It all began in 1977 with the construction of an aluminum foundry in Wabash, Indiana by CMI International. Shortly thereafter in 1978, production began. CMI International built the plant to take advantage of the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. CMI’s strategy was to convert existing and new automotive cast iron transmission, drive train and power train components to lighter weight aluminum alloys to gain market share. They chose a unique Georg Fisher aluminum sand molding process as their vehicle and the Wabash, Indiana community as the driver in this new venture.
Initially, we at the Wabash plant focused on the aluminum green sand casting of high volume engine components like intake manifolds, balance shaft carriers, water pumps and cylinder heads. Later, we added machining and component assembly processes to the plant’s capabilities and floor space.