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FEDERAL METAL 5-TIME WEATHERHEAD 100 WINNER – DECEMBER,
2010
For the fifth year in a row, The Federal Metal Company
was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies
in Northeast Ohio by The Weatherhead School of
Management at Case Western Reserve University and the
Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).
Since 1987, the annual Weatherhead 100 awards dinner has
showcased the fastest growing companies in the region.
Federal Metal made its first appearance on the list in
2006. In 2007, Federal Metal received special
recognition as the #1 company on the Weatherhead 100
list in the "Centurion" category, dedicated to the
fastest growing companies with annual sales exceeding
$100 million.
The winners announced in December were identified as the
100 top growth companies in the area based on sales
revenue from 2005 through 2009. Companies on the list
must have had sales of more than $100,000 in 2005 and
more than $1 million in 2009.
“These last several years have been a lot of fun,” said
Peter Nagusky, the President of Federal Metal. “We are
proud to be nearing our one hundredth year in business
and still growing in a significant way.”
The Federal Metal Company was the oldest company on the
list by 45 years. Nearly half of the companies in this
year’s Weatherhead 100 were established in the last 10
years. More than 90 percent of those recognized were
established in the last 30 years.
To read more about Federal Metal’s business challenges,
how it employs innovation, one of its greatest lessons,
and how it makes an impact on the community:
click here.
National Safe Drinking Water Law Passed
Last week, in one of his first official
acts of the new year, President Obama signed
S. 3874, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water
Act. Under the new federal law, the wetted surface of
plumbing fixtures that carry drinking water cannot
contain more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead. The
current federal law allows as much as 8% lead.
"Lead-free plumbing," according to
Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA), who wrote the
companion bill in the House, "will be the standard
across the nation, because it is the law." The federal
bill was based on California’s A.B. 1953 from 2006,
which required manufacturers to phase out potential lead
exposure from materials in drinking water plumbing by
January 2010. Another similar state law, Vermont’s S.
152, also went into effect in January 2010.
The new federal law goes into effect in
January 2014, but many of the leading brass foundries
have already begun developing and marketing lead-free
products that comply. If you need assistance making the
transition to "lead-free," or have questions, contact
The
Federal Metal Company. The company has been at the
forefront of this issue for the past 20 years.
Federal Metal manufactures a number of
different silicon brass, silicon bronze, tin bronze, and
bismuth brass alloys, including the Federalloy™ group of
alloys. Each foundry is different, and so are many of
the products used in drinking water applications.
Federal Metal’s staff excels at helping customers select
the best lead-free alternative, and then helps them
develop procedures in the foundry to produce quality
castings.
"Even though manufacturers of products
used in drinking water pipes, pipe fittings, and
plumbing fixtures have 36 months to comply with the
national legislation, now is the time to act," said
Mike Buyarski, Federal Metal’s Vice President of
Technical Services, who is active in the major industry
groups that have been working on this issue for many
years.
The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water
Act is intended to remove the serious health threat and
economic burden caused by lead exposure from household
water sources. It received bipartisan Congressional
support and was backed by a broad coalition of industry,
government, and environmental organizations.
Chris Greenfield participated in roundtable discussion
at the Commodities Forum, September, 2010
Chris
Greenfield participated in a roundtable discussion at
the Commodities Forum in Chicago in September. To learn
more about trends in the industry, give him a call at
440.232.8700 Ext. 2209.
Send an Email
Mike Buyarski Attends AFS Conference, September, 2010
If you
missed hearing Mike Buyarski speak about Castability
of Lead Free Copper Alloys at the September, 2010
AFS East Coast Regional Conference, give him a call to
discuss his remarks at 440.232.8700 Ext 211.
Send an Email
Peter Nagusky Attending Annual NFFS Meeting October 8,
2010
Look for
Peter Nagusky at the upcoming NFFS Annual Meeting
October 8 – 11th at The Inn at Harbour Town
in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Chris Greenfield to speak at Commodities Roundtable
Forum September 13-15, 2010
Our Vice President of Purchasing, Chris
Greenfield, will participate in a panel discussion of
experts at the Commodities Roundtable Forum on September
13-15, 2010. The Forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency
in Chicago, Illinois.
Chris and the panel will share their
thoughts on the near-term future of the copper market as
prices have fallen through the summer months to record
lows. Will prices rebound? The panel with tackle that
question and more with frank discussion of trends and
the anticipated price influx of copper in the third and
fourth quarters of 2010.
Providing key leadership throughout our
procurement process, Chris manages the majority of our
supplier relationships, determines market pricing and
negotiates contracts.
Federal Metal Responds to Production Demands by Adopting
Continuous Operations
August, 2010 (Cleveland, Ohio) –
In response to more demanding delivery requirements, for the first time in its
97-year history, The Federal Metal Company is now running continuous operations,
7 days a week, on its coreless induction electric furnace lines. The electric
furnaces are used to manufacture engineering alloys for applications ranging
from bushings and gears to propellers and pumps.
"For the last several years we have seen increased demand for engineering
alloys," says Rik Kohn, Vice President of Sales. "This demand has sometimes
pushed our production capacity to the limits, forcing weekend work and many six
day weeks. By going twenty-four-seven, we want to be in a better position to
stock the right inventory, gain on our backlog, and allow our sales force to
offer shorter lead times, a key advantage in this competitive environment."
"I was thrilled when I found out the workforce and management jointly developed
a plan to properly staff the furnaces for continuous operations," says Terri
Kelsey, a company salesperson. "We work really hard to solve problems for our
customers, and so many times those solutions have to do with our ability to
respond quickly."
Mike Buyarski, Vice President of Technical Services, credits the company’s
emphasis on product quality and improved inert melting process for the need to
expand the production workweek. He says it also helps that there is a focus on
the need to keep operating costs competitive. "We can only sell product if we
can produce it quickly and to exacting specifications. Our productivity is at
historically high levels, and our scrap rate is at its lowest level in the
company’s history," he said.
"Moving to continuous operations is a real credit to our hourly workforce and
front-line supervisors, who continue to play a key role in helping us meet
customer requirements," says Plant Manager Leo Pinkard.
Peter Nagusky,
President
1.800.736.6636 Ext. 2206
7250 Division Street
Bedford, Ohio 44146
USA
Send an Email
For the
First Time in 45 Years, Federal Metal is Union-Free
July,
2010 (Cleveland, Ohio) –
For the first time in more than 45 years, The Federal Metal
Company is union-free. Our employees tell the story best, and you can enjoy this
brief video (about 3 min.) that captures our ONE TEAM concept, with the ONE
GOAL of being the best company in the industry.
Please feel free
to contact any member of our team with your comments or questions. Together, we
are more focused than ever on delivering products and services that exceed your
expectations.
Peter Nagusky,
President
1.800.736.6636 Ext. 2206
7250 Division Street
Bedford, Ohio 44146
USA
Send an Email
The Federal Metal Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Leo Pinkard to
the position of Plant Manager.
In this capacity Leo will report directly to Peter Nagusky,
President of The Federal Metal Company and take responsibility for all
manufacturing and plant operations. This promotion comes after 10 years of
service in various supervisory and leadership capacities, each marked with
sustained improvements in safety, quality and productivity.
Prior to joining Federal Metal, Leo worked for 26 years at
Aluminum Smelting & Refining Company and Certified Alloys Company, a zinc
producer, in Maple Heights, Ohio, where he was the Vice President of
Manufacturing.
"Leo is one of the most gifted natural leaders in our facility,
so it has been a lot of fun to see Leo put his stamp on our operations," said
Peter Nagusky, President of The Federal Metal Company. "He is a great manager
who enjoys the respect of our associates and has helped us become one team,
focused on serving our customers."
Leo assumes this position as Federal Metal says goodbye to C.
Todd Kidder, who recently accepted a position as Chief Metallurgist at Mueller
Industries in Memphis, TN, where he will report directly to the CEO.
Mike Buyarski, Chief Metallurgist and Vice President of
Technical Services, will assume Todd's technical responsibilities. Mike is
currently active in several industry associations and will now represent the
company at Copper Development Association (CDA) and American Water Works
Association (AWWA).
"Federal Metal is lucky to have the breadth and depth of
experience to serve our customers well, lead the industry in technical
contributions and maintain strength in operations. Our investment in our people
is a guiding value that has served us well for nearly 100 years," said Nagusky.
"We wish Todd Kidder the best at Mueller Industries, and we are proud to expand
the responsibilities of Leo Pinkard and Mike Buyarski."
CastExpo '10 -- Orlando, Florida
Event: CastExpo ‘10
Date: March 20, 2010
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
Co-Sponsored by: AFS & NADCA
Attending from Federal Metal: Rik Kohn, Terri Kelsey, Mike Fekete, Mike
Buyarski, Todd Kidder, Warren Plesmid & Jason Seeley
Peter Nagusky Named President of
The Federal Metal Company
Cleveland, Ohio, USA - The Federal Metal
Company has announced that Peter Nagusky has been
promoted to President effective February 3, 2010. In his
new position, he will have management responsibility for
one of the leading copper-based secondary smelters in
North America. David Nagusky, his father, has now
assumed the positions of Chairman and CEO and will
remain actively involved in the company.
Peter Nagusky joined Federal Metal in
1997, after earning a Masters of Business Administration
degree from the Weatherhead School of Management. He
held a variety of operations positions during his first
seven years at the company, ranging from shipping and
receiving to plant manager. More recently, he was the
primary metals purchaser and trader. For the past three
years, Peter and David have been responsible for the
day-to-day running of the company.
The Federal Metal Company was founded by
Joseph Nagusky in 1913. Nearly 100 years later, his
great-grandson Peter Nagusky is eager to continue the
company's growth. With a proud tradition of quality and
customer focus, Federal Metal produces hundreds of tons
of ingot every week - priced competitively, that enable
manufacturers of cast alloy products to succeed in
today's competitive markets. The firm employs 70 people
and has experienced considerable growth and expansion,
increasing its market share domestically and
internationally.
"Our company is in an exciting growth
phase with a lot of new challenges out there. Peter has
the right background and experience to take the business
forward. He has demonstrated an ability to identify
products and services that bring greater value to our
customers" said David Nagusky, Chairman and CEO. "As a
fourth generation owner, Peter also understands the
importance of continuity and stability in our industry."
The Federal Metal Company is a leading
supplier of brass and bronze ingot to the foundry
industry throughout the world. It specializes in
lead-free casting alloys, technical expertise and
customer service in order to meet a wide variety of
metalcasting needs. Federal Metal is headquartered in
Bedford, Ohio, USA.
New Website Launch, 2010
Federal Metal Launches Newly Redesigned,
Customer-Centric Web Site
January 27, 2010 (Cleveland, OH) The Federal Metal Company has
invested in a new web site designed to meet the changing needs of the company's
expanding customer base. As foundries require more and better information,
Federal Metal has launched a completely new web site with enhanced features.
Customers will be able to quickly contact Federal Metal's technical team, learn
about lead-free alloys, reference detailed alloy charts and even subscribe to a
technical blog.
"The previous version of our website was not reflective of our
growth as a company, the passion we have for brass, and our technical
expertise," according to Peter Nagusky, Executive Vice President. "Our customers
deserve a faster and better web site with a clearer path to finding the
information they need."
With a technical team that visits foundry customers on a regular
basis, the new web site is also intended as a place for foundries and end users
to find answers to commonly asked questions and concerns. As Mike Buyarski and
Todd Kidder solve problems in the field, they will post their insights on an
accompanying blog, meant to offer insight to other customers.
The company credits
Shaffer DESIGN Works, Foxcroft Consulting,
LLC, and Jamie Janos Photography for the improved redesign.
The Federal Metal Company is a leading supplier of brass and
bronze ingot to the foundry industry throughout the world. Known for lead-free
casting alloys, technical expertise and its customer service, The Federal Metal
Company helps foundries in a wide variety of industries make better castings.
For more information, contact:
Peter Nagusky,
Executive Vice President
1.800.736.6636 Ext. 2206
7250 Division Street
Bedford, Ohio 44146
USA
Send an Email
Buyarski
a Featured Speaker at November, 2009 AFS Conference
Mike Buyarski, VP of Technical Service, was a featured speaker
at the American Foundrys Society's (AFS) Art Casting Conference held at Arizona
State University. Mike's presentations, "Correct Handling of Copper-Based
Alloys" and "Copper-Base Melting & Pouring Demonstration" were popular among
attendees which included several ASU art students. The conference was held
November 12 - 13, 2009 at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts in
Tempe, Arizona.
The Art Casting event was specifically designed to allow the art
casting community access to AFS resources including prominent experts in the
metal casting industry. Joined by others on the speaking panel with expertise in
the metal casting industry, Mike's knowledge base includes new technologies,
procedures, equipment, materials and other innovations that have contributed to
enhancing metal casting productivity and quality.
For assistance pouring C83600, C83450, Alloy 255, C85200,
C87300, C87610, C97300, C97400, C97600 and C97800 for art casting purposes,
contact Mike directly by:
Phone: 1.800.736.6636 Ext. 2211
Send an Email
New Safety Record, December, 2009
Federal Metal Achieves New Safety Record in Q4, 2009
By year end 2009, The Federal Metal Company has worked more than
500 consecutive days without a lost time accident. This stretch breaks a
long-standing company safety record. The previous safety record was working 330
consecutive work days without a lost-time accident which stood for more than 10
years.
"As we remain lean in this tough economy, we continue to ask
more of our employees. Their dedication to producing quality products with an
attention on safe work habits is a tribute to their commitment to Federal Metal"
says Dale Ragazinskas, Safety Manager at Federal Metal.
Recent safety rates released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
shows that foundries continue to register well above the national manufacturing
average for recordable injuries and illnesses.
The good news is that injuries are not rising concurrently with
productivity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing sector
productivity grew 13.4% in the third quarter of 2009, as output rose 8.4%. The
third quarter gain in manufacturing productivity was the largest in the
manufacturing sector, which begins in the second quarter of 1987. Over the last
four quarters, manufacturing productivity grew 3%.
Peter Nagusky, Executive Vice President of Federal Metal notes,
"In a time of increased demand for our products, we remain extremely focused on
safe work practices."
The Federal Metal Company is a leading supplier of brass and
bronze ingot to the foundry industry throughout the world. Known for lead-free
casting alloys, technical expertise and its customer service, The Federal Metal
Company helps foundries in a wide variety of industries make better castings.
For more information, contact:
Peter Nagusky,
Executive Vice President
1.800.736.6636 Ext. 2206
7250 Division Street
Bedford, Ohio 44146
USA
Send an Email
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