Two Foundries Gain Quality Certifications

Two domestic foundries have achieved notable quality standards certifications. US Aluminum Castings reports it completed certification for the ISO TS-16949 standard, a global standard that certifies continuous improvement programs for defect prevention and supply-chain waste elimination. The TS-16949 designation applies to the design/development and production of automotive-related products. USAC, in Entiat, WA, is a business unit of the Philadelphia-based Advanced Metals Group, and manufactures no-bake, permanent mold, lost foam, and green sand castings for aerospace, trucking, defense, and general commercial markets. The Bradken-Amite steel foundry in Amite, LA, achieved ABS certification to produce steel castings for marine applications, meaning it qualifies to produce machinery steel castings (wildcat and anchor windlass components) in carbon and low alloy steels to 25,000 kg (55,000 lbs) in accordance with ASTM A27, A216, A915, A958, A148 and A487. Bradken is an Australian foundry group that acquired the AmeriCast chain in 2008, including the Amite Foundry; Atchison Steel Castings, in Atchison, KS, and St. Joseph, MO; Atlas Castings & Technology, Tacoma, WA; London Precision Machining, London, ON; and AmeriCast Global Services. The Bradken organization operates 16 foundries worldwide, as well as 14 machine shops, scrap processing centers, and distribution centers.