Pier Foundry Markets Its Modernization
After more than 100 years in the metalcasting industry, Pier Foundry is ready to introduce itself.
SHANNON WETZEL, SENIOR EDITOR F
rom Highway 52, Pier Foundry & Pattern Shop, St. Paul, Minn., can be
seen clearly on the banks of the Missis- sippi River, its large, newly painted sign a message to visitors and passersby: Pier is making a name for itself. When President and Chief
Operating Officer Matt Grilz, 36, took over the company in 2006 from his father Randy, he and 28-year-old brother Nick Grilz, vice president of operations, had their full careers ahead of them and a vision to set Pier on a path for growth and moderniza- tion. Since then, the metalcasting facility has made significant invest- ments in upgraded equipment, new
technology, and sales and marketing. Like Grilz, Pier’s workforce is rela-
tively young, with an average age of 37 and 15 years industry experience. “We’re the next generation moving
the company forward, with the goal of being an industry leader,” Grilz said. “Now we are rolling up our sleeves as a team, positioning the company for long-term growth and profitability.”
Money for Modernization Grilz pinpointed Pier’s outdated
technology and equipment as its big- gest hurdle to growth. Until recently, the company hadn’t made a large capi- tal investment since the early 1980s. Beginning in 2008, it made a major
Pier Foundry & Pattern Shop St. Paul, Minnesota
Metals Cast: Gray, ductile and austempered ductile iron.
Molding Processes: Green sand and nobake molding. Markets Served: Agriculture, renewable energy, off-highway vehicles, municipal (valve components), machinery and equipment.
Casting Size Range: Ounces to 1,000 lbs. Facility Size: 65,000 sq. ft. Employees: 55. Established: 1889.
March 2011 MODERN CASTING | 25
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84