Conestoga Foundrymen's Association

The Conestoga Foundrymen's Association (CFA) is an Industry Trade Group consisting of member foundries in South Central Pennsylvania and foundry supply companies that service those foundries. The purpose of the CFA was, and remains today, a means for people working in the foundry industry to come together, socialize and share knowledge about their trade.

History

The CFA was founded by three people: H. Nelson Albright, manager of the Columbia Malleable Castings Corporation (now Anvil International's Columbia, PA plant), John W. Mentzer of Lancaster Foundry Supply, and Clyde Sanders of the American Colloid Company^[1]. The name "Conestoga" was taken from the Conestoga Wagon, which was used by American Pioneers to settle the American West and was invented and built in Lancaster County, PA.

The CFA held its first meeting on April 27, 1949. Todd Belfield of Cochran Foundry was the organization's first chairman. Membership reached a high in 1974-75 with 110 sustaining companies and 379 associate members. The CFA held regular meetings which focused on educating the people working in member foundries on "how-to" of foundry operations. the CFA started its annual golf outing in 1950-51 and still holds this event today.

The CFA Today

Membership in the CFA today stands at 45 member companies and about 147 associate members^[2]. This decline from the 1975 high is due to the decline in the overall number of foundries in South Central Pennsylvania, and in all of the United States, because of outsourcing of casting production to low wage countries like Mexico, India and China. Overall foundry production is also in decline due to the innovation of other production methods and materials like stamping and plastic injection molding. Despite this decline in membership, active members in the CFA still regularly attend meetings which provide valuable information to management and supervisors. The golf outing is still held every year and proceeds go toward the CFA's annual scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a student at Penn State who is studying the cast metals sciences. The CFA also holds at least two joint meetings every year with local American Foundry Society chapters: The Chesapeake Chapter and The Keystone Chapter.

References

1. ^ The Conestoga Foundrymen's Association and its History, J.H. Bruhn
2. ^ Connestoga Foundrymen's Association - Program and Membership, 2010-2011