Waupaca Foundry | PartingLINE

Waupaca Foundry’s Bryant Esch, environmental coordinator, and Marco Gonzalez, energy manager, received the 2018 Hitachi Metals Ltd President’s Award in Business Innovation.

On June 1, Waupaca Foundry President, COO and CEO Mike Nikolai was recognized by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council with the Sustainable Leadership Award.

Energy Manager Marco Gonzalez attended the 'Steel Slag' bill signing. Pictured left to right are: Toni Herkert, Todd Stuart, Marco Gonzalez, Jason Mugnaini, Lucas Vebber, Steve Hall, Ethan Hollenberger, Bob Venable, Rob Thompson, Senator Duey Stroebel, Evan Miller and John Soper.

After decades of consideration and discussion, in March 2016 OSHA issued a final rule to minimize workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The rule became effective on June 23, 2016, but most of its components will not be enforced until June 23, 2018. That means sand-casting foundries have 12 months to achieve compliance.

Dan Esch of Waupaca Boy Scout Troop 634 has an affinity for Northern Saw-whet owls, which have an affinity for very particular habitats—they like dense conifer groves with good sight lines and access to water.

On May 15, 2017, AFS submitted comprehensive and detailed recommendations regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations to be considered for “repeal, replacement or modification” in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 13777.

AFS Fly-In attendees will hear from one of the new leaders at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who is redirecting the agency's approach and setting the stage for a common-sense rebalancing of regulations and federal overreach.

What does it take to become a leader in energy management? A team focused on energy efficiency, a corporate commitment to sustainability and a network of supportive partners are a good start. It is this foundation that helped Waupaca Foundry achieve some impressive results – from certifications to energy and cost savings.

Waupaca Foundry recently recognized as the nation’s first metal caster to receive ISO 50001 Energy Management System Certification, as well as a $100,000 incentive from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program thanks to energy conservation initiatives at its gray iron foundry on Division Street in Waupaca.

Foundries have been making new metal objects from remelting old ones for centuries, making metal casters some of the worlds first recycles. Old and discarded products such as electronic appliances, manhole covers, tin cans, cars and shopping trolleys are not seen as rubbish by foundries, but as raw materials. Today foundries in many countries convert this unwanted scrap metal and recycle it into valuable products such as engine blocks, golf clubs, aluminum wheels and a cornucopia of other essential products.

The Government Affairs fly-In, held annually by AFS, is the premier legislative conference for metalcasters to come together as an industry and speak with one voice in the corridors of power in the nation’s capital about the need for public policies conducive to a strong manufacturing economy. Attendees will gain unique insights to the new Washington environment from this highly accomplished journalist and other expert speakers. Washington, DC.