Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry has acquired ATEK Metal Technologies of New Hampton, Iowa, company officials announced yesterday. The acquisition will expand WAF’s current operations while deepening its reach into key markets including motorsports, transportation, agriculture and the medical industry.
Sachin Shivaram, WAF CEO, mentioned the acquisition during the recording of today’s episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, the official podcast of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance and Insight on Manufacturing magazine, but the acquisition became final just as this week’s podcast episode was produced.
“We’re excited about this acquisition and are feeling a bit nostalgic as we welcome ATEK to the WAF family,” Shivaram said in a press release. “ATEK is a key supplier to leading motorcycle manufacturer, Harley-Davidson. More than 100 years ago, Harley was among WAF’s foundational customers in the early 1900s and, with this acquisition, we’re pleased to have this story come full circle and with the strong relationship ATEK leadership has forged with all its customers.”
ATEK is the fourth acquisition by WAF in recent years and follows on the acquisitions of DEE, Inc. in Crookston, Minnesota, Manitowoc Pattern & Machining in Manitowoc, and Wabash Castings in Wabash, Indiana.
“The demand for American made products continues to grow, and this is another step forward in WAF’s strategy to expand our high quality aluminum casting capabilities,” Shivaram said. “The scale, sophistication, and breadth of services we can offer our customers is unmatched by anything else in the marketplace. We are building something truly remarkable.”
Founded in 1909, WAF is a family-owned company, serving a wide variety of industries by providing high-quality aluminum and copper-based alloy castings. The company is in the midst of a $25 million expansion in Manitowoc to add capacity in gravity pour permanent mold casting, 3D sand printing, and low-pressure permanent mold casting.
Shivaram discusses the company’s growth strategy, his vision as WAF’s leader, as well as a variety of important issues facing the New North region business community, on this week’s NEW Manufacturing Insights.
NEW Manufacturing Insights is a production of NEWMA and IOM, with technical support provided by Woodward Community Media. The podcast has featured conversations with a variety of Northeast Wisconsin business, education and manufacturing leaders, with Shivaram being the latest CEO to appear on the program. Listen to NEWMI everywhere you get your podcasts and subscribe to support the show.
All May long, the podcast is sponsored by sponsored by Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A., Wisconsin’s Bank for Business. To inquire about sponsoring NEW Manufacturing Insights, contact your Insight account manager or call (920) 882-0491.
