The next meeting of the Ductile Iron Society will be held on June 14-16, 2000 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, Kansas.  There will be a visit to Farrar Corporation in Norwich, Kansas.  Call (440) 734-8040 or email the Ductile Iron Society  jhall@ductile.org to make your reservations.   You may also call the hotel directly for your room reservations at 1-800-233-1234.  Please mention the Ductile Iron Society Meeting to receive your group rate. 

The Fall T&O meeting of the Ductile Iron Society will be held on October 4-6, 2000 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Room rates are $54 per night and reservations can be made by calling 1-800-675-3267.

On Friday morning, October 6, Dotson Company, Plymouth Foundry, and St. Mary's Foundry will present "Virtual Tours" of their foundries.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Edward D. Gesdorf Named Vice President Sales - Northern Division.  Edward D. Gesdorf has been named Vice President Sales - Northern Division for Miller and Company, a Chicago-based supplier to the metal casting and steel industries.  Mr. Gesdorf has over 30 years experience in the metals industries, most recently serving as Vice President for Pickands Mather Sales, Incorporate.  He started his career as a plant metallurgist for Alcoa and later moved into sales.  Thereafter, he continued in a sales capacity for Foote Minerals for twelve years.

Ashland Specialty Chemical has announced that Michael W. Swartzlander has been named to the newly created position of director of business development. The announcement made by James A. Duquin, president of Ashland. In his new position, Swartzlander will facilitate the company's growth goals to add significant new specialty chemical businesses via technology development, alliances, and strategic partnerships. He will be based in Dublin, Ohio, and reports to Duquin.

Ashland Specialty Chemical Company's Foundry Products Division has named Jiang Fu general manager of its operations in the People's Republic of China at Ashland (Changzhou) Chemical Company. The announcement was made by Michael D. Killian, vice president and general manager of the division.

Grede Foundries, Inc. has named Robert A. Wermuth, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Grede Foundries, Inc. Wermuth received a BA in economics in 1977 from Lawrence University and an MBA in 1979 from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He comes to Grede from Snap-On Inc. where he served as International Business and Finance Director. Previous to that, the major portion of his career has been with the Coca-Cola Company, where he served in various finance roles. Wermuth currently serves as a director on the board for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Ashland Distribution and Specialty Chemical Companies have named David H. Armstrong vice president of Planning and Development according to D. S. Boston, Jr., administrative group vice president. Armstrong is now responsible for managing the merger and acquisitions activity and strategic planning process, including major capital project analysis, special studies and new business development, for both Ashland Distribution Company and Ashland Specialty Chemical Company. Armstrong will remain in Dublin, Ohio and report to Boston.

AMCOL International Corporation announced that Tony Tomlin has been named vice president of technology. Tomlin will oversee research and product development for all AMCOL companies, including Chemdal, a supplier of super absorbent polymer, American Colloid Company and Volclay International, suppliers of bentonite clay and related products, CETO, an environmental company, and Nanocor, a supplier of plastic additives.

AMCOL International Corporation has elected Larry Washow, president and chief executive officer, effective in May 2000. Currently he is president and chief operating officer. In his new capacity, Washow will be responsible for AMCOL's strategic direction and operational leadership.

Intermet Corporation announced in February that Doretha J. Christoph has resigned as Chief Financial Officer, to accept a CFO position with a large west coast company.

American Colloid Co., a specialty minerals operation of AMCOL International Corp. announced in February the promotion of Gary Morrison to the position of president. Morrison assumes the responsibility for American Colloid's North American operations from Frank B. Wright, Jr., who continues to spearhead AMCOL's international mineral market development and serve as president of Volclay International Corp., a sister operation to American Colloid.

John Doddridge, INTERMET Chairman and CEO, announced today that Michael J. Ryan is joining INTERMET as Executive Vice President responsible for manufacturing operations and as a member of the Corporate Operating Committee.  John Doddridge said, "We are excited to have an individual of Mike's caliber and impressive background join the INTERMET senior management team."

Jen Meier has joined Superior Graphite Co. as product manager-Slip-Plate^®.  In her new position, she oversees marketing, planning, promotion and distribution of Slip-Plate products, including aerosol and quick-dry films, and penetrating oils made in Chicago.

Grede Foundries, Inc. has named Kristin Z. Reilly Vice President - Business Engineering of Grede Foundries, Inc.

Foseco Promotes Hugh Kind.  Foseco Metallurgical, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary products and systems designed to enhance quality and efficiency in aluminum, iron and steel foundries has promoted Hugh Kind to Vice President of Marketing.

Kind has been with Foseco since 1976 and has previously held various product management and application engineering positions.  Most recently, he was Marketing Director.  In his new position, Kind will oversee all Marketing, Product Management, Application Engineering and Product Development groups.  He will continue to be based in Foseco corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.

Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Casting Industry Suppliers Association (CSIA), Kind also serves as Treasurer of the Ductile Iron Society and on the Board of Trustees of the Foundry Education Foundation.

Kind received his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, and then earned his M.B.A. from Baldwin Wallace College in 1992.

Foseco Promotes Hal Clarke.  Foseco Metallurgical, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary products and systems designed to enhance quality and efficiency in aluminum, iron and steel foundries has promoted Hal Clarke to Vice President, Sales.

OBITUARY
Victaulic mourns the passing of longtime employee Tom Healy.

Thomas E. Healy, 54 of Tinton Falls, passed away at home on Wednesday, February 2, 2000. Mr. Healy completed 22 years of dedicated service to Victaulic. He began in 1978 as a Line Sales Representative for the New York City area, in 1983 he was promoted to the title of HVAC Market Manager. Since 1984 Tom fulfilled the duties of Northeast Regional Sales Manager. His commitment to excellence earned him the honor of participating in the President's Club, an award bestowed upon outstanding salesmen. He was a participating member of the New York Sprinkler Contractor Association, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, American Society of Plumbing Engineers, as well as an alumni of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity.

Upon completing his education at Bloomfield College, where he received his degree in marketing and economics, Tom served his country in the New Jersey Army National Guard for six years.

Surviving him are his wife, Deanne and his daughter Jaime Lyn Healy of Tinton Falls, and sister Barbara Kelly of Fort Myers, FL. Victaulic mourns the loss of Tom Healy, a dedicated salesman and friend.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Superior Graphite Co. has selected CMC Australia Proprietary Ltd. To be the exclusive distributor in Australia for Superior's Desulco high purity carbon additive. CMC Australia, a subsidiary of Commercial Metals Co., is a leading supplier of products to the steel, aluminum and foundry industries in Australia and New Zealand. "Because CMC Australia has salespeople located throughout the country, the company provides excellent personal attention and service to our customers", says Michael Castro, Superior's marketing manager. "In addition, CMC Australia has multiple warehouses, enabling the company to provide customers with same-day delivery."

American Colloid Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of AMCOL International Corp., plans to build a foundry compounds blending plant in the southeast region of the United States. Pending completion of site selection, contracts and additional government and developmental authority arrangements, construction is slated to begin by Spring, 2000. The project cost is estimated at three to four million dollars. American Colloid President Frank B. Wright, Jr. said that the finished plant will employ up to 12 people. Wright says construction is targeted for completion by year-end 2000.

Grede Foundries, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Proeza, S.A. de C.V. of Monterrey, Mexico, announce their decision to create a 50-50 joint venture company to construct and operate a state-of-the-art ductile iron foundry. Located on a 32-acre site near Monterrey, construction of the world-class foundry was scheduled to commence by March 30, 2000, and take 18 months to complete. The facility is being planned to produce 80,000 tons of castings on an annual basis for automotive, agricultural, and construction customers in an effort to address the needs of a global market. Proeza, a highly recognized industrial group, participates in the automotive, citrus processing and ductile iron casting industries with operations in Mexico, selling on a worldwide basis.

Superior Graphite Co. is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Cambridge, Ontario based Kalexa Inc. that makes Kalexa the exclusive distributor in Canada for Superior's matallurgical products. David Sproat, who previously was the Canada based sales manager for Superior Graphite's markets in Canada, Latin America and Mexico, owns Kalexa Inc. Superior Graphite is pleased to continue its working relationship with Sproat as an agent for the company, and assures its customers that their service will not be interrupted. "One advantage of this relationship is that there will be a seamless transition for our Canadian customer base", says Edward Carney, president of Superior Graphite. "At the same time, the move will lead to a more focused effort to enhance the contact and product leadership in the Canadian market." Superior Graphite closed its Canadian office on December 31, 1999, to consolidate its business structure.

Foseco Metallurgical, Inc. announced that Corning Incorporated's Specialty Cellular Ceramics Plant celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1999 with impressive growth statistics and a roster of innovative new products including a major new filter introduced for the foundry industry in 1997. Corning's Erwin, NY, facility, which manufactures cellular ceramic metal filters used to remove impurities from molten metal while it is being cast, has nearly tripled its sales in the past decade. Over this period, the use of molten metal filters demonstrated solid growth as foundries sought to increase product quality and yields. Another reason for its growth is the success of the Corning Delta CELTEX filter, an extruded ceramic filter with triangular shaped cells that provide more effective filtration for foundries. In developing the filter, Corning partnered with Foseco Metallurgical, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary products and systems that enhance quality and efficiency in aluminum, iron and steel foundries.

Ashland Distribution Company announced that it has formed a new division called Service Business Division. This new division will be charged with managing and growing businesses that provide a wide range of services to Ashland's customers. This business unit will report directly to Michael J. Portland who has been named vice president and general manager of the new division. Portland will report to Peter M. Bokach, president, Ashland Distribution Company.

Intermet Corporation reported on January 27, 2000 an all time record sales of $957 million for 1999, keeping pace with record auto sales. Compared to 1998, sales were up $115 million, or 14%, over the previous annual record 1998 sales of $842 million. 1999 and 1998 included sales of $57 million and $55 million, respectively, for the Ironton facility that will be closed in 2000. Net income for the year was $36.4 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, compared with $41.0 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, in 1998. Earnings per diluted share, excluding one time events, were $1.59. 1999 earnings were impacted by manufacturing facilities operating at over capacity levels to meet customer demands. The earnings also include several one time events: recognition of a $0.47 per diluted share charge for the closure of a foundry in Ohio, a tax benefit of $0.33 per diluted share resulting from non recurring tax events, and a $0.03 per diluted share cost associated with the acquisitions to two light metal companies.

Intermet Corporation announced on February 4, 2000 that its entire cast metal product line will be manufactured and marketed under the Intermet name. All facilities previously identified as Diemakers, Ganton Technologies or Tool Products will be identified as Intermet. "The name changes were made to better reflect our role as a single source supplier for all cast metal automotive components," said David L. Neilson, Intermet vice president of sales and marketing. "With the recent acquisitions of Diemakers, Ganton Technologies, and Tool Products, we are uniquely positioned as a company with full service supplier capabilities across a broad spectrum of materials. Our customers know us as the premier manufacturer of ductile iron components. Now we are able to provide solutions to our customers' challenges in ductile iron, aluminum, magnesium and zinc."

The General Casting Company, headquartered in Grafton, Ohio announces the formation of a new lost foam jobbing foundry, MetFoam Casting, LLC.  The new venture is a subsidiary of General Casting, and is located in Columbus, Ohio.  MetFoam Casting will be in production by July.

MetFoam will pour all grades of gray and ductile iron, serving a variety of industrial markets.  The foundry can produce castings in weights from 50  to 1,000 pounds, and has a capacity of 6,000 net good tons per year.  The foundry has an automated production line with twenty-six flasks 38" dia. x 58" tall.

Mr. Jeff Vogel is Vice President and General Manager of the new foundry.  Mr. Vogel has 17 year experience in the foundry industry.

General Casting operates eight foundries in OH, PA, and IN.  The company produces a wide variety of gray and ductile iron castings ranging in size form 1-30,000 pounds.  General Casting is privately owned and employs approximately 900 people.

Ashland Specialty Chemical Company Names Gilbreath Project Manager.  
Dublin, Ohio  (USA) -- Ashland Specialty Chemical Company's Foundry Products Division has named Timothy J. Gilbreath project manager.  The announcement was made by Michael D. Killian, vice president and general manager of the division.

Foseco Builds New Foam Filter Manufacturing Facility.  Foseco Metallurgical, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary products designed to enhance quality and efficiency in aluminum, iron and steel foundries has announced that it is constructing a new facility at its Cleveland, Ohio manufacturing plant.  This new, state-of-the-art facility is expected to begin production this fall.  It will produce foam filters under the SIVEX^® FC filter trademark for aluminum castings and the SEDEX^® filter trademark for iron castings.

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