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February 6, 2024
WABASH/MANITOWOC — Wabash Castings Inc. — an aluminum foundry in sand casting manufacturing — has installed a new, $1.5 million JOEST Complete Shaker System that aims to improve operations and reduce landfill waste.
The new shaker system, Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF), said allows the aluminum casting manufacturer to reclaim a greater amount of the sand used in its manufacturing process.
Approximately 500 tons of sand is anticipated to be reclaimed and reused monthly, which Shivaram said then removes it from the landfill stream.
“We are continually seeking operational improvements that create production efficienciesñ and equally important — reduce our environmental footprint,” he said. “This investment achieves both.”
Wabash Castings — which was acquired by WAF in 2021 — uses sand to form the molds used to make aluminum parts for manufacturers in a variety of industries, including automotive, rail, agriculture and recreation.
Instead of discarding the spent molds, Shivaram said the sand can now be reclaimed with this new shaker system, which will reduce the amount of new sand needed by nearly 50%.
Currently, Wabash Castings receives several tankers of sand daily.
The new process, Eric Terrell, vice president and general manager at Wabash Castings, said is expected to reduce deliveries to less than 10 per month once fully operational.
“Not only are we reducing the amount of waste being produced, but we’re also reducing the need for new sand and new sand deliveries,” Terrell said. “This improves operational costs, while further reducing our carbon footprint. It’s part of WAF’s overall goal to improve operations through environmentally friendly solutions.”
