Articles: Industry News

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

AFS Corporate Members have received a complimentary 2025 Metalcasting Forecast and Trends Report. This economic report, compiled from numerous government and industry sources, is packed with information to help you navigate the dynamic metalcasting landscape. It includes strategic insights with current data that will help drive business intelligence and financial optimization throughout the year. 

The recent edition provides predictions on sales growth, including a projection of 4.2% increase in casting sales in 2025, reaching $50.1 billion.

Bradken’s Specialty Products North America (SPNAM) business has been sold to Los Angeles-based investment firm TerraMar Capital. SPNAM manufactures highly-engineered, large, complex, mission critical castings for customers in defense, specialized industrial, rail and transit markets.

CastExpo, North American’s largest metalcasting exposition, tradeshow, and Congress, is just around the corner on April 12-15 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

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.