Waupaca Foundry completes Hitachi Components merger

Waupaca, Wisconsin-based Waupaca Foundry Inc. says it has completed the merger of three Hitachi Metals Automotive Components USA (HMAC) facilities into its operations. The merger “solidifies Waupaca Foundry’s vision to increase revenue and profitability while maintaining diversity across markets and sectors,” the company states in the news release announcing the finalization of the acquisition. Both Waupaca Foundry and HMAC are subsidiaries of Hitachi Metals Foundry America (HMFA).

Waupaca Foundry produces gray iron, ductile iron and heat-treated ductile iron castings for the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction and industrial markets. The iron castings supplier employs more than 3,900 people at six manufacturing facilities, including three in Waupaca, Wisconsin, and one each in Marinette, Wisconsin; Tell City, Indiana; and Etowah, Tennessee.

The acquired HMAC facilities produce cast, machined and assembled ductile iron suspension and exhaust components for global automotive OEMs and employ 485 people in two states. As a condition of the merger, the former HMAC companies will now do business as Waupaca Foundry. Its machine and assembly plants and foundry will operate as: Waupaca Foundry Effingham (Illinois); Waupaca Foundry Wellsboro (Pennsylvania); and Waupaca Foundry Lawrenceville (Pennsylvania).

The three facilities were acquired from Tokyo-based Hitachi Metals Ltd., an $8.4 billion producer metal products and materials, magnetic materials and applications, components and equipment, wires, cables and related products.

“Aligning our operations will provide customers the most cost-effective production while guaranteeing continued high-quality cast, machined and assembled components,” says Mike Nikolai, president and chief operating officer of Waupaca Foundry. “This merger leverages the best of both organizations to deliver continued excellence for customers.”