INDUSTRY NEWS Hydraulic Parts Company Owner Launches Metalcasting Facility
Ed Endebrock, owner and presi- dent of Hydraulic Warehouse Inc., Lewiston, Idaho, recently launched a lost foam casting facility to satisfy some of the sourcing needs of his hydraulic parts company. Endebrock said he started the
metalcasting facility, Ende Machine and Foundry, Craigmont, Idaho, to lessen Hydraulic Warehouse’s reli- ance on castings sourced from low cost countries. After sourcing parts from China for about 15 years, he said rising prices no longer made the cost savings worth the logistical problems. “You have to buy 450,000 lbs. at a time and send half the money up front,” Endebrock said. “It takes months [before the supplier starts] pouring, then you have to wait until they ship. It’s six months until you see the product, and if you have a problem, it’s even longer.” Ende Machine and Foundry
launched in mid-September with equipment purchased from several defunct businesses and a staff of four. Endebrock expects to reach 20 employees at peak production. The facility poured 1,500 lbs. of castings in its first week and ex- pected to increase to 2,000 lbs. in its second. At capacity, Endebrock said the 60,000-sq.-ft. plant will pour 240,000 lbs. per month run- ning three shifts. Ende Machine and Foundry is
currently making only iron parts, but Endebrock said it has the capability to produce bronze and aluminum castings. While Endebrock said he has several orders in place from out- side customers, 100% of the facility’s components currently are used in Hydraulic Warehouse’s pumps. “Most of our equipment goes into
the agriculture, mining and truck- ing industries, and those people are pretty down-to-earth,” Endebrock said. “Tey appreciate it when some- thing is made in the USA.” Endebrock said he selected
lost foam for his casting facil- ity because of the near-net-shape capabilities of the process, which
November 2011 MODERN CASTING | 13
helps it compete with low cost countries through the elimination of post-processing. “We were prompted by [conversa-
tions with] one of the members of a manufacturers organization,” Ende-
brock said. “He said, ‘it has some unique capabilities.’ With lost foam, we are able to pour a lot closer to the finished part, with more features. For example, we cast a lot of bolt holes right in.”
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