J.L. French Finishing Up Plant Expansion

May 23, 2007
Aluminum diecaster adding space, and workers

May 24, 2007 — According to Wisconsin's Sheboygan Press, J.L. French Automotive Castings in Sheboygan later this summer will complete a $28-million expansion, a figure that includes new high-pressure diecasting equipment. The company declared bankruptcy early in 2006, reorganized with the support of its creditors, shedding an estimated $500 million in debt in the process.

Following that, the aluminum diecaster undertook the expansion program for one of two plants it operates in Sheboygan. The expansion is aimed at adding space for processing aluminum scrap prior to melting. The facility will cover about 400,000-ft2 when the project is complete. The paper reports that J.L. French has added about 75 employees since the start of this year, and may add more in the coming weeks or months.

J.L. French anticipates it will produce about 650,000 aluminum engine blocks at Sheboygan this year.