Industry News

Benton Foundry project receives state funding

AFS Corporate Member Benton Foundry (Benton, Pennsylvania) was awarded a $3 million grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), according to Senator John R. Gordner (R-27) and Representative David Millard (R-109). 

The company’s footprint will expand by 70,000 sq.ft. and new robotic equipment will be installed. This will result in at least 50 new jobs and a rise in daily production to 200 tons, an increase of 50 tons per day. 

GM to upgrade Indiana foundry to support electric pickup

General Motors is planning a $51 million upgrade at its aluminum die casting foundry in southern Indiana to support manufacturing of the upcoming electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup.

GM said it will install state-of-the-art equipment at its sprawling Bedford plant, which this year began producing electric drive unit castings for the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup and 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, The Herald-Times reported.

Production of the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup will begin in December at GM’s Factory ZERO assembly plant, located in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan.

Inductotherm founder’s legacy fuels numerous scholarships through FEF

AFS Corporate Member Inductotherm continued its annual support in 2021 of the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) through the Henry M. Rowan (HMR) Family Foundation to further his desire to give “where it would do the most good for the most people.” Thanks to the unwavering support from the HMR Family Foundation since the endowment was created in 2013, FEF was able once again to sustain this commitment to provide uninterrupted scholarships of over $200,000 to 169 students from this fund. 

Tooling & Equipment International adds second VX4000 3D printer from voxeljet

Tooling & Equipment International (TEI), an AFS Corporate Member, has purchased its second  VX4000 system from voxeljet AG. TEI is one of the largest users of 3D sand printing in the U.S. and runs a fully equipped aluminum foundry in Livonia, Michigan. The investment will help the company further expand its capacities for additive manufacturing and tackle technically demanding projects for prototyping and production orders.  

Eck Industries, Imperial Mining prototype scandium-aluminum EV battery box

Imperial Mining Group Ltd. and its partner, AFS Corporate Member Eck Industries are set to begin the prototyping phase of a joint program to make EV battery boxes for a major North American automotive manufacturer. The companies have completed tests that showed scandium-modified aluminum-magnesium (535-series) alloy components met or exceeded the OEM’s requirements.

Aluminum Castings Co. part of Lignon’s Alcast acquisition

Ligon Capital, an affiliate of Birmingham, Alabama-based Ligon Industries, has purchased Alcast Co. and its subsidiaries, Aluminum Castings Co. and Voss Pattern, for more than $50 million, according to a report from “Birmingham Business Journal.” The deal closed Sept. 30.

Alcast is a producer of fully machined permanent mold aluminum castings using a proprietary electromagnetic low-pressure process. With the purchase of Alcast, Ligon is now the largest independent provider of permanent mold castings in North America.