FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS

Smart Materials, Magnesium Alloys Manufacturer Breaks Ground on Expanded Foundry

A manufacturer of smart materials for the oil and gas industry and advanced magnesium alloys for lightweighting recently broke ground on its expanded magnesium foundry for manufacturing dissolvable metals.

Andrew Sherman, CEO of Terves

Terves Inc launched the 12,000 sq. ft. expansion to its Magnesium Foundry, an H3-classified magnesium metal processing facility expansion which enables the company to further expand its metal processing, heat treatment, machining, and storage capabilities.  The expansion plans include additional permanent mold and materials handling and storage space, and the addition of sand casting, squeeze casting, and diecasting capabilities for custom magnesium and magnesium alloys and composites, in addition to further expansion of build-to-print component CNC machining services. These additions enable the company to support aerospace and defense magnesium applications in addition to Terves’ leading position in the dissolvable oilfield tool market.

 

“Dissolvable Metals are the New Composites as far as oilfield tools are concerned,” said Andrew Sherman, CEO of Terves. “Oilfield tools made from composite materials were adopted in the industry about two decades ago and today occupy a sizable market share. We are seeing a major adoption and growth trajectory for oilfield tools made from dissolvable magnesium materials. At the end of 2017, roughly 2% of all frac plugs deployed in the field were being made using dissolvable metals and the market is expected to grow to 5% of all frac plugs deployed in the field by the end of 2018 – a 250% growth in one year, with adoption and use increasing through 2025. We are seeing tremendous innovation as the industry gains extensive field experience with these new Engineered Response multifunctional materials, including several new staging and completion tools engineered using dissolvable materials. Given the massive value-add of dissolvable tools, primarily eliminating post-completion drill-outs coupled with the ability to do longer laterals, we expect that dissolvable tools would replace over 30% of drillable tools used in well completion over the next 3-5 years. Terves is investing in a further doubling of production capacity for cast and wrought magnesium products, and the expansion frees up space in existing facilities for initial production of new Engineered Response products, including revolutionary expandable structural materials and gas-generating reactive materials.”

 

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Metals Manufacturer Announces Sale of Heat Treating Facilities, Casting Business

A global metals manufacturer recently announced sale agreements of its divisions to two buyers: two non-core forging facilities to a middle-market private equity investment firm, and its Cast Products business to a manufacturing group.

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) has agreed to sell the two non-core forging facilities to Wynnchurch Capital, LLC for $37 million in cash, and its Cast Products business to Consolidated Precision Products Corp. (CPP).

John Sims, Executive Vice President, HPMC segment

The forging facilities, located in Portland, Indiana, and Lebanon, Kentucky, are part of ATI’s High-Performance Materials & Components (HPMC) segment. They use primarily traditional forging methods to produce carbon steel forged products for use in the oil & gas, transportation, and construction & mining industries. They will be sold to Chicago, Illinois-based Wynnchurch Capital, LLC, a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. The transaction will close during the second quarter of 2019.

The ATI Cast Products business unit is part of the High-Performance Materials & Components (HPMC) segment. It produces titanium investment castings that are primarily used by aerospace & defense OEMs in the production of commercial jet airframes and engines. A post-casting machining facility in Salem, Oregon, will remain with ATI and provide services to CPP and others. CPP of Cleveland, Ohio, operates 16 global facilities manufacturing products primarily for the aerospace, defense, and industrial industries and is a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm. The transaction, subject to customary regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the early part of the third quarter of 2019.

Robert S. Wetherbee, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATI

“[The forging facilities] transaction is consistent with our ongoing efforts to actively evaluate our business portfolio to ensure we’re focused on key growth opportunities for HPMC in the aerospace & defense end-markets, specifically in nickel and titanium products as well as in advanced iso-thermal and hot-die forgings,” said John Sims, Executive Vice President, HPMC segment. “With the sale to Wynnchurch Capital, these solidly-performing, independent operations will become part of a company with a proven track record of investing in, growing and successfully operating industrial manufacturing businesses.”

“ATI’s HPMC segment is at its best when we couple our materials science expertise and extensive forging experience to produce critical jet engine components in our world-class production facilities,” added Sims. “ATI’s Cast Products business is a good fit for CPP’s aerospace and industrial focused business portfolio.”

“We continue to actively evaluate our business portfolio to ensure that we are focused on the businesses that offer ATI the best combination of growth, profitability, and corporate synergies,” said Robert S. Wetherbee, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATI.

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Major U.S. Steelmaker to Invest in Endless Casting & Rolling Technology

A U.S. integrated steel producer headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently announced that it will invest more than $1 billion to construct new facilities in Pennsylvania, including a sustainable endless casting and rolling facility at its Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania.

David B. Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel

United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) announcement highlights] the company’s continued commitment to steelmaking in Pennsylvania. In addition to the endless casting and rolling facility, the company plans to build a cogeneration facility at its Clairton Plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania. Both are part of the U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works.

The cutting-edge endless casting and rolling technology combines thin slab casting and hot rolled band production into one continuous process and, according to U.S. Steel, will make Mon Valley Works the first facility of this type in the United States, and one of only a handful in the world, replacing the existing traditional slab caster and hot strip mill facilities at the Mon Valley location.

“This is a truly transformational investment for U. S. Steel,” said David B. Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel. “We are combining our integrated steelmaking process with industry-leading endless casting and rolling to reinvest in steelmaking and secure the future for a new generation of steelworkers in Western Pennsylvania and the Mon Valley. U. S. Steel’s investment in leading technology and advanced manufacturing aligns with our vision to be the industry leader in delivering high-quality, value-added products and innovative solutions that address our customers’ most challenging steel needs for the future. We believe that adding sustainable steel technology to our footprint will create long-term value for our employees, our region, our customers and our investors.”

With this investment, Mon Valley Works will become the principal source of substrate for the production of
the company’s industry-leading XG3™ Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) that assists automotive customers in
meeting fuel efficiency standards. This project, in addition to producing sustainable AHSS, will improve
environmental performance, energy conservation and reduce our carbon footprint associated with Mon Valley Works. First coil production is expected in 2022, contingent upon permitting and construction.

 

Photo credit: Image still from video, U.S. Steel Youtube page

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Heat Treat Line Expanded at Aerospace Aluminum Castings Facility

A New Hampshire-based manufacturer of sophisticated aluminum investment castings for predominantly aerospace applications recently expanded its capabilities with two electric drop bottom ovens.

Uni-Cast purchased the two furnaces for installation at its factory located in Londonderry, NH, from Pyradia Belfab, based in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. Pyradia designs and manufactures custom industrial equipment for aluminum heat treating, web converting, and dust collecting applications.

“After reviewing many quotes, we thought they were the best value out there. They make quality ovens at a competitive price. They have reasonable lead times and good engineering. I highly recommend them,” said Henri Fine, owner of Uni-Cast, which incorporates heat treating and precipitation hardening in the casting process in order to provide dimensional stability, strength, and hardness.

 

Main photo: Still image captured from video at Pyradia’s website.

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Iron Foundry Expanding into Aluminum at Ohio Facility

 

Source: Business Journal Daily

 

An iron casting foundry located in Hubbard, Ohio, is expanding into aluminum casting with an aluminum slab and billet plant at its current site.

Ellwood Engineered Castings is investing $60 million to house its new Ellwood Aluminum division to serve customers in the aerospace and other industries.

 

Read more: “Ellwood Group Diversifies with $60M Aluminum Plant”

 

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Aluminum Casting Facility Opens To Supply Jaguar Land Rover

An international automotive technology supplier headquartered in Canada recently opened a 225,000-square foot aluminum casting facility in Telford, England, which will supply structural castings to Jaguar Land Rover, a leading vehicle manufacturer in the U.K.

Ben Goater, general manager of Cosma Castings U.K.

Magna’s new operations will see use of its patented vacuum die-casting process in which advanced lightweight aluminum castings help maximize strength and stiffness and minimize weight, improving fuel economy, safety, and handling. As electrified and hybrid powertrains become more common in the automotive industry, high-pressure aluminum castings can be a key factor in reducing overall vehicle weight.

“With this new aluminum casting facility, we have established a world-class center of excellence to bring the most advanced structural casting technologies to the U.K.,” said John Farrell, president of Cosma International, which is the operating unit of Magna and supplies a comprehensive range of body, chassis and engineering solutions to automakers around the world. Magna now has nine manufacturing facilities with more than 2,200 employees throughout the U.K.

“The manufacture of aluminum castings is an important building block for the next generation of all-aluminum and multi-material vehicle architectures,” said Ben Goater, general manager of Cosma Castings U.K.

Photo credit: Magna and caption: “Magna officials were joined by Ian Harnett from Jaguar Land Rover (center) and members of local government to celebrate the grand opening of Magna’s new aluminum casting facility in Telford, England.”

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Four Vacuum Heat Treat Systems Shipped to Casting Company

Four vacuum furnaces were recently shipped to a major casting company in Arizona, three with a free work area of 54″ W x 41″ H x 72″ L and one with a free work area of 24″ W x 24″ H x 36″ L.

The supplier, G-M Enterprises, based in Corona, California, announced that all four are 2-bar furnaces with innovative hot zone design and construction. A 1200 gpm water cooling system was included in the installation.

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Automotive Supplier Expands in Alabama with Aluminum Casting Facility

A global automotive supplier recently announced an expansion of its operations at its Kamtek facility in Birmingham, Alabama.

Magna International reported that its new facility will feature a manufacturing process–high-pressure aluminum casting–that further enables the supplier to provide vehicle lightweighting and part-reduction solutions for customers. The new capabilities improve upon traditional steel multi-piece welded assemblies, which can take upwards of 12 stampings to produce one structural component. High-pressure aluminum casting allows production of full structures in one piece, reducing vehicle mass without compromising performance, structural integrity or safety.

Magna invested approximately $60 million to add the 150,000-square-foot facility. The Kamtek facility employs approximately 850 people and produces structural components for various customers including Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Nissan. The new facility will initially produce lightweight aluminum front shock towers for a major global automaker, with additional customers and programs expected in the future. At full capacity, the expansion has the potential to generate more than 100 jobs.

 

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Japan-Based Foundry Builds First U.S. Manufacturing Facility

Global manufacturer of alloy castings for the automotive and industrial sectors, Kimura Foundry America, has announced plans to locate its first U.S.-based manufacturing facility in Shelbyville, Indiana. The 35,200-square-foot plant, built on 10 acres of property, will house 3D-printing equipment which will facilitate the production of complex castings and molds for its U.S. clients. Planning to break ground in October 2017, the subsidiary of Japan’s Kimura Group targets a December 2018 opening and plans to create 20 new jobs by 2020.

The company uses a proprietary process for casting molds using 3D printing technology, allowing it to manufacture products including stamping die castings and machine and industrial tool castings. These products are used in automotive engine parts, pumps, compressors and energy components. “Kimura has established a Development Department and is engaged in thoroughly researching improvements in quality and in developments of new products. This approach has enabled us to introduce positive techniques in the casting industry, which used to depend only on workers’ experience and good sense. The results of these research outcomes are fed back to our foundries,” reads the company’s website.

“When we were searching for our first U.S. manufacturing partner, Indiana offered exactly what we were seeking,” said Yoya Fukuda, Ph.D., president of Kimura Foundry America. “That is because Indiana is strategically located in the epicenter of the industries we serve. The state’s highly-developed transportation networks and its highly-skilled manufacturing workforce were an excellent match. Indiana has a long history of welcoming Japanese companies to the state, and we are looking forward to joining the many other Japanese companies in Shelby County.” Kimura Group employs more than 830 associates at its 10 facilities across three locations in Japan and at its North American sales office in Schaumburg, Illinois.

“Shelbyville is a great community in a prime location for industry growth with capable Hoosiers ready to get to work,” stated State Representative Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville). “Kimura Foundry America is a perfect fit as they join other global manufacturing companies that already call Shelbyville home.”

Kimura Group employs more than 830 associates at 10 facilities across three sites in Japan and at its North American sales office near Chicago. The company uses a proprietary process for casting molds using 3D-printing technology, allowing it to manufacture products including stamping die castings and machine and industrial tool castings used in automotive engine parts, pumps, compressors, and energy components.

Sources: Business Facilities, Foundry MagazineIndustrial Heating, Indiana House Republicans

 

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EJ Americas Begins Construction on New Iron Foundry

 

EJ Americas, a global organization producing and distributing iron castings for municipal and infrastructure programs, broke ground in July for a greenfield foundry being built in Elmira, Michigan, 20 miles east of its current and original location in Warner Township. The new foundry is expected to be in operation by Fall 2018.

Founded in 1883 and previously known as East Jordan Iron Works and rebranded as EJ in 2011, the foundry has an operation that includes a cupola melting shop for ductile iron, three molding lines — automated green-sand molding, no-bake molding, and HWS molding for parts up to 76×60 in. EJ provides castings to the agricultural, forestry, marine and railroad industries, with a niche as a supplier of castings for water, sewer, and drainage systems and telecom and utility networks, and is best known for its production of manhole and utility covers, drainage grates, warning plates, tree grates, fire hydrants, grate valves and other specialized castings.

At the current location, the foundry has automated finish machining, coating, and assembly and testing for fire hydrants and valves. The new foundry in Michigan will expand casting capabilities, although specific details about the melting and casting operation have not been released. The company has a second U.S. plant in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and a network of foundries in Australia, Canada, France, and Ireland.  The corporate headquarters, pattern shop, product development group, water products, and regional sales office will remain in East Jordan.

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