INDUSTRY news
Kovatch Castings Adds Space, Ovens Kovatch Castings, Uniontown,
Ohio, has added 16,000 sq. ft. to its facility with the help of a government grant, according to offi ce personnel. T e company said its president,
Doug Kovatch, set the cornerstone for the expansion at a private ceremony on June 17. T e new manufacturing space was offi cially opened with a ribbon cutting event on July 22. “T is past year was an exciting one,
fi lled with the activities of creating more manufacturing space while continuing to produce products at a
high volume,” Kovatch said. A company spokesperson said the expansion was partially funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Ohio Department of Development’s Targeting Energy Effi ciency Grant. T e expansion was intended to make room for two new energy effi cient ovens, as well as support equipment. In addition to being more effi cient than the company’s previous ovens, the new equipment gives the plant the ability to recycle their heat. T e company expects 43 new jobs to be
L A Aluminum Adds Custom Powder Coating Line L A Aluminum Casting Co.,
Hayden, Idaho, recently completed the addition of 10,000 sq. ft. of warehouse
created through the expansion. Kovatch Castings produces
investment cast parts for aerospace, military, medical and commercial industries in dozens of diff erent alloys, including stainless steel, nickel-base, cobalt-base, brass and aluminum. “T e future looks bright, and
manufacturing is not dead here in Ohio or across this great country,” Kovatch said. “Manufacturing jobs continue to be a very signifi cant fuel necessary to support our country’s economy.”
space, opening room for an in-house custom powder coating line. L A Aluminum had previously
off ered powder coated machined castings, but the new space has allowed it to off er powder coating as a standalone process. T e new, non- automated operation includes three ovens and two spray booths. Castings to be powder coated go through a fi ve-stage (or six, if needed) cleaning and sealing process: pre-heating in the fi rst oven, spraying with a base coat, sanding if needed, baking in the second oven, spraying with a top coat and baking in the third oven. “Our process is a closed system,
so no contamination or dust will be on the parts,” said Michelle Richter, sales and marketing manager. “T e area is kept pristine to ensure a perfect surface fi nish.”
L A Aluminum has the capacity to
powder coat steel, iron or aluminum castings from tiny steel pieces to 8 x 8-ft. fencing. T e company powder coats its own castings for the dental industry, as well as a casting produced for wind generators manufactured by Southwest Windpower.
Quality Certifi cations T e following metalcasting
facility has passed a recent certifi cation audit: Founderie Saguenay, Chicoutimi,
Quebec, Canada (Lloyd’s Register List of Approved Manufacturers).
14 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Sept/Oct 2011
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