AFS Corporate Member Kent Foundry has received local municipal go-ahead for a $10- to $12-million expansion to its Greenville, Michigan, plant. Plans for the project will likely be unveiled in the late first quarter or early second quarter.
On November 19, the Greenville city voted unanimously to approve establishment of an industrial development district for Kent Foundry. Kent Foundry, a manufacturer of gray and ductile iron castings is owned by Canadian-based parent company Canerector Inc. of Toronto.
Articles: Industry News
01.21.25: McWane Ductile Wins OSHA Contest
AFS Corporate Member McWane Ductile of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, was among the winners of OSHA’s 2024 “Beat the Heat” contest. The annual contest highlights strong efforts to help protect workers from heat hazards.
This is the second consecutive year that one of McWane Ductile’s foundries have earned the recognition––in 2023, McWane Ductile Ohio in Coshocton won the award.
AFS Corporate Member Premier Aluminum has completed 365 consecutive days without an OSHA recordable incident.
“This milestone represents more than just numbers – it’s about our people going home safely to their families every day,” said General Manager Russ Detiege. “It’s a testament to our team’s dedication to creating and maintaining a culture of safety excellence.”
The company says the achievement is noteworthy given the complex nature of aluminum manufacturing operations, which involve heavy machinery, high-temperature processes, and precise handling requirements.
12.27.24: Nordstern Group Expands Capacity
Nordstern Group in Winnipeg, Canada, parent company of AFS Corporate Member Sure Cast Aluminum Foundry, has purchased a building to add to its primary manufacturing campus. A $7.5-million renovation is underway that is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.
12.27.24: Tinker Omega Joins Sinto America
Effective January 1, 2025, Tinker Omega Sinto will become a part of the Sinto America Group under Roberts Sinto in Grand Ledge, Michigan––both AFS Corporate Members. At that time, all incoming orders for equipment and parts will be manufactured at Grand Ledge.
Members of the current sales team will continue representing Tinker Omega product lines and spare parts. The company will maintain a sales and engineering office in Springfield, Ohio, after manufacturing has transitioned to Grand Ledge.
AFS Corporate member SUN METALON INC., a pioneer in the metal recycling and refining industry, announced the successful closure of a $21 million Series A funding round, bringing total capital raised to $30.7 million.
Headquartered in Chicago, SUN METALON says it aims to revolutionize the metal industry by delivering innovative, energy-saving, and CO2-emission-reducing solutions for sustainable metal manufacturing and recycling for metal casting, die casting, and machining operations involved in automotive, construction machinery, heavy industry, and steel manufacturing.
SMG Group announced the acquisition of AFS Corporate Member Hunter Foundry Machinery Corporation, a global maker of matchplate molding machines, mold handling equipment and sand casting technology for the global foundry market.
The AFS CastExpo show (Atlanta, April 12–15) will include a keynote lecture on manufacturing reshoring––AFS Member foundries are invited to share a customer success story for this important plenary presentation.
“Reshoring Update for North American Foundries” will be presented April 15 by Harry Moser, founder of The Reshoring Initiative. Please email him with a summary of a how your casting customer successfully reshored some or all of its business back to North America: harry.moser@reshorenow.org.
11.25.24: UNITECR 2025 Announces Call for Papers
UNITECR 2025, the 19th Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories, announced a call for papers for next year’s event, inviting experts, researchers, and professionals from across the refractories industry to present their ground-breaking work.
Next year’s UNITECR is being hosted by ALAFAR (Latin American Association of Refractories Manufacturers) and takes place 27-30 October 2025 in Cancun, Mexico. Deadline for abstracts is December 20.
McWane Ductile’s New Jersey facility has initiated an Eagle Hardhat program in which team members can earn and maintain a specially branded hardhat through personal safety excellence.