News
State Line Investment Doubles Foundry’s Throughput – Customers Benefit from Turnaround Times, Increased Capacity
“Vintage” is fine if you’re shopping for a muscle car. But an aging electric panel that controls electric induction melting furnaces is not quite as appealing as a late 60’s Chevrolet Camaro. “The panel was vintage, from the mid-1990s and past its expected lifespan,” says Jesse Milks, president of State Line Foundries – which includes…
Read MoreDuctile Iron Castings: How State Line Restored an OEM’s Confidence
The Foundry Finds Answers – In a Hurry There are bad days, and then there are days that shake a business to its core. This story started with a phone call to a Tier 1 supplier (referred to as Supplier X going forward). An OEM customer – a big OEM customer – had experienced an…
Read MoreState Line Foundries Featured in IMEC’s Made in My Hometown Series
State Line Foundries is proud to be included in IMEC’s Made in My Hometown series, which highlights manufacturers making an impact in communities across Illinois. The feature shares more about our story, our work, and the role manufacturing continues to play in strengthening our region. We invite you to read the full feature on IMEC’s website, download…
Read MoreInvesting for the Long Haul: What’s Ahead for State Line Foundries in 2026
Reinvestment has always been a priority at State Line Foundries. Yet 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly important year. Several significant projects are already underway – all focused on strengthening operations, improving turnaround times for customers and creating a better work environment. “These investments aren’t about short-term gains,” says Jesse Milks, president at…
Read MoreWhy Employees Stay: Inside the Culture of State Line Foundries
Employee longevity is essential to the success of State Line Foundries. The company specializes in low-volume castings that are often difficult to produce. Meeting those challenges requires a veteran team that has seen just about everything. So how does State Line retain employees in the specialized foundry industry? It starts with taking nothing for granted…
Read MoreWinnebago Foundry Earns Prestigious ISO Certification
A wonderful thing happened while Winnebago Foundry pursued the coveted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) designation. In the process of pleasing the auditors, the foundry learned a great deal about itself. “It’s a very positive assessment,” explains Jesse Milks, president of State Line Foundries, which includes Winnebago Foundry and State Line Foundry. “It allowed us…
Read MoreWill the castings industry grow in 2025? Will tariffs change the playing field?
These are interesting – and challenging – days for the castings industry. Business is good … but it could be better. Tariffs are all the talk. How will the industry respond? Jesse Milks, president of State Line Foundries, offered some answers. How are talks of tariffs impacting the castings industry? Tariffs are a hot topic…
Read MoreState Line Shows Significant Progress on Environmental Front
How can a business ensure its green efforts are paying off? State Line Foundries has a few measuring sticks. One is sand. “We reclaim and/or reuse about 50,000 tons of sand per year,” states Jesse Milks, president of State Line Foundries. Another is iron. Castings that previously required 1,000 pounds of new material now need…
Read MoreState Line Foundry Can Produce Castings From 3 Ounces to 3,000 Pounds
When it comes to casting sizes, State Line Foundries has what president Jesse Milks calls “a wide window.” “We’re set up to handle castings from a few ounces to 3,000 pounds,” Milks explains. “Our range is a little unique. If you look at the production of other foundries, most go up to 100 pounds, or…
Read MorePrototype Process Quickened By 3D Sand Printing of Molds
An OEM had put product development on the back burner for the better part of three years. Business was booming, and keeping pace with existing orders was demanding enough. It was not a good time to begin the process of introducing a new product. But in the last few months, the manufacturer’s business slowed a…
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