Historic foundry has ceased operations

Nearby Flowserve offices still open, however

A Dayton foundry operation dating back to 1912 has closed, but a small operation nearby on East Monument Avenue run by the same company continues to operate.

The Flowserve foundry at 635 N. Irwin Ave. ceased operations May 5, said Lars Rosene, spokesman for Irving, Texas-based Flowserve.

In all, 72 employees were laid off. Eight employees left the company after Flowserve first announced plans to close the Dayton foundry last November.

“I know they had a couple of orders they were still getting out the door, so to speak,” Rosene said Thursday.

Flowserve was created in the 1997 merger of Durco International and BW/IP Inc. Durco itself had been known as the Duriron Co. since the early 20th century, and the foundry operations were launched in 1912.

Scott Reed, general manager for the foundry, said a few employees remain, finishing up castings for customers while others are working to close the facility “in a safe manner, so that we leave this place better than we found it.”

The Flowserve Dayton foundry was a high alloy facility specializing in stainless steels, nickel- based alloys and reactive alloys such as titanium and zirconium, according to the company’s website.

The nearby 2200 E. Monument facility, west of the foundry, has corporate functions for Flowserve such as finance, marketing as well as a small titanium foundry.

“That is not impacted,” Rosene said.

Flowserve produces pumps, seals and valves, primarily for the petrochemical industry.

Reed said the foundry and its customers closely follow the fortunes of the oil industry, and inexpensive gas has not been good for business.

“We’ve had a pretty rough run the last couple of years,” he said.

WHIO-TV reporter Andy Sedlak contributed to this story.

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