Milwaukee-based Stainless Foundry and Engineering Inc. recently appointed Jim Stachowiak president and chief executive officer. He replaced Dan Brockington, who resigned in February after 25 years with the company.
Stachowiak joined Stainless Foundry in January 2014 as vice president of operations.
Prior to joining Stainless Foundry, Stachowiak worked as a manufacturing executive at GE Waukesha Gas Engines from 2011 to 2014 and as director of manufacturing at Waukesha Engine from 2010 to 2011. He started his career as a machinist apprentice with Harnischfeger Corp., which later became Joy Global Inc.
“It was a little unexpected and kind of challenging, but I was definitely excited,” he said of the promotion.
As president and CEO, Stachowiak said his immediate goals for the company are to reestablish positive relationships with its customer base and to reestablish its technical leadership position in the industry. His long-term goals are to drive profitable growth for the business, invest in technology and enhance the company’s position as a technology leader in the casting industry.
Stachowiak said the downturn in the oil and gas and capital goods industry has led to a decrease in business for Stainless Foundry, but he is feeling more optimistic.
“We hit the bottom of what I’d call the downturn, and we saw orders start to pick up slightly in the last two to three months,” he said. “I expect to see that the rest of this year.”
Stainless Foundry, which employs 200, is a manufacturer of raw and machined castings. It is also a supplier to OEMs servicing the chemical, petrochemical, nuclear, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, food and dairy, metering, and military markets.
