Grede Foundry Receives Quality Award

Grede Holdings LLC, a Novi, Mich.-based provider of cast, machined and assembled components for the transportation and industrial markets, has announced that its New Castle, Ind., facility has been received an award from Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill.

The Grede plant has received a silver certification from Caterpillar as part of its Supplier Quality Excellence Program (SQEP). The New Castle plant supplies Caterpillar with drivetrain planetary carriers for its heavy axle off-road vehicles and drive sprockets for its road graders and construction equipment.

“On behalf of our New Castle team, we’re very pleased to have earned this prestigious distinction from one of our largest customers,” says Todd Heavin, Grede’s senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO). “It’s a reflection of our commitment to always strive to exceed our customers’ expectations and to provide value from initial product design through manufacturing and delivery. New Castle received the award because it exceeded Caterpillar quality and delivery performance requirements.”

The New Castle facility is the second Grede facility to earn Caterpillar’s SQEP certification. Earlier in 2010, the company’s Bessemer, Ala., plant earned the award, and more Grede facilities are expected to earn it in 2011, according to the company. “It’s an important award for us because it means the facilities receive preferred status on new business,” says Heavin.

Grede Holdings LLC was formed in 2010 through the combination of assets of the former Grede Foundries Inc. with Citation Corp. The Grede name in the foundry industry dates back to 1920 when William J. Grede started Grede Foundries Inc. with an iron foundry in Wauwatosa, Wis. Grede Holdings LLC now operates 13 foundries and two machining operations in the United States serving the transportation and industrial markets globally.