Assured Castings Ready to Expand

Assured Castings Corp., Rogersville, Tenn., is planning a significant die casting department expansion at its Rogersville plant, according to Industrial Information Resources Inc., Houston.

Market watchers are hopeful the green light for the expansion project is a good sign from metals company Leggett & Platt Inc., Carthage, Mo. Leggett & Platt, owners of Assured Castings Corp., endured a 29 percent earnings drop in 2001.

The investment in Rogersville includes the addition of new injection molding aluminum die casting machines that will increase capacity by 40 percent.

According to Industrial Resources Inc., the expansion will enable the plant to meet increased demand for die cast parts. Nearly half of the plant’s injection-molded die cast parts are shipped for automotive end uses, with the other half going into recreational vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles.

Currently, the plant is seeing increased demand for parts and has been working around the clock to meet orders in the first half of this year. Capacity in the plant’s foundry area, which melts scrap aluminum, will not be necessary. The plant’s foundry can produce up to 100 tons of 380 aluminum alloy per month.

In addition to engine components, other die cast parts produced at the Rogersville plant include components for gas grills, electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics and other industries.