Foundry grows skilled labor force

Engineering among fastest growing careers

The brakes that stop your car, the drivetrain in a semi truck, even the fire hydrant on the street are there thanks to engineers from Waupaca铸造.
 
The foundry employs environmental, 过程, 机械, electrical and industrial engineers throughout its production 过程 to design and cast iron parts that are in the products we use every day.
 
根据美国.S. 劳工统计局, 机械 and industrial engineers are second and third in projected job growth among engineers (behind civil engineers). Together, these two occupants will be among the fastest growing occupations in manufacturing.

Waupaca铸造 employs 138 engineers at six foundries and two machining facilities nationwide, and the company continues to forecast strong demand for advanced technical skills. 

职业生涯 in the engineering field touch every facet of manufacturing and can pay upwards of $65,000 per year starting salaries depending on the function and location. 

"Our manufacturing 过程 is always evolving and we constantly reinvest in technology and automation to run cleaner, safer and more efficient plants," said Waupaca铸造 CEO Mike Nikolai. “然而，我们的No. 1 asset is our 员工 and we'll continue to invest in their training and development," he said. 

National Engineers Week, slated for Feb. 21-27, recognizes the work of engineers and the next generation of innovation in manufacturing. 

 
机器人

"Most of our foundries are located in smaller communities like Waupaca,柯克·卡利奥说, director of human resources for Waupaca铸造. "These towns are home to our best talent and are ground zero for the next industrial revolution. Future innovation is all about robotics and our team members are designing customized automation 过程es at every plant."
 
Waupaca铸造 has invested $53 million from fiscal 2019 through 2021 to upgrade robotics systems in all of its foundries. Across all facilities approximately 135 robots help create the company's gray, 韧性, 等温淬火球墨铸铁, and compacted graphite iron castings. 
 
"机器人 and technology expansion are bundled into other equipment, and may be performing secondary tasks and eliminating waste in the 过程,杰罗德·奥斯本说, 工程副总裁. "Integrating this level of automation into each plant is the responsibility of our technical teams and engineering staff."
 
Engineers play a critical role at Waupaca铸造, working collaboratively across all departments to integrate the 过程. 机器人 are transferring the repetitive nature of some 工作 in the foundry-- By relying on robots to do the heavy lifting or repetitive tasks, 工作正在演变. 
 

可持续性

环境 engineers play a critical role in all Waupaca铸造 locations both to reduce energy use and to increase pollution controls. 
 
In 2020, Waupaca铸造 was the recipient of the 2020 Green Foundry 可持续性 Award presented by the AMerica Foundry Society (AFS).
 
The foundry was honored for leadership in integrating sustainable business practices throughout its manufacturing operations. 
 
Innovations in waste 热 recovery, 湿度降低, converting to LED lighting all contributed to an overall energy management plan. 环境 engineers have had a role in creating systems that recycle water, 热, the sand used in casting metal parts, and implementing air pollution controls. 
 
According to Nikolai, energy conservation is a key strategy at all plants. 
 
"Our commitment to environmental responsibility moves beyond regulatory compliance to ensure our long-term sustainability. Initiatives like these create value that benefits our customers, 股东, 员工, 物料供应及公众,米可莱说. 
 
The company invests in its 员工 and operates a tuition reimbursement program for any technical training and advanced degrees that pertain to the business. 
 
On average, in the past five years, Waupaca铸造 spent $1.9 million annually in tuition reimbursement and maintains an internship program for college and high school students.
 
Scott Aasen will graduate with a degree in 机械 engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Platteville in the fall of 2021, but has been summer help and an intern at Waupaca铸造 since 2017. 在实习期间, he has redesigned industrial interior spaces to increase safety in the workplace. 

"It's definitely neat to go out and see what you're working on and how it benefits the people using it.阿森说. "You can see how everything flows together versus just learning about it in school."
 
Individuals interested in engineering careers at Waupaca铸造 should visit 工作.kyo-yae.com.