Waupaca Foundry helps Iola Car Show launch community revitalization

(Waupaca, Wisconsin) Nov. 11. 2024— What started as an idea on paper from America’s greatest classic car show is now cast in iron thanks to a partnership between the Iola Car Show and Waupaca Foundry. The idea: create park benches that feature Waupaca Foundry cast iron frames and can be customized with truck tailgates and license plates to provide a fundraising opportunity for community revitalization.

The project began as a simple sketch turned over to Iola Car Show volunteer Jim Payton who is a retired foundry worker. His background gave him insight into design considerations for castability and he knew the foundry had the capabilities to make his vision a reality. He created a plywood model of a bench, then turned it over to Alan Crawford, a tooling engineer at the foundry.

Crawford used 3D modeling software and rapid prototyping to further refine the plywood models, ensuring the two sides of the frame could be cast in iron. The software simulates what will occur in foundry production before one ounce of molten iron is poured. “On my end I took photos of the wooden prototype, then sketched over them using Creaform 3D measurement and scanning technology to refine the design of the bench frame and create a seat curvature to make the bench more comfortable,” said Alan Crawford.

In addition to finding the most cost-effective way to cast the benches, Crawford designed the bench frames with the Iola Car Show and Waupaca Foundry logos. 

“It really was the foundry that pieced this together, said Joe Opperman, executive director of the Iola Car Show. “I knew they had the ability, but to develop our idea into a practical, cost-effective bench is a true partnership.”

Opperman said the Iola Car Show is planning to donate the first completed bench to the Village of Iola’s Revitalization Committee and help develop a fundraising program for other community improvement initiatives. “The benches will help to beautify the village in a creative way as well as generate funds to support more good works. Sponsors will be able to customize by choosing the color and messaging for each bench.”

By summer of 2024 the first castings were done and Alliance Industries powder coated the cast iron bench frames in a variety of colors. Additional support for the project has come from Metal Crafters and Feltz Manufacturing. The tailgates can be customized and there’s a place for a bumper and license plate to allow for further customization. 

This is not the first time Waupaca Foundry has collaborated on a community-based project—the foundry has donated to local schools, non-profits, volunteer fire/rescue and police, and has participated in several community arts projects.

“Our business depends on teamwork at every point of the production process,” said David Scott, director of lean operations. “This is just one more example of how our team helps our communities with collaborative projects that show the creative application of metalcasting.”

For more information on the benches or to purchase a bench, please visit this link.  

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