The future of foundries and industry 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution – commonly called the “smart factory” or Industry 4.0 – is upon us. It weaves together multiple technologies that will revolutionize how manufacturers and their foundries coordinate and collaborate in the years ahead. Industry 4.0 offers tantalizing opportunities to reduce costs and improve casting quality, on-time delivery, and service levels. Industry…

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How to choose a foundry

Selecting a foundry can be challenging whether you’re involved in a new project startup that requires cast parts or if you’re relocating patterns to a different supplier. Here is a simple process that will help you to identify the right foundry for your needs. Step 1: Know your product The more knowledge and information you…

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Lawton and Penn-Mar team up to teach Iron 101

In March, employees of The C.A. Lawton Co. and Penn-Mar Castings teamed up to teach an Iron 101 class. This joint session was the first time employees from the De Pere, WI and Hanover, PA sites collaborated to share their knowledge on metalcasting and foundries. The main focus of the Iron 101 was to showcase…

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Sustainability Series: Recycled Metals

Foundries have been setting high standards for recycling and inspiring other industries to adapt to their level of sustainability. For centuries, foundries have been making new metal objects by remelting old ones. For example, the oldest existing casting is a copper frog made in Mesopotamia dating back to 3200 B.C. Metalcasting facilities recycle more than…

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Penn-Mar Castings joins The C.A. Lawton Co. family

The C.A. Lawton Co. welcomes Hanover, PA facility as a third iron foundry location Birmingham, MI – Private equity firm, Oakland Standard Co., is proud to announce the expansion of its specialty metals platform and specifically the iron foundry group. Penn-Mar Castings, a gray-and-ductile iron foundry located in Hanover, Pennsylvania, will operate as the third…

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Metalcasting: All about iron

Engineering Manager RJ Hawkins explores the main differences and applications between gray and ductile iron. From a microstructure standpoint, the primary difference is the shape of the graphite. Gray irons have flake graphite, where ductile iron has a nodular or spherical shape. This graphite shape is what drives the basic difference in each from a…

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EXPERT’S OPINION: Fill the Bench and Balance the Pyramid

The C.A. Lawton Co. periodically publishes input from professionals both within the foundry industry and outside the casting world. These Expert Opinions may be casting-related, Continuous Improvement (CI / LEAN), Operational Excellence (Op-Ex), or just working through the challenges of today’s business environment. The goal is to share differing viewpoints on how our guests are…

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Happy Thanksgiving

As the Thanksgiving and holiday season quickly approaches, now is the time to reflect on all the things we are thankful for.  At The C.A. Lawton Co., we are thankful for all of the hard working members of our team, their safety, and their contributions to the continuous improvement of Lawton. This year, we ask…

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Business Spotlight: The C.A. Lawton Co. is a Green Tier 2 business

Visit the official page to see the full article: DNR webpage feature. The C.A. Lawton Co. began its Green Tier journey as a public demonstration of commitment to its ‘Beyond Compliance’ initiative in 2013. Since that time the company has embarked on various sustainability efforts and worked at minimizing corporate impact on the environment. Green…

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Lawton locations grow together

The C.A. Lawton Co. is dedicated to integrating the newly acquired Minster, OH foundry.  Employees from both locations have been working meticulously to create a cohesive and seamless process from start to finish. A LEAN Team LEAN Consultant, Cathlin Stuntz, goes into depth about the new projects happening in Minster. “The focus was to integrate…

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Lawton to be featured at Employee Retention Summit for Manufacturers

The C.A. Lawton Co. has been invited to share their success stories of retaining employees in a manufacturing environment November 9-11, 2020 during an exciting virtual event. Dana Syndergaard will present: LEANing into Engagement Andrew Mastalir will present: LEANing into Employee Retention About the Summit The Employee Retention Summit for Manufacturers is for you. In…

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