The foundry industry has faced significant growing pains over the last decade. Globally, there are increasing geopolitical changes, sustainability efforts, supply chain disruptions, and more. In addition, the introduction of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and the push for automation and efficient technology are at an all-time high.
For more than 65 years, General Kinematics (GK) has stood at the forefront of foundry innovation, offering equipment and turnkey systems. It doesn’t intend to stop any time soon. For global foundry leaders, the distinction between a component supplier and a true process partner has never been more critical. Here’s how GK has, and will continue to, step up to meet the challenges foundries face.
Foundry Innovation on a Global Scale
General Kinematics has served companies worldwide for nearly half a century, but over the last few decades, GK has focused on providing even more localized support to circumvent supply chain issues and international shipping challenges. We have engineers and manufacturers in strategic locations around the world to make every foundry project easier for customers and mitigate risks in the global supply chain.
General Kinematics has continued its global growth and market expansion through the acquisition of key industry players, including Foundry Equipment Company, Cyrus Vibrating Equipment, Tuffman Equipment, SKALA Australasia, and, most recently, Llambec Technology.
These strategic acquisitions have allowed GK to expand its product offerings and provide comprehensive support to its global customer base. Unlike competitors who rely on regional silos or export from other locations, GK integrates global engineering resources with local responsiveness, ensuring every project benefits from our worldwide expertise.
Jim Egan, CRO of General Kinematics, stated, “What matters to us is how we solve the challenges our customers bring us on a daily basis. Our focus is delivering solutions that directly improve our customers’ ability to increase production. Increasing our capabilities through acquisitions is one way to achieve that goal.”
Foundry Systems
For decades, General Kinematics has developed turnkey systems for foundries around the globe as a premier foundry system integrator that offers quality, cutting-edge, and cost-effective turnkey foundry solutions. When the company launched GK Systems as its own brand, it became apparent that the need for comprehensive engineering support was at an all-time high. To immediately meet capacity demands, GK purchased Foundry Equipment Company (FECo). From there, growth was rapid. Now, with a dedicated team of 30-plus engineers and an in-house project management and construction team, GK Systems delivers turnkey foundry projects from start to finish, ensuring unmatched service and customer satisfaction.
The word “systems” can mean a lot of things. For GK Systems, we do as much or as little of the project for you, regardless of the project scope. From a new molding machine to a greenfield turn-key facility, our team is there to support you the entire way. We partner with the best suppliers in the industry to deliver to you an end result that performs.
GK Systems works as your one-stop supplier. From initial concept, design, project planning, total procurement services, as well as construction supervision and support, GK Systems can manage and deliver your foundry EPC project. Each system is custom-engineered to work seamlessly across processes, reducing energy usage, maintenance costs, and downtime.
Brian Brown, General Manager of GK Systems, added, “When we take on a project, we become an extension of our customer’s engineering team. They come to us with goals, such as: increase capacity, improve quality, build a new line, and more. We provide the roadmap and the manpower to get them there. It’s a true partnership built on decades of experience. We handle the complexities of integrating equipment from multiple suppliers and managing the project timeline, so our client can focus on running their business.”
2026 and Beyond
At the core of every piece of GK equipment is a revolutionary engineering principle: our proven Two-Mass Drive technology. While others focus on adapting existing technology, GK’s foundational innovation ensures our equipment uses less energy, withstands the most extreme foundry environments, and delivers a lower total cost of ownership. This is all made possible by General Kinematics’ team of dedicated experts, who are recognized throughout the industry as innovators and collaborators in foundry equipment and processes.
For foundries investing in their future, the choice is clear. You can partner with a company that is adapting to change, or you can partner with the company that has consistently driven that change from the beginning. General Kinematics is not just leading the industry into the future. We’re building it.
Tom Musschoot, CEO of General Kinematics, added, “Whether it’s our material handling equipment or our GK Systems team, General Kinematics continues to set the standard in high throughput, high quality, and high-performing foundry solutions. We have invested in bringing on the best talent in the industry and in adding the latest technologies for engineering and manufacturing to push the limits of what the ‘Foundry of the Future™’ can be.”