The American Foundry Society (AFS) is a professional, technical and trade
association for
foundries
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal into a mold, and removing the mold material after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals pr ...
and the broader
metal casting industry. The society promotes the interests of foundries to policymakers, provides training for foundry workers, and supports research and technological advancements in foundry science and manufacturing.
AFS represents
ferrous
In chemistry, the adjective Ferrous indicates a compound that contains iron(II), meaning iron in its +2 oxidation state, possibly as the divalent cation Fe2+. It is opposed to " ferric" or iron(III), meaning iron in its +3 oxidation state, suc ...
and
nonferrous foundries based in North America, as well as industry suppliers and end-users of metal castings from around the world. The society has individual and corporate members across 48 countries, organized into regional chapters and student chapters in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
and
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...
. AFS presents
Metalcasting Congress, a yearly industry conference, as well as
CastExpo, a trade show and exposition that occurs every three years.
AFS is based in
Schaumburg, Illinois
Schaumburg ( ) is a village mostly in Cook County and partly in DuPage County in northeastern Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 78,723. Schaumburg is around northwest of the Chicago Loop and northwest of O'Har ...
, and also maintains an office in
Washington, D.C. Doug Kurkul is CEO of the organization.
History
The American Foundry Society traces its roots to 1896, when the American Foundrymen's Association was formed.
For a number of years prior to the founding of the society, many local bodies of
foundrymen
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal into a mold, and removing the mold material after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals pr ...
met for mutual protection in regard to labor, prices and interchange of technical information. The attendance was usually strong in these organizations in times of prosperity but waned when economic conditions slowed. Early in 1896 the Philadelphia Foundrymen's Society through discussion with its members conceived that a more general, larger benefit might be gained through organizing a wider group of foundrymen. They invited foundrymen from around the country to
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
for a meeting. The response was spontaneous and well received. On May 12, 1896, the American Foundrymen's Association was formed.
The organization's name was subsequently changed to The American Foundrymen's Society. In 2000, it was renamed as the American Foundry Society, or AFS.
Organization
The Society has approximately 930 corporate members and 7,000 individual members. There are 40 regional chapters, as well as 40 student chapters at colleges and universities. AFS is organized into 13 Divisions with committees under each division:
Engineering Division and Smart ManufacturingAdditive Manufacturing DivisionAluminum and Light Metals DivisionCopper Alloy DivisionMolding Methods & Materials DivisionCast Iron DivisionMelting Methods & Materials DivisionSteel DivisionEnvironmental, Health & Safety DivisionLost Foam DivisionGovernment Affairs DivisionHuman Resources DivisionMarketing DivisionWomen in MetalcastingFuture Leaders of Metalcasting
In addition to these divisions, the organization has technical staff to assist with engineering services, a system to support research, and an extensive library containing more than 15,000 articles available free of charge to all members.
AFS also operates th
AFS Institute
previously known as the Cast Metals Institute. The AFS Institute provides classroom training, web courses and e-learning for foundry professionals across all major alloys and foundry processes.
Past Presidents
* 2019-2021: Peter Reich, LAEMPE REICH
* 2018-2019: Jean Bye, Dotson Iron CastingsLodge (company)
Lodge Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of cast iron cookware based in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge, Lodge Manufacturing is one of America's oldest cookware companies in continuous operation. It is ...
)
* 2009-2010: Steve Reynolds, Lufkin Industries
* 2007-2009: Paul Mikkola, Metal Casting Technology Inc.
* 2006-2007: Albert Lucchetti, Cumberland Foundry
* 2005-2006: James Keffer, EBAA Iron Sales
* 2004-2005: Charles M. Kurtti, Neenah Foundry Company
* 2003-2004: Arthur Edge, American Cast Iron Pipe Company
* 2002-2003: Paul B. Cervellero, Inductotherm
* 2001-2002: Donald L. Huizenga, Kurdziel Industries
* 2000-2001: Donald E. Gaertner, Metalcasting Equipment Inc.
* 1999-2000: Jack Pohlman, Taylor-Pohlman
* 1998-1999: Jack Moore, Stahl Specialty Co.
* 1997-1998: George Boyd, Sr., Goldens' Foundry
* 1996-1997: Henry W. Dienst, Simpson Technologies
* 1995-1996: Dwight J. Barnhard, Superior Aluminum Castings
* 1994-1995: Thomas E. Woehlke, Lawran Foundry
* 1993-1994: Daniel M. Goodyear, Pennsylvania Steel Foundry & Machine
* 1992-1993: Ray H. Witt, CMI International
* 1991-1992: R. Conner Warren, Citation Corp.
* 1990-1991: Jerry Agin, The Hill & Griffith Co.
* 1989-1990: James D. Pearson (ACMA Chairman), Aurora Industries
* 1989-1990: Alvin W. Singleton, Intermet Corp.
* 1988-1989: Tim Hitchcock, Hitchcock Industries
* 1987-1988: Albert W. Gruer (ACMA Chairman), Waupaca Foundry
* 1987-1988: Anton Dorfmueller, Ashland Chemical
* 1986-1987: John L. Kelly, Textron
* 1985-1986: William M. O’Neill, Alloy Engineering & Casting Co.
* 1984-1985: George N. Booth, Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobi ...
* 1983-1984: Hugh Sims, Jr., Vulcan Engineering
* 1982-1983: Eugene E. Paul, The Dalton Foundries
* 1981-1982: Lawrence S. Krueger Pelton Casteel
* 1980-1981: Charles E. Drury, Hayes-Albion Corp
* 1979-1980: J.R. Bodine, Bodine Aluminum
* 1978-1979: John A. Wagner, Jr., Wagner Castings
* 1977-1978: Roy Nosek, Beardsley & Piper Div., Pettibone Corp.
* 1975-1977: Tom Wiltse, General Motors
* 1975: Frank Ryan, St. Paul Brass Foundry
* 1974-1975: Charles Fausel, Lester B. Knight & Associates
* 1973-1974: Sam Clow, Clow water systems company
* 1972-1973: Burleigh E. Jacobs, Grede Foundries
* 1971-1972: J. Douglas James, Urick Foundry Co.
* 1970-1971: Clyde Sanders, American Colloid
* 1969-1970: John O’Meara, Banner Iron Works
* 1968-1969: Bernard Ames, Columbian Bronze
* 1967-1968: Charles F. Seelbach, Jr., Forest City Foundries
* 1966-1967: Dale Hall, Oklahoma Steel Castings
* 1965-1966: Warren Jeffrey, McWane Cast Iron Pipe Co.
* 1964-1965: Thomas Lloyd, Albion Malleable Iron Co.
* 1963-1964: Allen Slichter, Pelton Steel Casting Co.
* 1962-1963: John A. Wagner, Wagner Castings Co.
* 1961-1962: Albert L. Hunt, Superior Foundry
* 1960-1961: Norman Dunbeck, International Minerals & Chemical
* 1959-1960: Charles Nelson, Dow Chemical
* 1958-1959: Lewis Durdin, Dixie Bronze Co.
* 1957-1958: Harry Dietert, Harry W. Dietert Co.
* 1956-1957: Frank W. Shipley, Caterpillar Tractor Co. Caterpillar Inc.
* 1955-1956: Bruce L. Simpson, National Engineering Co.
* 1954-1955: Frank Dost, Sterling Foundry
* 1953-1954: Collins Carter, Albion Malleable Iron Co.
* 1952-1953: I. Richards Wagner, Electric Steel Castings Co.
* 1951-1952: Walter L. Seelbach, Superior Foundry
* 1950-1951: Walton Woody, National Malleable & Steel Castings Co.
* 1949-1950: E.W. Horlebein, Gibson & Kirk Co.
* 1948-1949: W.B. Wallis, Pittsburgh Lectromelt Furnace Co.
* 1947-1948: Max Kuniansky, Lynchburg Foundry
* 1946-1947: S.V. Wood, Minneapolis Electric Steel Castings Co.
* 1945-1946: Fred J. Walls, International Nickel Co.
* 1944-1945: Ralph Teetor, Cadillac Malleable Iron Co
* 1943-1944: Lee C. Wilson, American Chain & Cable Co.
* 1942-1943: D.P. Forbest, Gunite Foundries Corp.
* 1941-1942: Herbert S. Simpson, National Engineering Co.
* 1940-1941: L.N. Shannon, Stockham Pipe Fitting Co.
* 1939-1940: Henry S. Washburn, Plainville Casting Co.
* 1938-1939: Marshall Post, Plainville Casting Co.
* 1937-1938: H. Bornstein, Deere & Co. John Deere
Deere & Company, doing business as John Deere (), is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains (axles, transmissions, gearboxes) used in heavy equipment, ...
* 1936-1937: James Wick, Jr. Falcon Bronze Co.
* 1934-1936: Dan Avey, The Foundry
* 1933-1934: Frank Lanahan, Fort Pitt Malleable Iron Co.
* 1932-1933: T.S. Hammond, Whiting Corp.
* 1931-1932: E.H. Ballard, General Electric Co. General Electric
General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable ene ...
* 1930-1931: Nathaniel Patch, Lumen Bearing Co.
* 1929-1930: Fred Erb, Erb-Joyce Foundry Co.
* 1928-1929: S.T. Johnson, S. Obermayer Co.
* 1926-1928: S. Wells Utley, Detroit Steel Casting Co.
* 1925-1926: A.B. Root, Jr., Hunt-Spiller Manufacturing Co.
* 1924-1925: L.W. Olson, Ohio Brass Co.
* 1923-1924: G.H. Clamer, Ajax Metal Co.
* 1922-1923: C.R. Messinger, Chain Belt Co.
* 1920-1922: W.R. Bean, Eastern Malleable Iron Co.
* 1919-1920: Carl Koch, Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co.
* 1918-1919: A.O. Backert, Penton Publishing
* 1917-1918: B.D. Fuller, Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing
* 1916-1917: J.P. Pero, Missouri Malleable Iron Co.
* 1914-1916: Robert Bull, Commonwealth Steel Co.
* 1913-1914: Alfred Howell, Phillips & Buttorff Co.
* 1912-1913: Henry Miles, Buffalo Foundry & Machine
* 1910-1912: Major Joseph Speer, Pittsburgh Valve Foundry & Construction Co.
* 1909-1910: Arthur Waterfall, Russell Wheel & Foundry
* 1908-1909: L.L. Anthies, Anthes Foundry Ltd.
* 1907-1908: Stanley Flagg, Jr., Stanley G. Flagg & Co.
* 1906-1907: William McFadden, Mackintosh, Hemphill Co.
* 1905-1906: Thomas West, Thomas D. West Foundry
* 1904-1905: Chris Wolff, L. Wolff Manufacturing Co.
* 1903-1904: Willis Brown, Walker Foundry
* 1902-1903: A.W. Walker, Walker-Pratt Manufacturing Co.
* 1901-1902: John Sadlier, Springfield Foundry Co.
* 1900-1901: W. A. Jones, W.A. Jones Foundry & Machine Co.
* 1899-1900: Joseph S. Seaman, Seaman-Sleeth Co.
* 1898-1899: C.S. Bell, C.S. Bell Co.
* 1896-1898: Francis Schumann, Tacony Iron & Metal Co.
Regional Activity
Regional Chapters organize educational events and hold chapter meetings, usually at monthly intervals, to promote technical or business subjects related to foundries and the foundry business.
References
External links
The American Foundry SocietyCastExpo 2019Modern CastingCasting Source
Related Industry Resources
The Non-Ferrous Founders' Society American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)FoundrylinkAmerican Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)Foundry-Planet
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Engineering societies based in the United States
Casting (manufacturing)
Manufacturing in the United States
Organizations established in 1896
1896 establishments in the United States