The post AMERICAN Makes the Cut to Share in $6 Billion In Federal Funding for Decarbonization Projects appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The $185.4 million Next Gen Melt Project is scheduled for completion in 2027 and replaces AMERICAN’s current single cupola furnace with four coreless induction furnaces. The electric-melt technology will reduce the facility’s CO2e emissions by 62% and melting/holding process CO2e emissions by 95%, as the company is able to source energy from cleaner and renewable sources. In addition, the new facility will help retain higher paying jobs at the Birmingham facility and increase the company’s melting capacity by 25% to meet growing demand for AMERICAN’s products in the water and wastewater markets.
“We were thrilled to learn we had made it to the negotiation phase of the awards,” said Scott Murphy, chief financial officer and project co-lead. “We are hopeful for a substantial amount of funding to offset the cost of this project and support others. This is the first of several initiatives planned over the next five to seven years to improve the company’s carbon footprint and sustainable manufacturing processes.”
The Next Gen Melt Project will be among the first in the ductile iron pipe industry to use this electric-melt technology on this scale. “We believe this technology can revolutionize the way ductile iron pipe is produced in the U.S.,” said Joe Thomas, senior vice president of engineering and project co-lead. “These upgrades can be replicated throughout the industry to provide lower-carbon footprint piping for municipal water systems to replace America’s aging water infrastructure.”
OCED was established to accelerate clean energy technologies and fill a critical innovation gap on the path to achieving our nation’s climate goals of net zero emissions by 2050. OCED’s mission is to deliver clean energy demonstration projects at scale in partnership with the private sector to accelerate deployment, market adoption and the equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system. Visit energy.gov/oced to learn more.
Founded in 1905 in Birmingham, Alabama, AMERICAN manufactures ductile iron pipe, spiral-welded steel pipe, valves and hydrants for the waterworks industry and steel pipe for the energy and carbon capture industries. The company’s diversified product line also includes fire pumps, structural casing and piling, castings for large machinery and specialty rubber products. Visit american-usa.com to learn more.
The post AMERICAN Makes the Cut to Share in $6 Billion In Federal Funding for Decarbonization Projects appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post AFC SEMPER® RPM Offers Water Hammer Insight for Monroe, North Carolina appeared first on American USA News.
]]>With growth comes the need for reliable water and wastewater services, and those are managed by the City’s own Water Resources Department. In the summer of 2022, the department saw a handful of main breaks but was having difficulty finding the source because of their locations in desolate or hard to find areas. With the implementation of pressure sensing technology – the AMERICAN Flow Control SEMPER® Remote Pressure Monitor (RPM) – Monroe has gained greater insight into its system and why these main breaks are occurring.
“We began using the AFC SEMPER RPM in October 2022 as a basis for leak detection,” said Cole Hancock, a civil engineer with Monroe’s Water Resources Department. “Nine units were placed on fire hydrants in strategic spots across our distribution system to give us spiderweb coverage. We discovered a lot of cool statistics and characteristics about our system we didn’t know.”
Water hammer, or sudden pressure surges and drops, was one issue the city discovered with the devices. “Water hammers can cause main breaks,” Hancock explained. “The AFC SEMPER RPM allowed us to see these pressure surges that were causing water hammer.”
Hancock said when AMERICAN Flow Control Sales Representatives Terry Freck and Paul McNeill first demonstrated the pressure monitoring devices, they were amazed at what they were able to find. “Terry and Paul, as well as everyone at AFC, have been very helpful, informative and responsive.”
While the city operates a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system, the AFC SEMPER RPM provides additional insight and an instantaneous measurement of pressure. “With the units, we can more easily identify a problem and narrow our scope of research to resolve it,” Hancock said. “We’ve also been able to pinpoint cases of water theft using the pressure monitors.”
Another benefit of the AFC SEMPER RPM is the Unity® software it works with, according to Hancock. “The desktop and the app are easy to use, and we haven’t had any issues we needed to work around,” he said. “I wish all our software was as easy to use as Unity.”
Because of the success of the first nine AFC SEMPER RPMs, the city purchased eight more units a year later. “Before learning about the AFC SEMPER RPM, I wasn’t aware there was technology that provided this much insight,” Hancock said. “I would absolutely recommend it to other water utilities so they can see what’s going on inside their distribution systems.”
The AFC SEMPER RPM is a wireless, battery-powered pressure recorder that can be installed on any hydrant or system asset. The device’s “Lift and Shift” mobility allows utilities to move the units throughout their systems to help identify problem areas. To learn more, visit https://american-usa.com/products/valves-and-hydrants/semper/.
The post AFC SEMPER® RPM Offers Water Hammer Insight for Monroe, North Carolina appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post Women’s History Month: Susan Young Eagan’s Life of Service appeared first on American USA News.
]]>She was described as someone who “sought no honor or place for herself,” yet her actions have benefited generations of people. As a young widow in 1924, she had the power to claim a profitable pipe manufacturing company for herself and her children, but she chose a different path.
AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company celebrates 2024 Women’s History Month by remembering Susan Young Eagan. This year’s theme centers on women who advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. What Susan Eagan did for AMERICAN was perhaps one of the most inclusive and self-less actions a person could take, and it solidified a dream she shared with her husband, John J. Eagan, AMERICAN’s founder. They envisioned a company run by the Golden Rule. The result has been generations of opportunity for people from diverse walks of life.
“Without the action taken by Susan Eagan, our company’s history would have taken a totally different turn.” – Julie Shedd, Senior Vice President in Charge of Human Resources
“Without the action taken by Susan Eagan, our company’s history would have taken a totally different turn,” says Senior Vice President in Charge of Human Resources Julie Shedd. “Each April, we have Eagan Day, honoring John Eagan, but you cannot honor Mr. Eagan without also honoring his wife Susan. Their stories are inseparable.”
Susan Baum Young was born in 1887 to Pennsylvania couple Eliza Caskey and Samuel Young, the latter a Presbyterian minister. The family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1890, where Susan was educated at Agnes Scott College.
The school had begun in 1889 as Decatur Female Seminary, a Christian school to train women leaders. Still making an impact today, in 2024, Agnes Scott is ranked first on a list of the nation’s most innovative liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report Best College rankings.
At the school, and at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Susan developed a heart for social service. She graduated from Agnes Scott in 1906 during the Progressive Era, a time of social, political and labor reform. She worked tirelessly in the ministries and missions of Central Presbyterian, often working alongside her future husband.
In 1905, John Eagan was among seven Atlanta-area businessmen to invest in the idea of Charlotte Blair to establish an iron pipe foundry in Birmingham, Alabama, to meet the water infrastructure needs of the nation’s growing population centers. Notably, Blair was an accomplished businesswoman in the iron foundry industry at a time when only approximately 19% of women worked outside the home. The initial investors incorporated AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company in Atlanta on October 9, 1905. John Eagan was named president.
Susan and John were married in 1919. Although the couple could have enjoyed a life of wealth and leisure, they chose instead to serve God by investing in the lives of others in Atlanta, Birmingham and beyond. They would have two children, William Russell in 1920 and Ann in 1921.
By the end of 1921, Mr. Eagan had become sole proprietor of the company by purchasing all the common stock from the other investors. He had a purpose and a plan for doing this and, as fate would have it, fulfillment of these would rest in Susan’s hands.
In 1922, with only Susan and his attorney knowing at the time, Mr. Eagan wrote the codicil to his will, stating his desire to place all the company stock in a trust for employees to ensure “service to the purchasing public and to labor on the basis of the Golden Rule.”
John Eagan died in March 1924 and his company shares were the major portion of his estate. Under the laws of Georgia, a man could not leave this much of his estate to anyone other than his family. Even though he had willed the company to its employees in a trust, Susan had the opportunity to keep all or part of the company shares. Instead, she went to court to secure the right to turn over ownership of AMERICAN to the employee trust.
In her 82 years of life, Susan’s devotion to serving others was manifested in many ways. She served on the National Council of Churches Executive Committee; was president of the Atlanta Young Women’s Christian Association; served on the World Service Committee of the National YWCA Board and the Salvation Army Advisory Board; and for 30 years was chair of Central Presbyterian’s Baby Clinic for mothers who couldn’t afford medical care, a project John Eagan had started. She also served on the Commission on Interracial Cooperation, an organization of ministers, educators and citizens organized to improve the situation of Blacks in the South.
Mrs. Eagan served on AMERICAN’s Board of Directors until her death in January 1970. She left an indelible mark on the company, and her unselfish action echoes through the AMERICAN family of companies to this day.
The post Women’s History Month: Susan Young Eagan’s Life of Service appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post A 50-Year Partnership Leads to Successful HDD Installation of 48-inch AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe appeared first on American USA News.
]]>Because the pipe would pass under the Waccamaw River, 2,500 feet of the large diameter pipe would be installed using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). And because the line would pass through the federally protected Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge on both sides of the river, the contractor would have to build a one-mile temporary roadway through the wetlands.
Moreover, for Ruby-Collins, the specification of spiral-welded steel pipe for the water main was a first. “There have not been a lot of steel pipe projects in the Carolinas,” Cline said. “This was our first spiral-welded steel pipe project.”
In light of the many challenges, Cline said one decision was easy – choosing AMERICAN’s 48-inch spiral-welded steel pipe. “We’ve partnered with AMERICAN for 50 years using ductile iron pipe, and it made sense to work with AMERICAN for our first steel job. We had an existing comfort level with them.”
Traversing a Tidal Swamp
The tidal freshwater wetlands of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge are a vital corridor for wildlife, and they also provide filtration for the Grand Strand district’s primary source of drinking water.
“We had to get permits from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and we had to build a temporary road, with a platform to support the drillers,” said Matt Minor, chief of engineering and construction for the authority.
The contractors knew the Waccamaw wetlands are regularly affected by tidal flooding from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and that’s why the plans called for the pipeline to be anchored in the swamp. What they didn’t know was that a major river flood would affect the site during the build, covering the drilling platforms with several feet of water. Amid the flood-related delay, one thing Cline’s team depended on was the partnership with AMERICAN to help the team succeed on this challenging portion of the project.
“We have an established relationship with Ruby-Collins,” said AMERICAN Senior Territory Manager John Walsh. “We provide essential value by furnishing quality products, industry knowledge and unparalleled service.”
AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe (ASWP) Territory Manager Kyle Couture added, “This job was a success because of planning and preparation. We hosted Ruby-Collins for a plant tour at ASWP in Columbia, South Carolina, to help them prepare for handling and installation, and we worked closely with their installation crews throughout the project, answering questions and providing guidance on typical industry practices. Once the pipeline was in service, Grand Strand staff also toured our ASWP facility to help them prepare for service and maintenance needs for the pipeline.”
Serving a Growing Population
The Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority is a special purpose district serving unincorporated areas in the vicinity of Myrtle Beach. The new 48-inch water line, an upgrade from an existing 36-inch line, will accommodate an expansion of the existing water treatment plant. In addition, the project included converting the former water main into a new sewer force main.
Work on the $25 million project began in early 2020 and was completed in June 2022. It is expected to enable continued growth for years to come, Minor said, “We’re a fast-growing area, and with this, we’ll have additional capacity.”
The post A 50-Year Partnership Leads to Successful HDD Installation of 48-inch AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post Eagle Scout Project Leads to Self-Sustaining Drinking Water Stations in Alabaster appeared first on American USA News.
]]>Holly Allred, Ayden’s mom and an AFC product engineering technician, said Ayden chose his project because the family enjoys walking their dog along Buck Creek Trail, but they didn’t like for their dog to drink from the creek because of possible parasites and other things in the water. “Ayden was aware other scouts placed water coolers for people and pets along local trails but those must be maintained by someone,” Holly said. “He decided he’d like to create something self-sustaining and began researching plans for water distillation stations. These stations collect rainwater and use sunlight to distill water to a purified form for drinking. He said he got his inspiration from a survival game.”
Ayden installed two water distillation stations at Buck Creek Trail on October 28, 2023, one at Buck Creek Park and the other at Warrior Park. He was officially awarded Eagle Scout on February 5, 2024, after completing his board review. “Reviewers emphasized how pleased and impressed they were with Ayden’s Eagle Scout project,” Holly said. “We are so proud of Ayden and all he’s accomplished.”
Ayden has been a scout since the first grade when he joined Cub Scout Pack 220 of Alabaster. He earned his Arrow of Light, the highest Cub Scout rank, in fifth grade and then became a Boy Scout with Troop 2 in Helena. He is also a member of the Air Force JROTC and serves on their color guard team, presenting the flag at school and community events.
The post Eagle Scout Project Leads to Self-Sustaining Drinking Water Stations in Alabaster appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post Engineers Week 2024: Welcome to the Future appeared first on American USA News.
]]>
When Zeb Dahlke’s engineering journey took unexpected turns, his resiliency and innovative curiosity propelled him through academia and to AMERICAN. His engineering journey began at Wallace State Community College and carried him to UAB, where he found his passion for material science in his third year of college.
Dahlke encourages students who are worried about tuition costs to network with engineers in the community and to explore co-op and scholarship opportunities to assist them in reaching their academic and career goals.
“After earning enough credits to transfer from Wallace State to UAB through the Joint Admissions Program, I applied for engineering scholarships that helped me attend UAB to get my bachelor’s in material science,” Dahlke said. “While at UAB, I was selected for a co-op at a manufacturing company that enabled me to gain experience in the field and opened new doors for me.”
After earning his master’s degree in material science at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Dahlke joined AMERICAN as a manufacturing engineer in Steel Pipe QA in September 2021. In QA, he tracks the properties and microstructure of pipe and researches new ways to refine the company’s production processes.
Dahlke advises engineering students to abandon the fear of failure to improve problem-solving skills. “Resiliency is key in this industry,” he added. “Being prepared to fail time and time again until you find the answer, is what will lead you to long-term success.”
Growing up in a military family, Mike Kora watched his dad excel in the U.S. Air Force and knew he wanted to find a company where he could be part of a close-knit team and one where his Christian beliefs would be shared by his co-workers.
AMERICAN’s people and the Christian principles of the company’s founder John Eagan are what drew him to the company, Kora said. “During my hiring interview, I was asked what my priorities were,” he continued. “I said they were God, my family and my job, in that order. I was happy to hear the Engineering director at the time say that I had arrived at the right place.”
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Kora joined the company in 2002 as a design engineer and was able to apply his knowledge of design and electrical engineering to program PLCs (programmable logic controllers) in the plant, design substations and collaborate with electricians in the Plant Maintenance Department to help design and commission new machines.
Kora received his Professional Engineer License in 2006 and now serves as a senior project manager, overseeing the projects of seven electrical engineers in the Engineering Division.
Kora advises students to not be discouraged if they come across difficulties in school and said there will always be opportunities in engineering. “Persevere through engineering school and surround yourself with people who know the material well,” he said. “Remember there will always be a demand for more engineers in the manufacturing industry. Engineering is tough, but it’s very rewarding.”
After completing his engineering co-op at Mercedes-Benz in Vance, Alabama, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christian Stewart searched for an engineering position that would provide stability and security. After hearing about AMERICAN’s culture and Golden Rule business philosophy from family members, including his father Rob Stewart, who works with Human Resources, he researched the company online and met with recruiters at a career fair. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama, he applied for a manufacturing engineer position with the company in December 2021. Stewart passed the interview process and joined AMERICAN in the middle of Christmas shutdown. He noted it was the perfect opportunity to learn about the company’s production equipment and facilites from co-workers.
“Being able to work with other manufacturing engineers and Plant Maintenance employees on refurbishing existing equipment, installing new equipment and performing pre-startup checklists was a great way to learn how each part of production works,” Stewart said. “I saw everyone working together to make sure everything was in place for the new year, and I met so many great people who I still work with today.”
As a manufacturing engineer in the Melting Department, Stewart works on continuous improvement projects involving the cupola, mixer and induction furnaces. Stewart also evaluates new technologies to improve the company’s processes and efficiencies.
“Working in the manufacturing industry requires you to think out of the box to find new approaches to solve problems and create ways to prevent them from happening again,” he added.
The post Engineers Week 2024: Welcome to the Future appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post Specification Rubber Expands Its Operations in Shelby County appeared first on American USA News.
]]>“Since our doors opened in 1968, we’ve had six significant expansions and have outgrown our existing property,” said Spec Rubber President Steven Smith. “Purchasing this property ensures our strategic goals for growth are met in the next five to 10 years, and we are able to continue to meet the needs of our customers.”
Pelham Mayor Gary W. Waters said, “Specification Rubber has always been just across the road and has been a good neighbor. I expect the excellent relationship we’ve had with the company to continue as they move into Pelham to expand their operations.”
Spec Rubber expects renovation of the existing warehouse to be complete in six months. The company expects to increase its workforce by about 10% with this expansion. “This is an investment in our facility, operations and teammates,” Smith said.
“We are very excited to have Specification Rubber Products expanding a portion of their operation to the city of Pelham,” added Economic Development Director Michael Simon. “Specification Rubber Products’ acquisition of these 16 acres, future renovations of the 120,000 square-foot building and the jobs created marks a significant investment of time and financial resources. We appreciate them choosing Pelham and look forward to fostering a great working relationship.”
Specification Rubber is a subsidiary of Birmingham-based AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company, founded in 1905. Spec Rubber was recognized as a Shelby County Small Business of the Year in 2023 and one of Alabama’s safest manufacturers by Business Alabama magazine in 2019. For the past three years, the company has been named a Rubber News Best Place to Work. Visit specrubber.com to learn more.
The AMERICAN family of companies also manufactures fire hydrants, valves, ductile iron pipe and spiral-welded steel pipe for the waterworks industry and high-frequency-welded steel pipe for the oil and natural gas industries. AMERICAN’s diversified product line also includes fire pumps, structural casing and piling, and castings for large machinery. For more information, visit american-usa.com.
The post Specification Rubber Expands Its Operations in Shelby County appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe Performs in New Music City Stadium Project appeared first on American USA News.
]]>This project involved relocating an existing sewer force main near the site of the new stadium, which will be located adjacent to the current Nissan Stadium. Pipe shipments were temporarily sidelined throughout the six-month project to accommodate fans and guests alike. Project work began in late April 2023 and was completed at the end of November 2023.
“The advantage of using spiral-welded steel pipe for this project was its versatility,” said AMERICAN Sales Engineer Jim Williamson. “This was not a conventionally designed project, and the owner and contractor had a quick turnaround time to complete the work in preparation for the groundbreaking.”
Another challenge was minimal space to store the 60-inch spiral-welded steel pipe in the parking lot of Nissan Stadium. “The pipe staging area was very confined, about 520 feet by 20 feet,” said Garney Project Manager Tony Naredo. “With help from AMERICAN, we were able to get pipe on-site when we needed it and still work around whatever events were happening at Nissan Stadium. AMERICAN was very helpful and responsive throughout the project.”
The spiral-welded steel pipe was manufactured in Columbia, South Carolina. AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe has two other manufacturing facilities in Flint, Michigan, and Paris, Texas.
The post AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe Performs in New Music City Stadium Project appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post COUTURE SELECTED TO UNITED ABILITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS appeared first on American USA News.
]]>Couture began working for AMERICAN in 2001 after receiving her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completing a co-op in AMERICAN’s Marketing Department. During her more than 22 years with the company, Couture has held positions in Marketing, Customer Service and PPIM for both the AMERICAN Ductile Iron Pipe and AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe Sales Divisions. She became manager of PPIM in 2014 and remained in this position until 2017, when she was selected customer service manager for AMERICAN Steel Pipe. Couture was named director of project management for AMERICAN Steel Pipe in July 2021.
The post COUTURE SELECTED TO UNITED ABILITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS appeared first on American USA News.
]]>The post MARSH SELECTED CHAIR OF AUBURN UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING ALUMNI BOARD appeared first on American USA News.
]]>Marsh received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in 2001 and his MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2011. He joined AMERICAN in 2002 as a project specialist, was promoted to sales engineer in 2006 and was named senior territory manager in 2019. Marsh is a member of the American Water Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The post MARSH SELECTED CHAIR OF AUBURN UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING ALUMNI BOARD appeared first on American USA News.
]]>