SIC 3369 Nonferrous Foundries, Except Aluminum and Copper

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 3369

This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing nonferrous metal castings, including alloys, except aluminum and copper castings and all die-castings.

NAICS CODE(S)

331528

Other Nonferrous Foundries

Metal casters in this industry pour molten metals, such as nickel, zinc, magnesium, beryllium, and titanium, into molds made from sand, plaster, or other materials. When the metal cools, it forms a casting that can be used either as a part of a tool or machine to manufacture other products or as a component of a product being manufactured. Major casting products include parts for motor vehicles and other machine parts. Generally less costly than die-casting, these castings are also used to produce prototypes of machine parts for testing and evaluation prior to mass production.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 140 establishments operate in this category. Industry-wide employment in 2000 totaled 4,418 workers receiving a payroll of almost $170 million. Of these employees, 3,457 worked in production, putting in more than 7.5 million hours to earn wages of more than $102 million. Overall shipments for the industry were valued at more than $1.6 billion in 2001.

After 2001, the U.S. Census Bureau combined the category of nonferrous foundries (except aluminum and copper) with two others: nonferrous die-castings (except aluminum) and copper foundries (except die-casting). In this broader category, called Foundries Not Aluminum, industry-wide employment totaled 22,154 in 2005 (down from 25,726 in 2002) receiving a payroll of more than $869 million. Overall shipments for this exceeded $909 million in 2005.

Industry leader Budd Co. of Troy, Michigan, with 1998 sales of $3.7 billion, won three major contracts that year: manufacturing BMW's exterior sheet steel body panels and subassemblies for its sports utility vehicles (SUVs); building steel frames for General Motors' SUVs; and assembling Ford's exterior sheet panels and welded body subassemblies for compact Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers. In 2002, the firm changed its name to Thyssen Krupp Budd Co., shuttered two factories, and divested its Phillips & Temro Industries unit. Along with eliminating about 1,000 employees, which reduced total head count to 11,500, the downsizing also reduced sales to $2.5 billion. In 2006, the company sold its automotive body and chassis operations to Martinrea International...