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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From new hire to well-equipped foundry employee in two weeks

Lawton is proud of the training program they have continuously improved to ensure new hires have all the skills and resources needed to be successful in the workplace. In just two weeks, new employees will be fully equipped to perform their new job on the floor of the foundry or in the machine shop.  Our…

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New hires at Lawton

What happens after you are hired by Lawton and officially become part of our family? There are various steps to make sure new hires are welcomed and integrated with the company.  To start, all employees attend the Day One, Hour One meeting with President Barry Adamski and their assigned supervisor.  In this meeting, new hires…

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Technology and manufacturing

The C.A. Lawton Co. periodically publishes input from professionals both within the foundry industry as well as parties from 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 present you…

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A brief casting dictionary

Enjoy this casting terms dictionary as you get more acquainted with the world of casting. Castability: The ability to successfully make a casting from a customer’s design, using a hand-molded casting process that meets the customer’s requirements. Lawton frequently consults with our customers to design practical solutions to solve these problems, while still meeting their…

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With our foundries combined… Integrating Midwest Manufacturing & Logistics with The C.A. Lawton Co.

We interviewed Tim Horner, Operations Manager at The C.A. Lawton Co.’s new Minster, Ohio location in August 2020. In July, the private equity firm, Oakland Standard Company, expanded their iron foundries, by acquiring Midwest Manufacturing & Logistics. This foundry now operates under Oakland Standard’s specialty metals platform as a second location of The C.A. Lawton…

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Alex Lawton sits down to chat about labor, economic, and political challenges

Aside from the health, political, and economic challenges we’re all facing, The C.A. Lawton Co., the foundry industry, and all of manufacturing are being confronted by specific challenges today. As a small manufacturing company within the industry, we’re striving to overcome them. Perhaps hearing what we’re working on can help you with similar challenges. The…

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The world’s first castings

Some historians believe that iron casting began in ancient China as early as 6000 BCE while others believe that only copper and bronze castings were being made at this time. However, evidence provided by archeologists contradicts both beliefs. Discovered by archeologists in what was then known as Mesopotamia, the earliest uncovered example of a cast…

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How LEAN is making a “Foundry Family” possible

By: RJ Hawkins, Engineer Manager Often kids are raised by a single parent. To the best of their abilities, the parent does all he or she can assure their kids don’t see the struggles that are taking place.  I am an example of this because I was raised by a single mom. Even though I…

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