INDUSTRY NEWS North America


Superior Industries Buys Part of India-Based Wheel Caster Superior Industries International


Inc., Van Nuys, Calif., announced it has acquired an equity interest in aluminum wheel diecaster Synergies Castings Ltd., Visakhapatnam, India. Superior said it has purchased


8.7% of the outstanding shares of the privately-owned company and entered into an agreement to make additional equity investments in Synergies up to approximately 26% of its total issued equity by Dec. 31.


New Grede Wins Navistar Contract, Gains Caterpillar Certification


Grede Holdings LLC, Novi, Mich., announced it was awarded a multi-year contract by Navistar Inc., Warrenville, Ill., and a bronze certification from Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., as part of its Supplier Quality Excellence Program. The contract with Navistar is for


the truck company’s new turbodiesel medium-duty engine. In a company statement, Grede indicated it would produce parts for the Navistar 2010 MaxxForce 7 V-8 engine from its Wauwatosa, Wis., and Iron Mountain, Mich., casting facilities, as well as its Menomonee Falls, Wis., machining operation. The engine will launch this summer in a number of commercial truck and school bus applications. “It is critical that Navistar has engine components for its Maxx Force 7 that


can achieve durability and reliability requirements while, at the same time, meet stringent fuel economy and clean air standards,” said Vito Parente, Grede’s vice president of sales for heavy truck and industrial customers. “Grede has a long-standing relationship with Navistar and is pleased to partner with them on this important new engine.” The Grede statement said the con-


tract is the largest per-truck content award the company has won. Grede also supplies Navistar with ferrous castings from its Biscoe, N.C., plant and lost foam castings from its Columbiana, Ala., facility. Grede’s Bessemer, Ala., plant re-


ceived the Caterpillr certification. The plant supplies housings, brackets and supports, hubs and elbows for trans-


McWane Inc. Resolves Issues with Environmental Protection Agency


McWane Inc., Birmingham, Ala., announced it has resolved 100% of its past environmental issues and is committed to improving its record going forward. According to a release issued by Mc-


Wane, which operates 13 metalcasting facilities, the U.S. Environmental Pro- tection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and states of Alabama and Iowa have reached an agreement with the company for resolution of its past environmental issues. “In 2004, we proposed to EPA and


DOJ a transparent and innovative framework for the resolution of past civil compliance issues at our com- pany,” said McWane President Ruffner


10


Page Jr. “DOJ and EPA accepted our proposed framework, and today we are pleased to announce the success of our efforts.” Page said the agreement will include


a comprehensive settlement of all out- standing historical civil environmental enforcement matters at 28 plants. According to the executive, McWane agreed to turn prior environmental audits over to a third party mediator. “The mediator reviewed the audit


results and recommended appropri- ate resolutions of the issues,” Page said. “These recommendations, to- gether with issues identified by EPA and participating state environmental agencies, provided the foundation


for negotiating the final settlement.” According to the McWane statement,


DOJ and EPA gave the company the maximum cooperation discount pos- sible under statutory guidelines in reaching the final penalty figure. Mc- Wane has agreed to implement several supplemental environmental projects as part of the settlement. The agreement also requires that McWane continue to operate and improve its environmental management system to help ensure ongoing compliance. McWane is a manufacturer of ductile


iron pipe, valves, hydrants and fittings. The company employs 4,200 in 25 manufacturing plants, including its 13 ferrous metalcasting facilities.


MC MODERN CASTING / August 2010


mission and hydraulic systems used in Caterpillar industrial equipment. “Our Bessemer facility received the


award because it exceeded Caterpil- lar quality and delivery performance requirements,” said Todd Heavin, Grede’s senior vice president and chief operating officer. Heavin said the Bessemer plant is


the first Grede facility to receive the Caterpillar certification, which means the facility will receive preferred status on new business, and that more facili- ties should follow in 2011. A manufacturer of components


for the transportation and industrial markets, Grede was formed in 2010 through the combination of assets of the former Grede Foundries Inc. with Citation Corp.


MC “We believe this is an excellent long-


term investment opportunity, given the dynamic and growing automotive market in India,” said Steven Borick, Superior’s chairman, chief executive


(continued on page 14)


Visit MODERN CASTING’s Late-Breaking Metalcasting News at www.moderncasting.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60