The sibling owners of Tonkawa Foundry, Inc., (TFI) Tonkawa, Oklahoma, have sold their family business to Mauricio and Alhena Torres, who assumed ownership January 1. The couple has relocated from Dallas with their four-year-old daughter, Paloma.

Having operated the foundry for over 40 years, Sandy Salisbury Linton and Jim Salisbury said they’re pleased the company will remain a family-owned business. 

Mauricio Torres has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of foundry operations, as well as several years in technical sales in the foundry industry. In his most recent position as a sales representative in refractory insulation, he became a supplier to Salisbury Linton, and so began their friendship.

“We had moved around quite a lot and we’ve finally found where to stay,” said Alhena Torres, who brings over 10 years’ experience operating her own business. “The most exciting thing is that that Tonkawa has been family owned since the 1950s, and that’s what we’re going to continue for many more years.”

The Salisburys will remain involved in day-to-day operations for as long as they’re needed by the Torres family as well as the foundry’s customers and vendors, said Salisbury Linton. The company currently has 42 employees.

“They say every shop has its magic, and here, that’s Sandy and Jim,” Torres added. “They’re the ones who know how it really works, so it’s really nice that they’re supporting us during this process.”
TFI specializes in austenitic gray iron, abrasion resistant cast iron, gray iron/cast iron, carbon steels, and other specialty steels. The company makes agricultural wear parts, high corrosion and wear resistant parts, submersible pump components, shotblast wear parts, as well as other industrial parts. The company was founded in 1950 by Cliff and Lola Salisbury with a staff of six.