A History of Industry Recognition and Awards

Since 1964 Hunter has dedicated itself to advancing the foundry industry. In return, the industry has recognized the company and its founder for its significant contributions. Examples of that recognition include….

OCTOBER 16, 1990 - The American Cast Metals Association (later the American Foundry Society) cited company founder William Allan ‘Al’ Hunter for “his tremendous contribution to the metal casting industry through the development of the first automated Matchplate-molding system….which enabled small and medium size foundries, to make castings faster and better, and to make significant penetration into new markets, domestic and international.”

SEPTEMBER 25, 2001 – The American Foundry Society (AFS) Wm. J. Grede Award was presented to Al Hunter at the AFS annual Foundry Executive Conference. The award is given “for major contributions in the field of management, marketing or education which has resulted in expanding the effective use of metal castings.”

AUGUST 9, 2012 – The Foundry Education Foundation (FEF) --- a nonprofit organization representing the foundry industry’s first link to college campuses --- recognized Hunter Foundry Machinery Corporation, in appreciation of its “continued dedication to the furtherance of the organization’s goals and ideals.” Hunter also established a scholarship fund for students wishing to enter the foundry industry. Hunter endowed the fund with a $25,000 seed. The scholarship is named for company founder and industry pioneer Al Hunter, who passed away in 2011.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 – Foundry Management & Technology (FM&T), a Penton publication, named company founder Al Hunter to its ‘Hall Of Honor.’ The article detailing Mr. Hunter's induction, stated, “In a career spanning more than five decades, Al Hunter changed the way castings are produced. His concepts improved the methods for manufacturing and handling molds and cores, and his designs brought success to foundries around the word. With his signature accomplishment, the Hunter Automatic Matchplate Molding Machine, he reconceived sand molding, granting flexibility and reliability to hundreds of foundries, helping to make them more competitive. With acknowledgement of his ingenuity & determination, & appreciation for his influences on metalcasting processes, we recognize Al Hunter as a member of the Foundry Management & Technology Hall of Honor.”

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.
RECOGNITION & AWARDS

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THE HUNTER CONNECTION

American Made
AFS Member
Foundry Education

"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