INDUSTRY news
Hitachi Metals Automotive Components to Be Division of Waupaca Foundry Waupaca Foundry produces gray
Waupaca Foundry Inc., Waupaca,
Wisconsin, announced it will merge with Hitachi Metals Automotive Components USA LLC (HMAC). T e merger is part of a larger reorgani- zation within Hitachi Metals Foundry America designed to position the integrated organization for growth and meet customer demand. According to a news release,
Waupaca Foundry will assume the assets and liabilities of HMAC. Both companies are currently subsidiaries of Hitachi Metals Foundry America (HMFA). After the merger, HMAC will become a division of Waupaca Foundry, but will continue to operate under the HMAC name.
Subject to customary conditions,
the merger is expected to be complete April 1. Daily operations at Waupaca will not be impacted, and the merger is part of the fi rms’ strategic alignment. “T e merger with HMAC allows
us to further integrate castings and value added services for our customers in diverse markets,” said Gary Gigante, CEO, Waupaca Foundry. “We are committed to being the world’s lead- ing casting solutions provider, and this is a critical step in achieving that goal.” In 2014, Hitachi Metals Ltd. ,
Tokyo, purchased Waupaca Foundry from KPS Capital Partners LP, a New York-based private equity fi rm.
iron, ductile iron and austempered ductile iron castings and employs more than 3,900 people at six manu- facturing facilities, including three in Waupaca and others in Marinette, Wisconsin; Tell City, Indiana; and Etowah, Tennessee. HMAC produces cast, machined and assembled ductile iron suspension and exhaust components for global automotive OEMs. It currently oper- ates a machine and assembly plant in Effi ngham, Illinois, as well as a ductile iron casting facility in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. T e company employs 485 people
across all locations. “T is reorganization further unites Hitachi Metals’ product design engineering expertise and materials development with Waupaca Foundry’s manufacturing excellence,” said Eddie Nakano, president and CEO, HMFA. “T e merger will unite an experienced leadership team that is focused on de- livering the most innovative products and technology to a growing base of global customers.” HMAC CEO Mike Nikolai said
the merger is a response to increased customer demand. “Centralizing machine and as-
Waupaca Foundry makes gray and ductile iron components like this engine bed plate.
AFS Finalizes CEO Transition Plan The American Foundry Society
(AFS), Schaumburg, Illinois, an- nounced it has hired Doug Kurkul to be its new CEO effective May 1, following a period of transition with current CEO Jerry Call. In 2015, Call announced he would be retiring on June 30, 2016. Kurkul has enjoyed a 30-year
career as a leader, advocate and com- municator on behalf of American manufacturing and economic vitality. In recent years, he has served as presi-
sembly operations allows us to be more fl exible in meeting the evolving demands of our customers,” Nikolai said. “We’ve already increased overall operational capacity and are position- ing our organizations for long-term, sustainable growth.” ■
dent or CEO of business advocacy groups in Reno, Nevada (Reno-Sparks Chamber of Comm erce); Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock Chamber & Economic Development Partner- ship); and Dallas (Printing & Imaging Association of MidAmerica). For 20 years, Kurkul served in a variety of ca- pacities with the National Association of Manufacturers, Washington, D.C., culminating in his role as vice presi- dent for member communications & marketing and editor of Leadership for
8 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Mar/Apr 2016
Manufacturers magazine. “AFS is respected for its innova-
tive programs and superb member service,” Kurkul said. “I look forward to building on that record of achieve- ment and to serving this vitally important industry.” AFS is a not-for-profit organiza-
tion formed in 1896. AFS provides members and consumers with infor- mation and services to promote and strengthen the metalcasting industry. ■
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