Jeff Cook

Recent Posts
How a New Drum Blast Eliminated a Production Bottleneck
Eagle Alloy takes pride in our reputation as a world-class metalcasting facility, and we make sure every batch of castings is ready for the customer before it leaves our facility. In most cases, the final step before packing and shipping is blasting. The blasting process removes burrs, flash and other excess metal from cast parts and improves their overall surface.
Tags: Facilities, Equipment
Imagine a World Without Steel Casting Supply Issues
We don't have to say how good we are. Our customers do it for us!
Every six months, Eagle Alloy invites customers to fill out a survey rating their satisfaction with our services. We ask about every aspect of the supplier-customer relationship, from answering phone calls and emails to on-time delivery. Our company was founded in 1979 with a goal of providing high-quality castings and superior customer service; customer feedback is invaluable to us as we seek to better align our activities with our guiding principles.
Tags: Eagle Alloy, Testimonials
Staying Open Through COVID-19: Advice from an Essential Business
Operating as an essential business during the COVID-19 crisis is both an honor and a challenge. While Eagle Group companies have maintained continuous production, we have made a number of changes to our daily operations in order to maximize safety and clearly communicate new policies. Many of the lessons we've learned can be adopted by other manufacturing businesses as they prepare to reopen.
Tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Essential Business
The Eagle Group's Response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus
Eagle Alloy, Eagle Precision and Eagle CNC plan to maintain full production capability, even in light of the recent decision by Michigan’s Governor to close all “nonessential” businesses.
Tags: Coronavirus
Introduction to Metalcasting
This introduction to metalcasting provides a brief overview and history of the casting process, as well as an outline of common casting techniques in use today. The goal of this article is to give new manufacturers a better understanding of how metalcasting works and what steps are involved in producing cast products. By the end of the article, the reader should have a clear picture of the opportunities presented by metalcasting, and a sound appreciation for its potential as a modern manufacturing method.
Tags: Metalcasting, Processes, History
Understanding Casting Defects: When Is a Casting Returnable?
Metalcasting is a modern manufacturing industry, and cast products are utilized in 90% of durable goods, from lamp posts to space shuttles. Still, no casting is perfect. Even with recent innovations in simulation and process technology, nearly every cast product will contain some level of defect. A clear understanding of casting defects is vital for any casting customer, as it helps guide realistic expectations when working with a casting facility.
While experienced casting facilities are skilled in finding a balance between cost and quality, purchasers should be closely involved in determining admissible levels of defects in deliverable products.
Tags: Metalcasting, Casting Defects, Defects
Casting Advocates: Get to Know SFSA
In our blog series, Casting Advocates, we explore the work of organizations and industry leaders who work to elevate the metalcasting profession. Here in this first installment, we focus on the Steel Founders' Society of America.
The Steel Founders' Society of America (SFSA) was first organized in 1902, and initial meetings were a "luncheon club" attended by a handful of casting companies from the Midwest and the East Coast. After more than a century of evolution, SFSA is now a major force in promoting metalcasting competitiveness industry-wide. Today, SFSA works to provide members with the tools and knowledge to succeed in today's high-tech manufacturing environment.
Tags: Education, Community, Casting Advocates, Trade Associations
Coming Soon: AFS Regional Student Casting Competition
Forget about the Rose Bowl–this year's college competition to watch is coming up in February!
The AFS Wisconsin Regional Invitational Casting Competition will host casting teams from colleges and universities around the Midwest. Taking place during the AFS Wisconsin Regional Expo and Conference, the event invites student teams to present cast products they've created using school casting facilities. All projects in competition were completed by members of AFS student chapters.
Tags: Metalcasting, Students, Student Metalcasting Competition
Case Study: Reverse Engineering Cast Products on an Expedited Timeline
Cem-Tec, a manufacturer of steel light poles in business since 1974, approached Eagle Alloy, Inc. with an emergency order. Due to an unforeseen supply-chain issue, they needed to find a new foundry to manufacture one of their popular products. With orders in and customers waiting, the clock was already ticking.
The following case study illustrates the steps Eagle Alloy followed to transfer casting of the product to our facility and to ensure that Cem-Tec had high-quality products ready for their customers as soon as possible.
Tags: Eagle Alloy, Case Study, Product Design, Development, Product Development
Manufacturing Day 2018 at Eagle Alloy: Event Recap
Eagle Alloy was lively and bustling on Thursday, October 4th. That's no surprise: our Muskegon, MI campus is regularly buzzing through three shifts a day, five days a week. But this particular day brought in a larger crowd than usual: in celebration of Manufacturing Day 2018 we opened our campus to local schools and community representatives for a demonstration of modern metalcasting.
The goal of Manufacturing Day is to inspire the next generation of manufacturers, and we wanted to support that goal any way we could. By inviting students to witness our work firsthand, we aimed to provide an introduction to modern metalcasting and manufacturing. After nearly 40 years in business, we understand the importance of letting young people know about the exciting potential of metalcasting careers.
Tags: Metalcasting, Education, Community, Manufacturing Day, Event