Applying Meaning to a Foundry

Applying Meaning to a Foundry

Dark, dingy, dirty, and wasteful; these adjectives describe how a foundry is often perceived by the outside world. However, the operation of our foundry is anything but. Due to great efforts placed on a clean and environmentally friendly workplace, we are able to recycle and find “green” alternatives to otherwise hazardous chemicals.

When you think of the word ‘recycling’, what comes to mind? Chances are that you jumped to the reuse of plastic bags, along with the preservation of newspapers, plastic containers, bottles, etc. Here in the manufacturing world, recycling goes hand-in-hand with the reuse of any and all materials that are used in the creation of the products. This also includes potential waste streams that may be produced by manufacturing processes.

In a lot of ways, a foundry’s success rests in their ability to properly reuse as many materials as possible. Knowing this, A.Y. McDonald’s factory and foundry recycles anything from cardboard to pallets and metal banding to sand. But our recycling efforts don’t stop there. From the packaging of the materials to the materials themselves, the entire cycle of the product is subject to recycling or reuse. After all, it’s safe to assume that any foundry’s goal is to achieve recycling at 100% of its operation while also eliminating landfill costs.

According to a blog written by Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd., matter cannot be created or destroyed, only converted. By using this motto in a foundry, there’s no reason not to be able to find a way to recycle some if not all of the materials utilized. Any foundry manager will tell you that recycling is crucial to the manufacturing process. In fact, it is taken so seriously here at A.Y. McDonald that multiple committees and work groups have been formed to study not only the best way to recycle but also on how to reduce or eliminate internal scrap within our manufacturing processes.

The operation of our foundry is anything but dingy, dirty, and wasteful. This is in a large part due to the amount of recycling and reuse that is seen as the way of life in our facility. While being both environmentally friendly and helping reduce cost, recycling is the way to operate. Through the efforts of foundries such as A.Y. McDonald, we aim to redefine the adjectives that describe foundries so the outside world can think of us as clean, resourceful, and innovative.