Posts Tagged ‘manufacturing’
Where does Iron come from?
There’s no doubt that iron is crucial to the process of metal casting. Iron is known for it’s strength and flexibility, making it one of the most common materials used when creating castings. Iron can almost be taken for granted by foundry folks, but have you ever thought about where iron comes from and where…
Read MoreScott Arnold Memorial
The Scott Arnold Memorial celebrated its 10th annual outing this past September. Scott Arnold is the late father of Emily Burnside, who is a customer representative at our Minster, OH facility. Scott passed away in 2012 from lung cancer. Emily and her family have spent the last 10 years remembering Scott with an annual golf outing. All…
Read MoreWhat is ductile iron?
Ductile iron is more impact and fatigue resistant than gray iron due to the spheres of graphite that form with added magnesium. The science and strength of ductile iron From a microstructure standpoint, the primary difference between gray and ductile iron is the shape of the graphite. Gray irons have flake graphite, whereas ductile iron…
Read MoreGiving Back: Lawton employee volunteers to help disabled cats
One of the reasons our employees love being a part of Lawton is that we encourage them to find balance in their lives and to give back. One of our interns, Jordan, is especially passionate about ensuring all animals are treated humanely. She has volunteered with the shelter in the past and still continues to…
Read MoreMeet Our Pattern Shop: A tour with Tim Wenninger
The C.A. Lawton Co. strives for high-quality castings and with that, pattern shops are a necessity to reach those standards. This week we’re touring The C.A. Lawton Co. De Pere pattern shop with supervisor, Tim Wenninger. Review the Casting Shape The design review process begins with the customer and the foundry’s casting engineers. Together they…
Read MoreEXPERT’S OPINION: Advice from a long career
The C.A. Lawton Co. periodically publishes input from professionals 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 present you with differing viewpoints on how our guests…
Read MoreLearn all about a Kaizen
Kaizen is a Japanese expression meaning “change for better” or continuous improvement – whatever you are doing, you can do it better. At The C.A. Lawton Co, we strive for continuous improvement every single day. Breaking apart and putting together The first part of the word, kai, means “to break apart,” and zen means “to…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving from the C.A. Lawton Co.
This Thanksgiving and holiday season, we reflect on all the people and things we are thankful for. At The C.A. Lawton Co., we are always thankful for our hard-working and caring employees that make Lawton the family it is today. We appreciate all members of our team, their safety, and their contributions to the continuous…
Read MoreLawton to host drive-thru job fair
Mark your calendars for August 25th from 10:30 to 1:30 pm! The C.A. Lawton Co. is hosting its first-ever drive-thru job fair! Lawton is inviting community members and nearby individuals to take a tour of the foundry and experience new career opportunities. All guests are recommended to bring a resume, close-toed shoes, and long pants.…
Read MoreToolbox Talks: Overhead Crane Safety
Toolbox Talks are an effective method of communication for employees at The C.A. Lawton Co. Each week, a handout is designed and posted by our compliance coordinator, Katherine Jungwirth. This handout is specifically created to freshen everyone’s memory and remind them of specific safety precautions. During an average year, injuries caused by working with or…
Read MoreHow LEAN is making a foundry family possible
Author: R.J. Hawkins, Engineer Manager at the C.A. Lawton Co. Often kids are raised by a single parent. To the best of their abilities, the parent does all he or she can to assure their kids don’t see the struggles that are taking place. I am an example of this because I was raised by…
Read MoreThe 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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