With a uniquely rich history that has been forged over 120 years, Elyria Foundry is casting its corporate net to attract the next generation of skilled workers to its sprawling job shop foundry. Spanning 33 acres and 460,000 square feet, it is one of the largest gray and ductile iron foundries in the country.
Producing gray and ductile iron castings of up to 10,000 pounds for a variety of markets, including equipment for municipal water, energy and mining, Elyria Foundry is leveraging its entry level on-the-job training to inform local high school students about the career opportunities available at its facility.
Partnering with Lorain County Joint Vocational School (LCJVS), the company is working on initiatives that start with building awareness about its industry and what it does.
“Nobody really knows what goes on here or really anything about us so we’re seeing how we can build up programs, whether it be pre-apprenticeship or internships with the students at JVS,” says Summer Taylor, senior human resources manager. “We recently spoke to a metallurgy class there and talked through our process. We really had a good interactive conversation with the students about not only career paths, but what this industry does and where it impacts the world.”
The company has an apprenticeship program that it will be relaunching this year that will provide a certificate program for those in core making and mold making.
“We’ve just recently increased our onboarding process to be able to more effectively engage with our new associates,” says President Brian Wright. “We present them with a Foundry 101 class, so basically entry level type foundry applications and it gives them at least a jumpstart as to what they can expect day in and day out when they start here as a new employee.”
As one of the largest recyclers in the industry, Elyria Foundry has opportunities for those with no experience and for those who may have specialized skills such as welding or CNC machining.
“Those skills can translate,” Taylor says. “And it’s just opening their eyes to another industry of work.”
Entry level jobs at the foundry start around $17-$18 an hour with a very fast ramp up. Once an associate has been working there for 90 days, they have experienced a considerable pay increase.
“We realize that it’s highly critical that we refocus our efforts to invest in people and give them the tools to allow them to be the best people that they can be, to grow, evolve and develop,” Wright says. “There’s so much more we can do to reinvest people, help train them to help them, give them a better livelihood to help them have a better life overall. That’s something that we’re really proud of here.”
In addition to investing in its workforce and creating a pipeline of new workers for its industry, Elyria Foundry focuses on being a solid community partner by encouraging associates to volunteer several times a year with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the APL and United Way. The company also sponsored the fireworks display for Elyria’s Fourth of July celebration in 2024.
“We have a special place in our hearts for making an impact on the community and trying to make the world better, even if it’s one opportunity at a time,” Taylor says. “Whether that’s a sponsorship like youth boxing, or it’s giving someone a chance at an entry level job when they wouldn’t have one anywhere else.”
