Helping the Foundry Industry

I have spent the better part of 30 years devoting my time and energy to work in the foundry industry.  Starting work in an iron foundry at the age of 22 after graduation, I moved at least four times from various companies to assume roles in a wide range of responsibilities.  During a short stay in Charlotte, NC, I worked for a company that made cast iron plumbing pipe and fittings.  Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is a long-standing family business that has made a name for itself in the manufacture of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings for residential and commercial plumbing work.

Cast iron was once the mainstay in materials for plumbing fixtures, but the ease of installation and lower cost has made plastic the material of choice in most homes.  The drawback to plastic pipe, however, is the noise that is produced when water runs down the drain.  We had a two-story house in Thomson, GA that had a bathroom directly above the den and every time the toilet was flushed or shower was run, it sounded like a flood coming the wall.  It was then I decided if I ever build another house, I was going to install cast iron plumbing.  Cast iron has the unique property of sound dampening so any drain pipes made from this material will consequently be quieter.

The plumbers who did the work in our house had installed cast iron in the past (many plumbers today do not know the first thing about installing it).  So, the plumbers and I planned the areas of our plumbing system that would consist of cast iron.

I am proud to say that we have done our part to help the foundry industry and Charlotte Pipe and Foundry by specifying cast iron pipe and fittings for portions of our plumbing system.