Articles: Industry News

Diecaster Pace Industries has relocated its Arkansas headquarters to Novi, Michigan. The move is expected to create more than 60 new jobs in Novi initially while generating a total private investment of $1.9 million with the support of a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Michigan was chosen for the project after considering Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, or remaining in Fayetteville. Pace has a workforce of 360 employees in Detroit and Muskegon.

Franklin Bronze Precision Components (Franklin, Pennsylvania) announced its achievement of ISO 9001:2015 Recertification.

“Continuous improvement is a huge part of our commitment to our customers,” said Jeff Marling, quality manager. “We are always exploring new ways to drive down nonconformities and improve efficiencies.”

AFS is issuing a call for papers and presentations for the 126^th Metalcasting Congress/CastExpo 2022, April 23-26, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio.

CaneKast and its companies Ermak Foundry & Machining, Patriot Foundry & Castings and RDS Dock Hardware have acquired Superior Aluminum Castings of Independence, Missouri.

“Four years ago we started acquiring nonferrous foundries because we believe in local manufacturing," said Reg Zeller, CaneKast CEO and owner. "We are building a network of facilities that will provide the benefits of a small business yet have state-of-the-art technology typically only found in large conglomerates. Superior is a great fit to help us achieve this vision.”

AFS Corporate Member Dotson Iron Castings (Mankato, Minnesota) has donated the company’s archives of historically important documents and photographs to the Southern Minnesota Historical Center at Minnesota State University, according to the Mankato Free Press. 

MSU President Richard Davenport said the archives, representing the largest single donation to the center in the past 20 years, will be a valuable asset for current and future students and scholars.

Rolls-Royce has reached an agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to design and manufacture up to 40 fixed-pitch propellers for the U.S. Navy’s Constellation-class (FFG-62) guided missile frigate program. 

Fincantieri was awarded the shipbuilding contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in April 2020 to design and build the first FFG-62 class frigate. The program of record is for a total of 20 ships, with the first to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2026.

Madison-Kipp Corp. (MKC) (Madison, Wisconsin) has acquired the assets of a Richmond, Indiana, diecasting facility, which the company says expands its geographic footprint and allows it to better serve its customers. The transaction is part of a program to enhance MKC’s manufacturing capabilities; combined with the recent addition of seasoned leaders in engineering and manufacturing, MKC says it has the capacity to remain a highly reliable and technically sophisticated supplier of complex parts to new and current customers.

According to a release from Advancing Medical Innovations (AMI) in Hingham, Massachusetts, Performance Compounds Inside (PCI) has made historic advancements in metallurgy with its 3PRE Technology, a novel and proprietary process of activating antimicrobial properties. 

AFS Corporate Member Metal Technologies (Auburn, Indiana) has acquired AAASE’s Mexico machining operations in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, which will do business as Metal Technologies Maquinados de SLP (MTMS)––the existing management team remains in place going forward. 

AFS Corporate Member Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF) (Manitowoc, Wisconsin) has purchased Wabash Castings in Wabash, Indiana.

“We are excited to grow our operations and expand on the success of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry,” WAF CEO Sachin Shivaram said in a news release. “Wabash Castings is renowned for their ability to produce high volume, complex castings. Their facility forms a perfect complement to our existing breadth of production lines. This acquisition will accelerate our growth in the electric vehicle and consumer goods markets, among other exciting opportunities.”