Technocast Starts Production on Engine Blocks, Heads

摘要

New iron casting plant Technocast, Saltillo, Mexico, will begin production this month after final testing is completed on castings produced on its green sand molding line. The 550,000-sq.-ft. casting facility, which will manufacture engine blocks and heads for off-road earth moving equipment and on-highway truck engines, is a joint venture established in 2005 between Mexico-based Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS) and Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill. The initial plan for the metalcasting firm is to take on high volume jobs, some of which will replace castings produced at the Mapleton, Ill., Caterpillar casting facility. Technocast will start production on five engine cylinder blocks and three cylinder heads in 2007, eventually taking on 22 jobs by the end of 2009. The first projects will be the highest volume, at 6,000 units a month. The average casting size is 460 lbs. for heads and 712 lbs. for blocks.