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U.S. Foundry Confirms Purchase of TRW Automotive Plant
Municipal castings supplier U.S. Foundry, Medley, Fla., has confirmed it purchased the former Warrenton Casting Center, Warrenton, Ga., in early summer. According to a U.S. Foundry spokesperson who did not wish to be named, the ferrous metalcaster purchased the plant, closed in early 2009 by former owner TRW Automo- tive, Livonia, Mich., in order to enter into commercial casting markets and long run production not possible at its existing metalcasting facility in Medley. The spokesperson would not
disclose the facility’s purchase price. TRW operated the Warrenton Cast-
ing Center as a gray iron automotive facility with a reported capacity of 600 tons per day. The facility employed about 215 on two shifts and operated two automatic molding machines, four 10-ton induction furnaces and four core machines. TRW used the plant to produce parts for electronic, steering, braking and occupant safety systems for vehicle manufacturers. U.S. Foundry currently is in the
process of evaluating the Warrenton facility’s equipment and infrastructure
UWM Launches New Nanostructure Research Center
The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (UWM) has used a new federal grant to launch the Center for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (CAMM), which will support research in bulk nanostructure materials primarily for the metalcasting industry. The $1.2 million grant is part of a cooperative agreement between UWM and the U.S. Army Research Labora- tory. The groups have been working together for several years to develop materials that meet the Army’s need for heavy-duty vehicles that can be airlifted and operate for prolonged periods before refueling. In January, UMW began an unrelated five-year project to develop nanostruc-
ture materials. The project was funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology through the Technol- ogy Innovation Program. The institute is expected to provide $5 million in funding over the life of the project. Nanostructure metallic materials are embedded with atomic-scale particles that can make them cheaper, lighter and stronger than the original metal alloys. They can also deliver high-performance qualities, such as self-lubrication and energy-absorption. Bulk nanostructure materials can be
produced using conventional metalcast- ing techniques, according to Pradeep Rohatgi, a UWM distinguished professor of engineering and director of CAMM.
Conbraco Bought by Dutch Company Valve and fitting manufacturer Con-
braco Industries Inc., Matthews, N.C., which operates two metalcasting facili- ties, recently was purchased by Aalberts Industries, Doorn, Netherlands. Conbraco produces Apollo-branded equipment, including ball valves and other water conduction products. The company’s metalcasting facilities are in Pageland, S.C., and Conway, S.C. “Conbraco and Aalberts’ similar cul-
ture of being vertically integrated is one of the important factors that brought
MODERN CASTING / September 2010
us together,” Conbraco President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Mosack wrote in a letter to customers. “Our commitment to U.S. manufacturing and in particular our state-of-the-art [metalcasting] operations will continue to be one of our core competencies.” According to Mosack’s letter, Conbraco was sold “to ensure [its] long-term strength and viability in the worldwide marketplace.” “After three or four months of dis- cussion, we decided it was in the best
“[Metalcasting facilities] could start
making these modern products without having to update their equipment,” he said. “CAMM will also educate students and help train industry workers in the manufacturing of high-tech materials for civilian and defense sectors.” CAMM researchers will work with Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., and other companies to develop an infra- structure for scaling up the production of the materials for use in production metalcasting facilities. In addition to studying the large-scale production of the materials, CAMM scientists are working on simulation software and impact/fracture modeling to optimize their manufacture.
MC
interest of our family, shareholders, em- ployees and customer base to join the Aalberts family group,” Mosack wrote. According to Mosack, Aalberts will
maintain Conbraco’s existing manage- ment structure and continue to operate the business as usual. Aalberts’ portfolio includes more than 150 companies fo- cusing on industrial services and flow control. Mosack said the two companies would combine their sales and market- ing efforts to expand their offerings to the wholesale and retail markets. MC
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and expects to have enough of the plant’s capacity sold to officially start production by the first of 2011. The U.S. Foundry spokesperson said the facility was shut down efficiently and in good working order. The spokes- person also said U.S. Foundry expects to produce more than the capacity reported by TRW at the time of the plant’s closing. “We think it’s a good time to get into
commercial castings, and it also is a good [metalcasting facility] to develop some products that we were not able to develop in Medley,” he said. MC
INDUSTRY NEWS
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