Vulcan Engineering Co., Helena, AL, has been awarded a turnkey contract to design and construct a new $134-million greenfield casting facility to be known as Technocast, in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. Technocast is a joint venture of Cifunsa and Caterpillar Inc., and is designed to produce 80,000 metric tons/year of cast-iron engine blocks and cylinder heads.

According to Vulcan, the plant design includes a Knkel-Wagner molding line, and ABB melting furnace and automatic pouring system, as well as Loramendi coremaking centers. The first pour is scheduled for summer 2006.

Vulcan notes that this project follows on a 60,000- metric tons/year greenfield casting facility it built in Irapuato, Mexico, in 2003. That facility uses Disa vertical molding equipment, ABB melting and pouring, and Laempe core machines.