Waupaca Foundry, Inc. announces that the merger with Hitachi Metals Automotive Components USA, LLC is finalized as of April 1, 2016. Mike Nikolai, President and COO says “The merger positions Waupaca Foundry to meet evolving customer needs for cast, machined and assembled iron castings. We are better able to streamline the supply chain for casting buyers and fulfill plans to increase revenue and profitability.”
            Concurrent with the merger finalization, Waupaca Foundry also made its three-year business plan public, which contains initiatives designed to accelerate global growth. The strategic initiatives are:

• Convert Waupaca Foundry Etowah (Tennessee) to produce 100% ductile iron. “Customer demand for ductile iron is growing,” Nikolai said. Ductile iron castings will be produced at Waupaca Foundry plants in Lawrenceville, PA, Marinette, WI, Tell City, IN and Etowah, TN.
• Provide a machining solution and other value added services for strategic products. Waupaca Foundry is developing partnerships to locate machining and assembly operations directly near foundries to meet the needs of global customers who are requesting Tier 1 responsibilities from the company.
• Install a horizontal molding line in North America. Waupaca Foundry has built a reputation on creating high quality, vertically-parted iron castings, but opportunities exist to grow with existing and new customers who want to simplify their supply chain. PlEmployee passes on work ethic to children, now also Waupaca Foundry employees.
  ans are underway to locate a horizontal molding line at Waupaca Foundry Tell City (Indiana).
• Locate a foundry in Mexico. Waupaca Foundry announces plans to establish a footprint in Mexico to meet the increasing needs of its customers producing in, and exporting products from, Mexico. All options are open from new construction to acquisition of an existing foundry.

Waupaca Foundry produces gray iron, ductile iron, and high strength ductile iron including, austempered ductile. The company is North America’s leading supplier of cast, machined and assembled components to the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction, and industrial markets. The iron castings supplier employs more than 4,400 people at seven foundries, including three in Waupaca, Wisconsin and one each in Marinette, Wisconsin, Tell City, Indiana,  Etowah, Tennessee, and Tioga, Pennsylvania. The iron castings supplier also operates two machining and assembly operations in Effingham, Illinois and Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.