In 1909, AFS Corporate Member Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF) got its start as the Manitowoc Brass Foundry Company and made castings for Harley-Davidson, Wisconsin Motors and Evinrude Outboard. Abraham Schwartz renamed the company Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in 1912 and began expanding product lines and offerings, including opening a brass and bronze foundry in the mid-1920s, which primarily served Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company.
Victaulic’s Lawrenceville foundry, an AFS Corporate Member, is constructing a 150,000-sq.-ft. addition to accommodate new molding lines, melt furnaces, core machines, and automated finishing and paint equipment to help produce larger scale products. The expansion will also include a 60,000-sq.-ft. machine shop with state-of-the-art CNC equipment.
Victaulic’s $100 million expansion project will create at least 214 new, full-time jobs and retain an additional 1,611 jobs across the state.
AFS Corporate Member Doncaster Precision Castings took delivery of its second L&L Furnace, model FB435. It will enhance in-house annealing, tempering, and heat treatment capabilities for the foundry, which serves aerospace, industrial gas turbine, and automotive markets.
The company says the addition will raise production efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The FB 435 has a 2,000-lb. weight load capacity, suitable for handling heavy-duty industrial processes in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
Nano Dimension Ltd. and Desktop Metal Inc., owned by AFS Corporate Member ExOne, have jointly announced Nano Dimension will acquire all outstanding shares of Desktop Metal in an all-cash transaction––Desktop Metal estimates that transaction expenses will be approximately $11 million.
AFS Corporate Member The Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center has set a new benchmark in its foundry operations: On June 6, the team successfully poured the largest part produced in at least two decades, if not ever—underscoring the facility’s advanced capabilities.
“This is a proud moment for all of us at RIA-JMTC,” said Jamie Morris, division chief of hot metals. “Producing such a massive part required precise coordination, advanced technology, and a relentless commitment to quality. This achievement is a testament to our team’s skill and dedication.”
The Carondelet Division of AFS Corporate Member MetalTek International has achieved certification to produce HY-80 steel.
HY-80 steel is renowned for exceptional strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance. These properties make HY-80 ideally suited for the naval defense market, including submarines and surface ships.
AFS Corporate Member Hoosier Pattern hosted its Second Annual Hoosier Iron Pour on June 7 in Decatur, Indiana. The Friday night community event––attended by about 250––was held in conjunction with the Decatur Sculpture Tour that took place the next day.
“Our grounds at Hoosier Pattern became the epicenter of a massive artistic party for community members, including students, and artists,” said Keith Gerber, the company’s president. “For over four hours, we poured an astounding 2,000 pounds of iron!
AFS Corporate Member Unimetal USA, a global provider of carbon products, says it will acquire AFS Corporate Member Larpen Metallurgical Service, a North American supplier of carbon products.
With a 62-year history, Larpen has a strategic network and is positioned near river and ocean ports.
AFS Corporate Member McWane and Junior Achievement of Alabama announced the capital campaign for the McWane Economic Education Center in downtown Birmingham. Will and Kaitlin McWane, along with the McWane family, have donated $4 million to the project.
The Junior Achievement McWane Economic Education Center will provide experiential learning of financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to more than 20,000 students each year. The 30,000-sq.-ft. regional facility, located in downtown Birmingham, will serve school systems within a one-hour drive.
EPC Firm GK SYSTEMS, a brand of AFS Corporate Member General Kinematics, unveiled its new website, gksystems.com.
GK Systems specializes in developing turnkey systems for foundries, recycling facilities, and aggregate processing plants. The GK Systems brand was officially launched in 2020 as General Kinematics systems division was growing rapidly.