Articles: Industry News

AFS Corporate Member ASK Chemicals (Dublin, Ohio) has partnered with Alfred University (Alfred, New York) to participate in a Lean Six Sigma project to improve efficiencies and promote operational safety compliance.  

The manufacturing statistics class, instructed by Amanda Jadwin, toured ASK Chemicals as part of the focus on Lean Six Sigma and how it can benefit industry. The class partnered with ASK Chemicals to participate in a Lean Six Sigma project that is looking to improve efficiencies as well as safety.  

Nemak is a finalist for the upcoming PACE Awards, presented by Automotive News. Nemak was selected for its CPS casting process, and bringing "casting flexibilities to EVs." According to Automotive News, “Nemak is giving automakers greater design freedom to create electric drive units as more architectures go electric.

Tupy S.A., a Brazilian-based supplier of cast iron components, announced it agreed to purchase Fiat Chrysler’s global cast iron automotive components business, which is operated through FCA’s subsidiary Teksid S.p.A. 

The transaction includes Teksid’s facilities in Brazil, Mexico, Poland and Portugal, plus Teksid’s interest in a joint venture in China, Teksid’s engineering office in Italy and the sales office in the U.S.

Tesla has filed another patent application to do with a metalcasting invention, this time for aluminum diecasting alloys. Last summer, the company had filed a patent application for a "multidirectional unibody casting machine for a vehicle frame and associated methods."

In this more recent application, Tesla claims to have invented new aluminum alloys with both high yield strength and conductivity as well as improved castability.

From the claim:

Mitsui Kinzoku Die-Casting Technology America is building a $20 million facility in Griffin, Georgia. The project is expected to create 30 jobs, with the potential for more as the plant expands.

“We are honored to locate our U.S. manufacturing site in the beautiful city of Griffin,” said Hiroyuki Nakazawa, president, Mitsui Kinzoku Die-Casting Technology Co. “MKDA will strive to be a company that is rooted in the local community.”

The facility will produce automotive products, focusing on ones for electric vehicles.

Precision Castparts Corp. announced Mason, Ohio, will house a concept research and development integration center for its PCC Aerostructures division and a manufacturing innovation center for its SPS Technologies business.

PCC will invest $128 million in two facilities on 31 acres. The new campus is expected to bring 190 new employees to the city.

PCC is a build-to-print manufacturer of complex structural and mechanical assemblies in the aerospace industry.

AFS Corporate Member Mercury Marine (Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin) received the Sustainable Process Award from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council.

The award recognized Mercury Marine for sustainability in the company’s manufacturing of aluminum outboard marine engine blocks.

The company uses recycled sources of aluminum, which saves energy. They also use less energy when melting metal.

AFS Corporate Member The C.A. Lawton Company (De Pere, Wisconsin) has merged with Temperform (Novi, Michigan) as part of a long-term acquisition and expansion strategy.

Day-to-day operations will remain the same at both Temperform and The C.A. Lawton Co. The companies said in a news release they are “creating a new specialty metals platform that will better position both companies for growth in the industry.” This merger will allow each company access to the other’s products and enhance value-added offerings across their customer bases.

AFS Corporate Member St. Paul Foundry (St. Paul, Minnesota) announced the successful completion of its annual AS9100(D) and ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit.

“Our auditor said that our progress over the past year was some of the best he has seen in his career. He said the growth and maturity of our systems was exceptional. There were zero findings from the audit,” said David Hartigan, Quality Engineering Manager. 

Kent Foundry (Greenville, Michigan) is set to begin work on a $3.5 million expansion project that would bring 30 new employees to the metalcaster.

Kent is a manufacturer of gray and ductile iron castings, and its parent company Canerector Inc. (Toronto) announced the plans in July of last year.