Industry News

Knapp paintings to be exhibited

The Springfield (Ohio) Art Museum has scheduled a three-month exhibit of David Knapp’s paintings.

The exhibit will begin around mid-July and run until September and is expected to show at least 20 pieces of Knapp’s work, which depict foundries.

Knapp enjoyed a long and successful career in the metalcasting business and is also an accomplished artist.

Quebec foundry honored with award

AFS Corporate Member Saguenay Foundry (Chicoutimi, Quebec) was presented with a regional distinction Quebec Performance Award. 

The Québec Performance Awards are the highest distinction awarded annually by the Québec government to private companies and public organizations that stand out for the quality of their management and overall performance.

Saguenay Foundry is an iron casting facility that produces large heavy duty parts weighing from 200-16,000 lbs. The company has also made moves for its future.

Mueller announces new Tennessee facility

AFS Corporate Member Mueller Water Products announced it is adding a Kimball, Tennessee, facility that is expected to bring 325 jobs.

Mueller is investing $41 million in the project, which will use a 233,000 sq. ft. building that was vacated when another company closed this spring.

“The new location in Marion County supports the expansion of our manufacturing capabilities around our Chattanooga operations,” Mueller Water Products president and CEO Scott Hall said in a news release.

The facility is expected to open in 2020.

Aristo-Cast announces new certification

AFS Corporate Member Aristo-Cast (Almont, Michigan) announced the company is now fully AS9100D certified, in addition to its existing ISO9001:2015 certification.

The AS9100 standard expands the requirements of ISO9001 to meet demands of the defense and aerospace industries.  

“This milestone was achieved with the dedication of the whole Aristo-Cast team,” the company said in a news release.

Aristo-Cast, which won the 2017  Casting of the Year, is an investment caster that serves industries such as defense, construction, marine, mining, and electronics.

U.S. Army grants Wellman Dynamics Title III Modernization award

AFS Corporate Member Wellman Dynamics announced that the US Army Contracting Command has selected Wellman as the recipient of a Defense Production Act Title III award of $15.7 million. As a condition of the award, Wellman is required to fund a matching investment of $7.9 million. The total investment of $23.6 million will be used for plant modernization in response to the growing demand for Wellman’s products.

Impro holds groundbreaking for new facility in San Luis Potosi

Impro Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Impro Mexico SLP Campus in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

The campus will cover almost 2.5 million sq. ft. and have five plants, including precision machining, sand casting, investment casting, aerospace components and surface treatment.

Impro plans to invest over $100 million into the campus over the next 3-5 years, which will generate up to 1,500 new jobs locally.