Industry News

In conjunction with Manufacturing Day, AFS Corporate Member Hunter Foundry Machinery Corp. (Schaumburg, Illinois) donated $5,000 to nearby Harper College’s manufacturing technology program. The program’s main objective is to decrease the shortage of skilled labor.

“The shortage of skilled labor is by no means a recent issue. A decline in skilled trades workers became apparent in 2012 and has continued to present difficulties for the manufacturing community,” the company said in a news release.

AFS Corporate Member Busche Performance Group (Southfield, Michigan) announced it has secured $150 million with the completion of a senior secured credit facility.

Along with previously announced equity infusion from its shareholder group, BPG has now completed its planned capital structure.

AFS Corporate Member EJ hosted a private open house for its new greenfield foundry in Warner Township, near Elmira, Michigan.

In a news release, the company said “the new (facility) will allow EJ, previously known as East Jordan Iron Works, Inc., to remain competitive, grow the business, and retain 340 jobs in Northern Michigan.”

AFS Corporate Member Dotson Iron Castings (Mankato, Minnesota) has received the Made in Minnesota Manufacturing Award in Community Impact from Minnesota Business magazine.

The award recognized Dotson for its treatment of employees and commitment to the community during its recovery from a fire.

“When our values were put to the test, it was easy to just do what we knew was right and stand by our employees,” said Liz Ulman, vice president, while accepting the award.

Waupaca, Wisconsin-area employees of AFS Corporate Member Waupaca Foundry, a Hitachi Metals company, will be able to participate in a program designed to make healthcare easier to access.

Waupaca Foundry will partner with ThedaCare to staff a dedicated medical clinic for foundry team members and their families located in the Specialty Care Clinic in ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca.

Care at the clinic will be free to foundry employees and retirees, and their dependents.

After pouring molten metal during the American Foundry Society’s Manufacturing Day open house, a student had a predictable reaction.
 
“This is really cool,” he said.
 
Students from close by AFS headquarters and from the South Side of Chicago agreed.