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. 

REFCOTEC also entered into a joint-venture agreement with Koremart Limited (KML, Hamburg, Pennsylvania) for sleeve and feeding aid manufacturing. KML has been supplying riser sleeves and other consumable products to the North American foundry industry since 1981.   

The joint-venture will operate under the business name THERMOTEC, LLC. With the addition of KML assets, THERMOTEC will have three manufacturing locations. The partnership makes THERMOTEC the largest riser sleeve and feeding aid manufacturing conglomerate in the U.S. THERMOTEC will maintain and support all existing sales and distribution channels for EXOCHEM and KML products.