Industry News

In July, an associate at AFS Corporate Member Charlotte Pipe and Foundry was asked to testify before a House Judiciary subcommittee on “Foreign Abuse of U.S. Courts.” The bipartisan hearing was chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa of California (R-48th).

Bradford Muller, vice president of corporate communications for Charlotte Pipe, appeared before the subcommittee on July 22 to provide testimony on trade fraud being committed by producers of cast iron soil pipe and fittings in China.

The sand 3D printing division of AFS Corporate Member ExOne GmbH has been acquired by Anzu Partners, a technology investor.  

Under the new ownership structure, the company will be dedicated exclusively to sand 3D printing excellence, with a global footprint. Anzu Partners has expressed a strong commitment to ensuring continuity across operational areas. 

The company says that with the acquisition, ExOne’s customers and suppliers can expect consistent service and continuous collaboration, with existing relations, agreements, and service standards upheld. 

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring Lori Mason, president and CEO of AFS Corporate Member Seneca Foundry, was held on August 19 at Seneca Foundry in Webster City, Iowa. 

The celebration marked Mason’s first full year of ownership at the helm of Seneca Foundry. With a strong commitment to preserving the company’s identity as a family-owned business, Mason has dedicated herself to sustaining the foundry’s long-standing presence in the Webster City area. 

The Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) of the Valve and Fittings Industry recently announced that ANSI/MSS SP-55-2025, Quality Standard for Iron and Steel Castings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components | Visual Method for Evaluation of Surface Irregularities has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a revised American National Standard (ANS) and published by MSS.

Waupaca Foundry Plant 4 in Marinette, Wisconsin, has been recognized with the 2024 General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award (SQEA), marking the third time the company has received this prestigious honor, following recognition in 2018 and 2023.  

The SQEA recognizes GM’s top-performing manufacturing suppliers that meet or exceed rigorous criteria for quality, reliability, and operational excellence. To qualify, suppliers must demonstrate zero defects, 100% on-time delivery, and full compliance with GM’s production standards.

AFS Corporate Member Howell Foundry, St. Francisville, Louisiana, has invested just over $2 million in a Tinker Omega-Sinto thermal sand reclamation system and is on course to achieve ROI within five years of its installation in 2024.

AFS Corporate member Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF), has aqcuired Anderson Global, a North American aluminum foundry tooling manufacturer based in Muskegon, Michigan. Anderson Global will continue to operate as a standalone subsidiary within WAF’s portfolio, and all 80 team members will continue their employment under WAF’s ownership. 

AFS Corporate Member McWane’s Tyler Union celebrated the official opening of its new, 53,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art, large-diameter foundry on April 11 with several dignitaries, including U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. The $25-million expansion is projected to create 15 to 25 additional jobs, significantly reduce lead times, and increase capacity for large diameter products, such as fittings and valves.

AFS Corporate Member Eck Industries Inc. announced it has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2. 

“Attaining CMMC Level 2 certification is a significant achievement for Eck Industries and underscores our dedication to cybersecurity excellence,” said Kiley Eck Hayon, president of Eck Industries. “As a trusted partner in the defense supply chain, we recognize the critical importance of safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of national security initiatives.”

Honda has provided a first look at its innovative approach to manufacture electric vehicles (EV) by late 2025 at the Honda EV Hub in Ohio, detailing the company’s flexible approach that positions Honda to build internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid-electric, and battery electric vehicles (EVs) on the same production lines.