The Atlantic States foundry just celebrated its 150th year in operation. The original foundry was founded on March 3, 1856 as the Warren Foundry and Machine Company. As stated in a 50th anniversary book published in 1906, the purpose of the company was to "Carry on General Foundry business, including the casting of stoves, steam engines, mill gearing, and all or any branch of the Foundry Business."
At the time the Company was established there was no thought of making pipe. It was an era of railroad expansion. Several important rail lines ran to or through Phillipsburg and the founders felt much promise existed for foundry work - especially car wheels.
Destiny changed the Company's course in 1857 - when it was but a year old. It was a year of panic - a year of wild speculation in land and money. The country was in turmoil. That year two English Foundrymen, John Firth and John Ingham came to Phillipsburg. The Company had been making modest quantities of small-size pipe in inclined molds, but Firth and Ingham knew how to make pipe vertically. They joined Warren and in a few months were successfully producing 30" pipe in dry sand pit molds, then successfully applied the process on smaller sized pipe. From then on the manufacturing of Cast Iron Pipe became the Foundry's principle business.
In 1951, the pit cast method was replaced by modern centrifugal casting using metal molds. By then the Company was producing and shipping pipe in Diameters of 2" to 108" for applications across the country.
The foundry was eventually purchased and operated as Shamoon Industries and then later acquired by Canron Industries. The plant ownership changed again in 1975 and became known as Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company.
Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company is a division of McWane, Inc., a major national producer of Ductile Iron pressure pipe, fittings, valves, and hydrants. With its other holdings, McWane, Inc. distinguishes itself as a company that operates pressure pipe plants in each of the country's major market areas. In addition, the parent company owns and operates a coke company and extensive coal mining operations in the Southeast.
Today, Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company is recognized as one of the country's most experienced manufacturers and suppliers of Ductile Iron pipe. The Company's modern facilities, combined with the latest engineering techniques, offer 3" to 36" Ductile Iron pressure pipe and fittings to meet customer needs throughout the Mid-Atlantic, New England states and Canada.
This is a brief history of our plant which today employs nearly 300 people and produces Ductile Iron Pressure Pipe in sizes 6" to 24" in diameter.
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