|
McConway & Torley purchased the Kutztown Foundry in March of
1980. Located in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, in the small town
of Kutztown, the foundry dates back to 1869. It was very old and outdated
by today’s standards, but rich in people: people with a wealth of
foundry experience and a heritage of respect for the work ethic…unique
people in today’s changing workplace. Like the Pittsburgh facility,
the Kutztown foundry has both ISO 9001 certification and the Association
of American Railroad's M-1003 certification.
With their
expertise, McConway & Torley began immediately to convert from an
antiquated iron jobbing foundry to a modern production facility for steel
castings. Buildings were gutted and old equipment that had accumulated over 111
years was removed. The existing buildings were then expanded and new ones
built. Into these surroundings, an entirely new foundry was built with the
latest in equipment and technology. Through foresight and detailed planning,
the foundry continued to operate during the changeover, and the entire
workforce was kept intact.
On
December 3, 1980, the last iron castings were poured from the cupola, and the
first steel castings were poured from a modern electric furnace. It was the end
of one era for the Kutztown Foundry and the beginning of a new and exciting
chapter in the long history of McConway & Torley.
|
