Ford Continues Exit from Foundry Business

Ford Motor Co. has announced that it will be closing down its foundry in Brook Park (near Cleveland), Ohio by 2009.

The facility, designated by the company as the Cleveland Casting plant, melted ferrous scrap to produce cast engine parts. It is one of several foundries being closed by the automaker this decade.

Cleveland Casting opened in 1952 and employs 1,100 hourly and 118 salaried workers, according to a Ford news release. Most recently it produced cast-iron components for engines for Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks, Ford E-Series vans and Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.

Ford’s intention to idle Cleveland Casting “is consistent with the company’s move away from in-house casting operations,” says the company. Ford also has announced that it will end casting production at Ford facilities in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Leamington, U.K.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reports that Ford is exiting the foundry business entirely and will be supplied by foundries located in Canada, Europe and South America.

The Cleveland economy is taking a double-hit from Ford, which is also idling a nearby engine plant in Brook Park starting in May for as long as one year.