Intermet Names Die Cast Group President

Jan. 31, 2008
Veteran Honda exec will accelerate lean manufacturing
Intermet Corp. has named former American Honda Motor Corp. executive Robert Axe as the new president of its Die Cast Group. “Bob” Axe is a 24-year veteran of the Honda subsidiary, and until recently had been vice president and plant manager of the Marysville (OH) Motorcycle Plant, Honda’s only motorcycle plant in North America. Axe will report to Intermet Corp. president and CEO Jeff Mihalic. He will have overall responsibility for Intermet’s diecasting plants in Jackson, TN Minneapolis, and Palmyra, MO. The company recently announced it will close a diecasting operation in Pulaski, TN. Intermet’s Die Cast group was formed in a mid 2007 reorganization, but the executive named to head the division left the company a few months later. Mihalic has had responsibility for the operations since October 2007. The Die Cast group is one of three operating divisions for Intermet, a Fort Worth-based supplier of cast-metal components for automotive, commercial-vehicle, and industrial markets. Axe begn his career with Honda as a project leader at the Anna (OH) Engine plant diecasting operation. He led the diecasting department there for 10 years, in engineering and management of the high-pressure, low-pressure, and gravity casting operations. Later, Axe was vice president of Honda’s gray and ductile iron foundry at the Asama Coldwater (MI) Manufacturing plant. Next, he became asst. v.p. - North American purchasing for American Honda Motor Corp., where he provided supplier support, new model activities, and supplier lean initiatives for five years. From that position, he became vice president and plant manager for the Marysville Motorcycle Plant. “The addition of such an experienced professional to Intermet’s executive team significantly strengthens our company,” Mihalic stated. “His appointment will allow us to accelerate out lean manufacturing initiatives and continue our evolution to a more customer-focused company that responds quickly to ever-changing customer requirements.”