transformation,” said Doug Grimm, the former Citation chief executive offi cer who was selected to lead the combined businesses. “It’s two great companies [coming together]. We were strong to begin with and are coming out stronger.”


Laying the Foundation In January of 2007, Citation Corp. sold its forging division


in Navasota, Texas. It was a signifi cant step in a business- model reinvention that would eventually lead to the change of the company’s name. Under previous ownership, Citation embarked on a quest


in the 1990s to become a one-stop shop, according to Jim LeCroy, general manager of the legacy Citation lost foam facility in Columbiana, Ala. Forging operations like the outfi t it purchased in Navasota in 1996 were part of that company profi le. Then, Citation changed its strategy. After emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005, Citation worked toward refi ning its offerings, rather


For an audiocast with Grede Chief Executive Offi cer Doug Grimm, visit www.moderncasting.com.


than expanding them to be all things to all customers. The company consolidated operations, selling its specialty ductile and gray iron casting facility in Skokie, Ill., shortly after its forging operations, divesting itself two years later of its alu- minum diecasting and machining business in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., and closing metalcasting plants in But- ler, Ind., and Lufkin, Texas, along the way. All of the steps were in an effort to trim Citation’s product mix to primarily ferrous castings from 1 to 2,000 lbs., and to focus on three markets—automotive, industrial and heavy truck. “Ten years ago, [the merger] wouldn’t have been [a good


fi t],” LeCroy said. “But since Citation has turned its focus, we have similar products and customers.” By 2008, the company had shaped its product mix to close


Key


Administrative Offi ces Machining Locations Legacy Citation Plants Legacy Grede Plants


MODERN CASTING / August 2010


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