Two esteemed leaders in the foundry industry, Henry Lodge and Jeet Radia, are set to be honored with the highest awards from the American Foundry Society at Metalcasting Congress 2024 in Milwaukee.
Henry Lodge, Chairman of the Board of Lodge Manufacturing Co. (South Pittsburg, Tennessee), will be presented with the prestigious Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal. This award recognizes Lodge's outstanding contributions to promoting public esteem or service that reflects credit on the metalcasting industry.
Jeet Radia, Senior Vice President of McWane Inc. (Birmingham, Alabama), will receive the Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal for his exceptional contributions to education and knowledge-sharing within the industry. Radia, who has worked in the environmental, health, and safety field for over 40 years, currently oversees EHS programs at McWane's 30 manufacturing facilities.
Lodge, the great-grandson of Lodge Manufacturing Co.'s founder, Joseph Lodge, began his career in the family business in 1972, eventually rising to the positions of president and CEO before becoming Chairman in 2017. He is a former AFS Board Member and AFS Past President and is an alumnus of the University of the South and Vanderbilt University.
Radia, known for his EHS expertise, joined McWane in 2003. A former AFS Board of Directors member and current chair of the AFS Air Quality Committee, Radia has played a pivotal role in advancing industry knowledge. He is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology and the University of Aston.
"Henry Lodge and Jeet Radia have garnered the admiration of their colleagues through remarkable achievements and the generous sharing of their extensive expertise,” said AFS CEO Doug Kurkul. “Their contributions have fostered a culture of excellence and pride that characterizes the entirety of the metalcasting industry. "
AFS's Gold Medals, established a century ago in 1924, honor exceptional leaders whose careers have had a profound and beneficial impact on the foundry sector.
Award of Scientific Merit and Service Citations
More honors slated to be presented at Metalcasting Congress 2024 include the AFS Award of Scientific Merit and the AFS Service Citation.
The 2024 AFS Award of Scientific Merit will go to Liam Miller, Technical Director-Specialty Sands R&D, American Colloid Co. (Hoffman Estates, Illinois), for his significant scientific contributions to the metalcasting industry through his research, mentorship, papers, and presentations on important sand molding topics.
AFS Service Citations will be presented to Mike Buyarski, COO, The Federal Metal Co. (Bedford, Ohio), for his exceptional service to the metalcasting industry through contributions to the AFS Copper Alloy Division and involvement in developing lead-free copper alloys; Mark Osborne, Senior Engineer-Castings, Wabtec Corp. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), for his outstanding service to the metalcasting industry through his many technical contributions to metalcasting technology, including nine patents, and his leadership in the AFS Light Metals Division, Research Board, and Technical Council; and Brian Rachwitz, Quality and Technical Services Manager, EJ (East Jordan, Michigan), for his meritorious service, mentorship, and leadership above and beyond his role at his company, through key roles on AFS technical committees, councils, boards, speaking at conferences, and leading high-impact industry research projects.
The awards ceremony for Lodge and Radia will take place during a special presentation at the Annual Banquet at Metalcasting Congress 2024, April 23-25 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee. Individuals interested in attending this event can sign up for the banquet on April 23. Recipients of the Award of Scientific Merit and Service Citations will be honored earlier in the day on April 23 during the Volunteer Leadership Awards Luncheon. Tickets are required for both events.
To find out more about Metalcasting Congress or to register, please visit MetalcastingCongress.org.
The American Foundry Society is a dynamic technical and advocacy organization that serves and represents the $50 billion metalcasting industry. AFS is the only association serving the entire industry, including all metals and processes, with a three-part focus on advocacy, education, and innovation. AFS also publishes Modern Casting and Casting Source magazines and presents Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo, the largest metalcasting trade events in North America. Founded in 1896, the organization is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C. More information is available at afsinc.org.