Patents

Hunter Foundry Machinery Corporation’s history of innovation began in 1963, and includes a total of 143 patents in the U.S. and around the world.

Industry Firsts

Hunter was the first company whose machinery included the following:

  • Technology Bridging The Gap Between Jobbing And High Production
  • Gravity Fill-Type Automatic Matchplate Molding
  • Both Matchplate And Cope-And-Drag Tooling
  • Recipe-Programmable Automatic Matchplate Molding
  • Automatic Coresetters For Matchplate Molding
  • Turntable Mold Handling Offered In Several Diameters
  • Integral Fume Hoods, From One To Six Levels Of Controlled In-Mold Cooling, For All Mold Sizes In All Models
  • More Than 90% Of Parts, Labor, And Components Made In The U.S.

Hunter Patents

Here are their currently held patents. Most of these patents are also filed in pertinent foreign countries.

YEAR ISSUED PRODUCT PATENT #

2001

Transfer Conveyor for a Sand Mold Handling System

6,263,952 B1

2003

Pouring Conveyor for Mold Handling System

6,533,022

2003

Method for Forming Sand Molds & Matchplate Molding Machine

6,622,772 B1

2004

Matchplate Molding Machine for Forming Sand Molds

6,817,403 B2

2006

Automated Clamping Mechanism & Mold Flask Incorporating Same

7,150,310 B2

2007

Squeeze Station for Automated Molding Machine

7,210,515 B2

2008

Automated Clamping Mechanism & Mold Flask Incorporating Same

7,328,736 B2

2009

Foundry Mold Handling System with Multiple Dump Outputs & Method

7,475,716 B2

2009

Method & Apparatus for Conveying Sand Molds to a Metal Pouring Machine

7,637,303 B2

2010

Method & Apparatus for Transferring Sand into Flask of Molding Machine

7,819,168 B2

2014

Method & Apparatus for Conveying Sand Molds

8,640,858 B2

2014

Linear Motion Sand Molding Machine

8,826,967 B1


Many of the above U.S. patents are also protected by foreign patents.  In addition, we have several pending U.S. patents for new developments.

HUNTER FOUNDRY MACHINERY ACQUIRED BY SMG GROUP

Hunter Corp. AcquiredSMG Group announces the acquisition of Hunter Foundry Machinery Corporation, the world leader in matchplate molding machines, mold handling equipment and sand casting technology for the global foundry market. The acquisition was finalized on July 24, 2024 at Hunter headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois (Chicago).

Manny Gandhi, CEO of SMG Group, expressed his thoughts about this strategic move for his firm, “Bringing Hunter into the SMG portfolio is a significant milestone and an exciting new venture for us. We are committed to maintaining the Hunter family legacy, while infusing essential capital for global growth and enhancing the existing Hunter management team with top-tier talent. Our goal is to provide ongoing world-class service to Hunter customers, supporting their growth and contributing to their success with the engineering expertise, quality equipment and foundry production talents that have made Hunter a leader in the industry for decades.”

Bill Hunter, the former Chairman of Hunter, notes, “This transition for Hunter will result in increased capabilities for the company, while maintaining our core strengths. Manny and his team will bring considerable value to the overall Hunter operation and we look forward to ongoing success from this decision. My son Doug will carry on the legacy traditions started by my dad, Al Hunter, who founded the company in 1964, with Doug bringing his 25 years of experience to the new team. Our current president, Peter Li, who headed up our Shanghai operation and has been a key component in this transition, will likewise remain in the Hunter family. We have been blessed with longtime employees who know the industry and our company’s ability to serve it. That gave me a very positive outlook in making this decision.” 

The new SMG Group management team along with the existing Hunter management team are 100% committed to providing value including delivery timelines which meet our client’s individual and business goals.

Hunter is a global force in the foundry business, with an installed base in nearly every industrialized country in the world. In addition to its machinery manufacturing location in Chicago, Hunter has a worldwide network of sales agents, application engineers and support service personnel.

The company was founded in 1964 by Al Hunter, who pioneered the automated matchplate molding machine concept and held dozens of patents in the industry. His son Bill, the former Chairman, who will remain in a consulting role during this transition, likewise developed numerous innovations in sand molding machine and mold handling equipment technology for the global foundry market. Bill’s son Doug and his two siblings will retain a minority equity interest at Hunter, going forward. Doug is well-known in the foundry business, having spent the last decade in manufacturing, sales and customer service. 

For further information on this announcement, interested parties may contact:

HUNTER FOUNDRY MACHINERY CORPORATION
2222 Hammond Drive
Schaumburg, Illinois 60196-1094
Email: info@hunterfoundry.com
Phone: 847-397-5110

THE HUNTER ADVANTAGE

Hunter Foundry's global reputation for quality and reliability is based on the decades-long-lasting foundry machinery it builds. Since 1964, our products have been built on the fact that using our prescribed methods of maintenance and genuine Hunter replacement parts, your Hunter Foundry equipment will last for decades. That’s what we call THE HUNTER ADVANTAGE, and why more foundries use Hunter than any other matchplate molding and mold handling machinery in the world.
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RELIABILITY

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THE HUNTER CONNECTION

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AFS Member
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"INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP" ALSO MEANS "INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT."

Hunter Foundry Machinery Corporation is honored to serve as an active member of the industry's leading associations, such as the American Foundry Society (AFS) and the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF).
THE HUNTER CONNECTION