Farmweld's new Modular Cast Center is an ideal choice for farrowing crates.

Recently Frank Brummer had the opportunity to tour the European foundry where Farmweld’s new Modular Cast Centers are poured. "I was very impressed with the quality of the manufacturing and level of craftsmanship," he says.

High Quality Materials

The new cast iron flooring offers some excellent features that make it a superior choice for farrowing crates. "Number one is that the cast iron is made of high quality steel," says Brummer, Farmweld’s president and owner. "The steel is made from a combination of pig iron and high quality carbon steel."

Quality materials yield strength and durability, says Brummer. The cast iron flooring undergoes routine pressure testing to ensure it is as strong as possible.

Open Mold Process

Unlike the majority of casting companies, Brummer explains that the foundry employs an open-mold casting method. With an open mold, there are no seams. "Because there are no seams, there are no sharp edges that can cause abrasions or underline damage," he says.

			Pressure testing is done routinely to ensure that cast iron flooring is as strong as possible.

He compares the process used at the foundry to filling a glass of water to the brink of overflowing. "You can fill a glass so full that the liquid actually appears to swell up a bit, but a drop more and it will spill over," explains Brummer. "That’s exactly how full the foundry fills each cast. The result is a nice rounded edge in the flooring."

Integrated System

Another advantage of the Farmweld cast flooring is that it was designed as an integrated system with other farrowing components. "It fits together with our plastic flooring. There are no gaps and a sow can’t move it," says Brummer. "Everything is integrated – the beams to the plastic panels, the plastic panels to the cast and the cast to the crate. All four components lock together to make a superior system."

For more information about the new Modular Cast Center, be sure to visit the "Farrowing Products" section of this site.

Email Frank Brummer at: frank@farmweld.com