Contact: NATE MCLAIN [email protected] Survival & growth requires networking, mentoring, and acceptance of new technology & processes. As many of our wiser founders find themselves entering their later years in this industry that we love, there are many opportunities to strengthen existing foundries. Unfortunately, many foundries have closed for many reasons over my 29-year tenure. It’s always sad news to hear about friends and colleagues as they have no plan in place for a smooth transition that sets the new leadership up for success. As a co-owner of Kansas Castings, and General Manager of Dee Foundries in Houston, TX. I can testify about how vital existing leadership can be to the survival of legacy foundries. Forward thinking business owners like Ron & Patricia Pomeroy who successfully ran Kansas Castings with a great team for 30 years did just that as we transitioned ownership. Their longtime customers and employees were key in their decision-making process. I would encourage current foundry owners, leadership members and vendors to begin by mentoring younger associates and to be creative when it comes to selling your foundry. There are lots of ways to keep our foundries running and have them setup for decades of future success. Times change, but one thing that we can’t control just happens to be something we can’t buy more of—Time! We are only here for a little while, therefore, pass on your knowledge, wisdom and leadership skills, and don’t forget to communicate those that failed. What was learned from mistakes and failures are much more beneficial than successes. Remember, that success typically doesn’t show up on the first attempt. True grit, determination, and humility will take us a long way in business and life. As I have entered the second half of my foundry career I’m encouraged and excited to share & mentor using technology and others wisdom via a new Podcast (Foundry Talk - if you have topics, questions or suggestions please email me: nate@foundrytalk. com) that will arrive in Q3/Q4 of 2023. If you don’t have a mentor, find one! If someone comes to you and asks if you would be open to mentoring them, definitely consider it! Perhaps it’s as simple as breakfast once a month. If you don’t live in the same region, use technology to meet face to face. One of the only good things that came out of the pandemic was Zoom, Teams, and other software that makes face-to-face meetings so easy. Understanding and using the latest technology such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robotic grinding, enterprise software that can monitor all processes and equipment performance, solidification and flow analysis will take your foundry a long way. We can certainly embrace all these things and marry them together with reliable, robust foundry equipment to remain viable for decades to come. There aren’t allot of things that get me excited, but making something from piles of junk is gratifying and always puts a smile on my face! I love making high quality castings and pretty much everything in regards to the people that run and work in the foundry industry. Let’s collaborate and network so that we can strengthen existing foundries and grow the metal casting industry. FOUNDRY SPOTLIGHT THE NEW GENERATION OF FOUNDRY 4 By Nate McLain General Manager Dee Foundries deefoundries.com
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