FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2026
MANITOWOC, Wis. — Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry WAF) has been named the 2026 Metalcaster of the Year by the American Foundry Society (AFS) and Modern Casting magazine, the highest honor awarded in the North American metalcasting industry.
Founded in 1896, AFS represents a North American metalcasting industry valued at approximately $50 billion and comprising thousands of foundries across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The annual Metalcaster of the Year award recognizes a company that demonstrates excellence in manufacturing, innovation, leadership and service to the industry.
WAF was bestowed with the honor based on its achievements in purposeful acquisitions, advances in digital transformation, intentional facility and equipment modernization, a creative approach to addressing rising insurance costs, and its demonstrated commitment to employee care.
"For a family business that has been at this since 1909, in an industry with thousands of metalcasters across North America, this award is especially meaningful," said Sachin Shivaram, chief executive officer of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. "It belongs to our entire team, not just at one plant. It's the result of hard work across all our foundries by the men and women who pour the metal, run the machines and take care of our customers every day. I'm incredibly proud of what they've accomplished."
Shivaram added, "This recognition is an honor, but it's also a reminder that our work is never finished. We have customers who count on us, employees who make this company what it is, and communities that have supported us for generations. We'll take a moment to celebrate what we've achieved together, and then we'll keep working to build an even stronger company."
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WAF award cont’d
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Founded in 1909, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry has grown from a single foundry in Manitowoc into a family-owned manufacturing company with foundries and machining operations across five Midwestern states. Today, the company serves customers in industries including heavy-duty trucking, aerospace, marine, energy, agriculture, defense and medical manufacturing.
"My family has been part of this company for more than a century, and what I'm proudest of is that it has never been about any one of us or any one location," said Rich Schwartz, chairman of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. "It has always been about the people across our operations and the customers we serve. To see Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry recognized this way is humbling, and it's a credit to everyone who has built this company over the generations."
The recognition is the featured cover story in the June 2026 edition of Modern Casting magazine. WAF board member, Laurie Herzog, who appears on the cover, said the recognition reflects the company's longstanding values.
"What sets our company apart is its sense of responsibility to its employees, its customers and the communities where our plants operate," Herzog said. "This recognition reflects that. I'm honored to be part of a board that takes the long view and a team that earns honors like this through the quality of its work."
About Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry
Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry is a family-owned manufacturer of aluminum and copper-based alloy castings with foundries and machining operations across the Midwest, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa. WAF serves customers in the heavy-duty truck, aerospace, marine, energy, agriculture, defense and medical industries, with vertically integrated capabilities spanning engineering, tooling, casting, heat treating and machining. For more information, visit www.wafco.com.