.25: Humtown Continues Peer-Learning Program
AFS Corporate Member Humtown is continuing its educational youth outreach program in 2025. “Through the Lens of My Friends” is a student peer-to-peer project in which Humtown trains students at nearby middle and high schools, who then give in-depth facility tours to their classmates.
Humtown parlays the tours into a video series showing the knowledge transfer to kids by kids, exposing
students to the world of 3D printing as well as the numerous career opportunities in modern manufacturing.
02.06.25: MAGMA to expand into Mexico
AFS Corporate Member MAGMA Foundry Technologies Inc. has announced its expansion to the Monterrey, Mexico region, establishing a branch office to provide services to the Mexican metalcasting industry.
Its newest location, located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, is expected to open this quarter. Based on their growing business demands, MAGMA aims to accelerate growth in the Mexican market and strengthen communication by engaging in client initiatives, educating current customers, and building strategic partnerships.
02.06.25: Lawton Standard featured in TV series
National TV show World’s Greatest! visited AFS Corporate Member Lawton Standard Company’s De Pere, Wisconsin location to film a segment on the foundry’s innovation and leadership in the metalcasting industry. The episode documents the foundry’s evolution of iron and steel casting from its origin in 1879 to today.