Throughout this year, the iron foundry will celebrate its history and look toward its future during community events and sponsorships.

The foundry at 801 S Carpenter Ave. will showcase its two 3-D printers during the Dickinson County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event April 20. The printers produce complex components for commercial vehicles and industrial equipment in a one-step process.

In 2018, Kingsford became the first of Grede’s 10 foundries to install a 3-D printer. Such technological advancements show how far the Kingsford foundry has come since its founding in 1947, when it employed 39 people and shipped its components in steel drums packed with burlap bags.

Today, the foundry employs more than 230 people and uses robotic cells to assist its grinding lines.

NEW 3-D PRINTERS, like the two shown here in Grede’s Kingsford foundry, allow Grede to efficiently produce complex sand cores with a high degree of precision and accuracy. Molten iron is then poured in and around the cores to create intricate castings, such as hydraulic valves and transmission components. In 2018, Kingsford became the first of Grede’s 10 foundries to install a 3-D printer. (Photo provided by Grede Holdings LLC)

As the largest employer in Kingsford, Grede is proud of its longstanding history in the community, said Cody Wolsker, plant manager.

“We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our employees, neighbors and partners as we build toward the next 75 years. As part of the milestone, Grede is proud to announce the recent promotions of two key employees,” Wolsker said.

Tyler Hill was promoted to group vice president of commercial/industrial after previously serving as Kingsford plant manager. Hill has an extensive background with Grede, having worked in many of the company’s foundries in a variety of roles, including as a former environmental health and safety supervisor.

Wolsker was promoted to plant manager. He joined Grede after graduating from high school and has steadily advanced during his 20-plus years with the foundry.

For its 75th anniversary, the foundry is actively involved with multiple community sponsorships, such as the Kiwanis Ski Club’s Pine Mountain Continental Cup; the Downtown Iron Mountain Agency’s Oktoberfest; local youth sports; and sponsorship of a car for the 2022 Norway Speedway races.

Grede is an independent company that designs, engineers and manufactures high-quality ductile, gray and specialty iron castings for automotive, commercial and industrial markets. Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Grede’s 10 foundries and 3,800 employees offer complete precision machining and finishing services, as well as assemble diverse components into complete systems. To learn more, go to www.grede.com.