Waupaca's Ironwood plant to close

WAUPACA, Wis. — Officials of Waupaca Foundry Inc. announced in a Monday press release that they will cease operations and close their Ironwood plant in mid-February.

According to the announcement, all employees have been offered relocation to iron foundry operations in Marinette or Waupaca, Wisconsin, or in Tell City, Indiana.

The Ironwood plant — which opened in 2019 and currently employs 18 full-time workers — is a grinding and cleaning operation for castings produced at Plant 1, a gray iron foundry in Waupaca.

The press release said the local facility, which is responsible for processing complex parts — many for the agriculture market — has been affected by changing industry demands and economic pressures.

“The agriculture sector, a key market for Waupaca Foundry, has seen a sharp year-over-year decline in market share,” stated the release. “This decline reflects broader shifts in customer willingness to pay premiums for non-value-added logistics alongside labor shortages and volatile freight costs.”

It added, “These trends highlight the need for strategic adaptation to maintain competitiveness in this challenging economic environment.”

The announcement noted that all iron casting grinding and finishing work processed at the Ironwood facility will be processed at Plant 1 or Plant 2/3 in Waupaca.

“We have been fortunate to have a highly skilled workforce in Ironwood,” said Human Resources Manager Carmen Peskie in the press release. “We sincerely appreciate their dedication and service and hope many will explore opportunities at our other manufacturing facilities.”

Waupaca Foundry operates three Wisconsin-based foundries in Waupaca, where the company is headquartered and which also has a machining/assembly center, and in Marinette. The company’s other foundry is in Tell City, Indiana.

Waupaca Foundry, Inc. describes itself as “North America’s leading supplier of iron castings to the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction, and industrial markets. It produces gray iron castings, ductile iron castings, and austempered ductile iron castings, using state of-the-art processes and technology.”

The Monday announcement concluded that the company at large employs 4,000 people.

The manufacturer states that it also specializes in precision machining and assembly.