INDUSTRY news
Bevin Brothers Back in Business After Fire Bevin Brothers, East Hampton,
Conn., the last remaining producer of cast metal bells in the town known as “Belltown, USA,” held a ceremony Oct. 3 to commemorate its survival of a fi re that destroyed the plant in May 2012. Working from a nearby factory, the company has produced approximately 50,000 bells from late summer onward and recently fi lled its fi rst large order since the fi re, which is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. Matthew Bevin, president, accepted
a bronze yacht bell from nearby Mystic River Foundry and InterPRO. According to the Hartford Courant, Interpro’s Kevin Dyer wanted the bell, based on a design still made by Bevin, to be an inspiration for employees struggling to get back on their feet. “We wanted to make a bell to ring to let you know we are with you. You have inspired a sense of purpose,” he said. T e bell is inscribed with the words “On the Wings of Hope, the Dream Lives on in Belltown, U.S.A.” Bevin Bells reportedly made the
fi rst bell used on a bicycle and a car, and cast the bells for Good Humor ice cream trucks, the bell aboard the USS Maine, the bell used in Joe Louis’ championship fi ght, the New York
Bevin Brothers has been casting bells for 180 years.
Stock Exchange bell and the bell in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Bevin has stated plans to rebuild on the site of the former 180-year-old
factory. T e company received a state small business grant in June and is posting updates on its progress at
www.keepthebellsinbelltown.com.
Omaha Steel Castings Secures More Funding to Build New Facility Omaha Steel Castings Co.,
Omaha, Neb., has secured $5.4 million in funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA) toward the construction of its new facility on a 20-acre site in Wahoo, Neb. T e SBA loan, made available
through the Nebraska Economic Development Corp., adds to the $6.5 million in fi nancing already committed from Omaha State Bank. “T e SBA is honored to have
played a role, through our 504 loan program, in a project that retains jobs in this rural area and creates new jobs going forward,” said Patricia Brown-Dixon, Regional Administrator for the SBA in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. “T is is the largest SBA loan approval in our four-state
region, and the second largest in the country. It goes to a manufacturing company creating ‘Made In America’ products, which also feeds the supply chain for exports. It refl ects the confi dence that the Omaha Steel Castings team, their lenders and the community have in our nation’s and Nebraska’s economic recovery.” In total, the SBA’s $5.4 million loan and Omaha State Banks $6.5 million loan represents 90% of Omaha Steel Casting Co.’s $13.5 million total cost for the new facility. “Three years of building
relationships with Omaha Steel Castings has been a pleasure,” Wahoo Mayor Jerry Johnson said. “Omaha Steel Castings will have a significant economic impact on our community. Phil Teggart and his staff have already made their
8 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Nov/Dec 2012
positive presence known in our business community.” According to a study by the
Economic Development Department of the Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Steel Castings is projected to add nearly $32 million to Wahoo’s and Saunders County’s local economy each year. T e positive employment eff ect will bring upwards of 250 jobs to Wahoo, including $9.8 million in added labor income eff ects. If everything stays on schedule,
the fi rst 100,000 sq.-ft. building will be under roof by December 2012, with operations beginning to move to Wahoo in the spring of next year. Both facilities will operate at the same time to prevent an interruption in the fl ow of castings to their customers until the move to Wahoo is completed, projected for the end of 2013.
Photo by r.j. phil, photographer.
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