History
What began as a small, family-owned company in 1959 has grown into one of the leading precision investment casting providers in the world. Signicast's dedication to innovation and technology has put Signicast in a class of its own. Signicast's seven world-class facilities allow an ever-increasing ability to help customers operate faster, more efficiently, and more profitably.
Signicast was incorporated on March 17,1959. The owner at the time was John Henderson. It's name was SIGN-I-CAST because its main product was boat transom signs for the yachts in Milwaukee harbor
Bill Lewis buys the company on June 17, 1968 and establishes the business as an investment casting company.
In 1971, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new 11,300-square-foot plant. The plant was complete and Signicast moved-in in 1972. In 1977 an additional three and a half acres were purchased adjacent to the plant for expansion.
Walter "Terry" Lutz joined the Signicast family in 1974 moving up rapidly to Vice President and then President in 1978. In 1981 Terry purchased Signicast and began transforming the company, starting with the growth of the Brown Deer facility and ultimately the plan and success of the fully-automated, continuous flow manufacturing plant located in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Signicast was transformed from a small job shop to the largest and most automated investment caster in the USA and arguably, the world. Terry's visionary plan ultimately attracted a new level of top-tier customers and presented new opportunities in sales for blue chip companies who have stringent supplier requirements.
On November 20, 1990, the Wax Heat Exchanger Patent was issued to Signicast on behalf of the team working on the project, John Nett, Terry Lutz, Jim Capadona, Walt Schmidt, and Tom Resch. With this breakthrough, it now took less time to make a pattern and the quality was far superior. Ultimately a game changer for Signicast.
Additional inventions from this team through the years include the cold break and water blast process that the plant still uses today making Signicast a high-tech company and extremely cost competitive.
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 1 opens in June of 1993 - 13 months after breaking ground.
Grading for the new Signicast location start in October of 1991 after countless hours of planning and effort from President Terry Lutz. It was very important for Terry to find the right location in a city with good ethics and opportunity. After settling on Hartford, Terry and his wife, Sylvia came up with the address 1800 Innovation Way to denote Signicast mission.
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 2 opens.
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 5 opens. Module 5 is the designated machine shop that was wildly successful. The goal was to supply a fully completed component to the customer.
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 3 opens.
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 4 opens.
On June 30, 2008, Signicast was sold to Pritzker Group - Private Capital
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 5N opens.
Hartford Manufacturing Complex (HMC) Module 7 opens.
Combining the Dynacast and Signicast offerings provides customers even more design freedom, with expanded choices of material, part complexity, and volume.
On Tuesday, January 9th, 2018, Signicast joined a family of brands under a newly formed entity, Form Technologies.
