Industry News

Bremen Castings Inc. (Bremen, Indiana) unveiled March 17 on LinkedIn that it has a new name and website, BCI Solutions, www.bcisolutions.com. 

AFS Corporate Member Benton Foundry (Benton, Pennsylvania) will be expanding its iron casting operations over the next three years, creating at least 40 new jobs, according to an announcement from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Roughly 80,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing space will either be added, replaced or repurposed in the $21 million investment.
 

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.

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.

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:

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. 

AFS Corporate Member Hunter Foundry Machinery Corporation (Schaumburg, Illinois) presented a donation of $5,000 to the manufacturing technology program at Harper College (Palatine, Illinois).

The program’s main objective is to decrease the shortage of skilled labor.

In 2019, Hunter personnel taught a basic metalcasting foundry class to high school students in LaBelle, Florida, and assisted AFS on Manufacturing Day. At both events students were able to make their own castings, creating a hands-on experience.

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. 

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.