1979
Geof Fowler begins a temporary internship as an Estimator at Ductile Iron
Foundry, Stratford, CT. Temporary turns full time as Geof is promoted to Assistant Plant Manager. Duties include designing risering and
gating to ensure casting quality standards are met as well as maintaining metalurgical control.
Leading a much needed plant modernization program, word gets out about the good things happening at DIF. Geof is asked by other
foundries to come in as a consultant. One of Geof's clients is The Foundry, Inc. in
Hartford, CT, a predominantly manual (labor-intensive) aluminum, bronze. zinc (zamac),
and lead sand cast foundry. Upper management reacts well to Geof's
suggestions but on-the-floor operations doesn't buy in does little to implement change.
1983
Geof is invited to join TFI as Partner and Operations Manager. Immediate focus is on organizing a strangely
organized shop, implementing continuous improvement practices, adding quality control, and modernizing the foundry operations to include electric melt, pallet line mold
handling, and computerization
of operations. Sales are quadrupled and management sights turn to acquisitions, which include Sutherland Foundry in Billerica, MA and
Harmony Castings in Harmony, PA. At-the-time, Harmony Casting was one of two American foundries using the Japanese V-Process to manufacture Aluminum Castings.
With many challenges but a much greater growth potential at Harmony, TFI is spun off in 1988. Geof continues on in a consulting role for the next 5 years.
1993
Geof, along with Rifet Hasanbasic (Orange Castings, Orange, MA) form ABC SALES and in quick sucession a number of America's best-run foundries and machine shops ask to be represented. Business quickly expands, exceeding 2 million in sales that first year. Several associate sales engineers are added with the years of casting experience exceeding 100.
