Industry News

Hitchiner announces expansion

Hitchiner Manufacturing Co. Inc. announced plans to expand its New Hampshire operations with the construction of a new, 85,000-square-foot facility on the company’s Elm Street Campus. 

The building represents a multi-phased $50 million capital investment and will house operations to support new growth in markets Hitchiner currently serves. The investment is contingent on securing financing and permits from the town and state. 

GIS Launches Draxton Brand

Grupo Industrial Saltillo, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican multinational industrial conglomerate serving the automotive market, with a presence in the construction and housewares sectors, announced the consolidation of the three auto parts businesses – CIFUNSA, ACE and INFUN – into one unit named Draxton.

Accuride Rockford facility honored

Accuride Corporation (Evansville, Indiana), a supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries, announced that IndustryWeek magazine selected its Rockford Operations wheel end manufacturing facility in Rockford, Illinois, as a winner of the 2017 IndustryWeek Best Plants competition. The annual program recognizes North American plants that are on the leading edge of efforts to increase competitiveness and customer satisfaction. 

Shiloh completes acquisition of Brabant Alucast Italy and Brabant Alucast Netherlands

Shiloh Industries Inc., a global supplier of lightweighting, noise and vibration solutions, completed its acquisition of its Brabant Alucast Italy and Brabant Alucast Netherlands.

The company will double production capacity for magnesium castings with this addition and says it will "become one of the leading global manufacturers of magnesium cross car beams as well as one of the largest automotive magnesium suppliers worldwide."

Applied Process opening new plant

AFS Corporate Member Applied Process Inc. (Fort Smith, Arkansas) an austempering heat treatment technology company, is expanding with a multi-million-dollar heat treatment plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The 51,000 sq. ft. plant will house six furnaces and add at least 30 jobs. The plant is expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2018.

Clow Valve celebrates new year with safety day

AFS Corporate Member Clow Valve (Oskaloosa, Iowa) delayed production start-up for the new year for a day so employees from both the machine shop and metalcasting facility could come together to hear about how their safety impacts others.

The event included guest speakers, corporate updates and interactive activities. The event also highlighted the facility’s safety achievements in 2017, specifically a record-low 35% reduction of recordable injuries.

The event was held at William Penn University.