Lawton hosts De Pere High School
On Tuesday, November 30, The C.A. Lawton Co. hosted the Material Science class from De Pere High School. This class, taught by Ms. Mindi Zielinski, has been learning about metals and their crystal structure – forging, casting, smelting, annealing, and tempering. The students were looking for an opportunity to see the science they studied in action.
Twenty students visited The C.A. Lawton Co. foundry to see the casting process applied to real-life production. The tour started the same way all visits start. Safety orientation stresses the actions required of everyone making them aware of their own safety and the safety of everyone around them. However, this does not mean that anyone was just to wander the facility unsupervised. Students were divided into groups of 4-5, with a guide and follower assigned to each group. The guide described what the group witnessed while the follower kept a watchful eye, ensuring the safety of the visitors.
The tour gave the visitors an up-close view of all facility areas, including pattern making, core making, ramming, molding, pouring, shakeout, cleaning, and machining. Basic descriptions of what was happening in each area were supported by actual demonstrations of the work being performed. In addition, the small groups offered the visitors a more individualized experience with the opportunity for more questions to be answered and more direct interaction with all the team members encountered.
Following the tour, the entire group was reassembled for a follow-up on what was seen and experienced. This offered the visitors an opportunity to ask additional questions. It also provided the Lawton team a chance to ask the students questions, including their future and what interested them most about their visit. Finally, Alex Lawton (CEO) addressed the group and offered them the experience to interact with the highest levels of our organization.
The C.A. Lawton Co. is interested in promoting and encouraging interest in our industry and the products it supports. This interest includes supporting the education of all of those who may choose a career in the foundry/manufacturing industry.
If you would like to find out more about opportunities in the casting industry or arrange a tour for your class, feel free to contact Andy Mastalir of our Marketing Department for additional information.
De Pere High School Mission
As a responsible partner with our families and communities, we provide a distinct educational edge that prepares all learners to be successful and contributing members in our global society.