INDUSTRY NEWS
AFS Finalizes CEO Transition Plan The American Foundry Society (AFS), Schaumburg,
Illinois, has announced it has hired Doug Kurkul to be its new CEO effective May 1, following a period of transi- tion with current CEO Jerry Call. In 2015, Call announced he would be retiring on June 30, 2016. “We believe Kurkul is a tre- mendous fit for AFS and what it plans for the future,” said Bruce Dienst, AFS President and president and CEO of Simpson Technologies Corp. “He is well- equipped to take our organization into a new phase of service to our membership.
“On behalf of the AFS Board,
I would like to thank Jerry for his years of dedicated service to the society and the metalcasting in- dustry,” Dienst continued. “Under his leadership, AFS has thrived as an influential innovator, advocate for the industry and key source of metalcasting education.” Kurkul has enjoyed a 30-
year career as a leader, advocate and communicator on behalf of American manufacturing and eco-
nomic vitality. In recent years, he has served as president or CEO of business advocacy groups in Reno, Nevada (Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce); Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock Chamber & Economic Development Partner- ship); and Dallas (Printing & Imaging Association of MidAm- erica). For 20 years of his career, Kurkul served in a variety of capacities with the National Asso- ciation of Manufacturers, Wash- ington, D.C., culminating in his role as vice president for member communications & marketing and editor of Leadership for Manu- facturers magazine. “AFS is respected for its inno-
vative programs and superb mem- ber service,” Kurkul said. “I look forward to building on that record of achievement and to serving this vitally important industry.” AFS is a not-for-profit orga-
Effective May 1, Doug Kurkul will replace Jerry Call as CEO of AFS.
nization formed in 1896. AFS provides members and consum- ers with information and services to promote and strengthen the metalcasting industry.
MTI, Quimmco to Form Joint Venture, Operate Blackhawk Mexico Metal Technologies Inc. (MTI),
an Auburn, Indiana-based met- alcaster, and Quimmco, a Mexican industrial conglomerate, have agreed to jointly own and operate Qui- mmco’s Blackhawk de México, S.A. de C.V. (Blackhawk), an iron casting facility located in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, serving the North American market. In making the announcement,
MTI Chairman and CEO Rick James said the joint venture will take advantage of MTI and Quimmco’s strengths through combining Black- hawk and MTI’s iron foundry tech- nology, expertise and best industrial practices, as well as customer portfo- lio and supplier base. “We are pleased to be able to
partner with Quimmco which is a highly respected Mexican business with a widespread range of automo- tive, agriculture, heavy duty truck
10 | MODERN CASTING February 2016
and industrial customers throughout the NAFTA region,” James said. “Many of MTI’s current customers have recognized the growing im- portance of the Mexican automotive industry in North America and have urged MTI to establish manufactur- ing capabilities in Mexico.” Jesus Barrera, director general, Qui-
mmco, echoed James and his hopes for the new partnership. Barrera sees it as a way for the facility to grow and continue to meet the needs of clients, both now and in the future. “Te goal of Blackhawk foundry
is to grow with our customers to serve the quickly expanding Mexi- can automotive industry and general economy,” Barrera said. “Te synergies of Quimmco’s experience and Metal Technologies’ wide reach into major automotive customers will help assure Blackhawk’s continued growth.” MTI has agreed to acquire 49%
ownership of Blackhawk. MTI and Quimmco have agreed to make addi- tional investments to expand Black- hawk’s manufacturing capabilities and diversify its customers and markets. The transaction is expected to
close at the end of the first quarter of 2016. MTI has seven manufacturing
facilities in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Tennessee. It pro- duces gray and ductile iron castings, aluminum castings, tooling and machined parts for the automo- tive, truck, small gasoline engine, appliance, air conditioning, medical device and other markets. It employs approximately 1,300 people and has annual sales in excess of $450 million. Blackhawk de Mexico is a sub-
sidiary of Quimmco producing gray and ductile iron castings for clients in Mexico and the U.S.
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