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SOUTHLAND MACHINE & MOLD
was founded in 1979 by Robert Jean, an Air Force veteran, in
Smyrna, GA. Charles Jean who grew up in the business joined him
in the daily operation as Operation Manager in 1995.
In 1979, the primary business was machining aluminum castings
made by Sand-casting method and tooling for the aircraft industry.
The observed problems in the resulted parts from the sand-casting
method were sand pits, warpage, voids, eggshells, rough surface
finish and high per unit cost. In his shop located next to Lockheed
Corporation, Robert Jean’s increased desire to produce
better quality aluminum parts compelled him to expand the business
into permanent mold aluminum casting.
Having the experiences and skills he acquired as a member of the
U.S. Air Force as an aircraft machinist and more than a decade
in the plastic injection molding industry since, he was prepared
appropriately to go into the permanent mold casting industry that
required innovative mind, engineering skills, precision, diligence
and hands-on problem solving attitude.
The permanent mold casting method in a nutshell: complex parting
molds are machined from a solid steel block for the repeat usage
in the smelting process. Each mold section is made separately and
assembled together to create a cavity that would be the result,
the intended product similar to the designed part or master. The
steel mold would have to endure the heat & cool cycles from
the molten aluminum and keep the measurement accuracy for many
thousands of times in the casting process during the life of the
mold. The molds can be stored for later use, and some modifications
to them can be made to produce improved part design. Due to this
flexibility and longevity of the steel molds, while the creation
of the molds could be costly at the beginning if complex part design
is required, the large production can be made from a single set
of molds making the resulting high quality aluminum parts affordable.
Permanent mold casting method is an upgrade from sand-casting method;
many companies requiring cost effective high performance quality
parts would be benefited from this method of casting aluminum parts.
Since 1980, Southland Machine and Mold built many of the molding
presses and molds similar to plastic injection machinery, and the
business grew, a testament to the dedication and capabilities of
Robert Jean. In 1986, our first industrial facility suitable for
a larger Permanent Mold Casting Operation was built. In this space,
the company created a reputation for precision and friendly customer
service. Customers could start from a sketch to the finished product
in one-stop. Innovative engineering ideas could be easily incorporated
and applied into the improvement of parts making. Casting parts
for many mid-sized companies as well as for some of the ‘Fortune
500’ corporations were produced. In 1993, the Impact Extrusion
Operation was added. This method of aluminum forging provided a
way for the high volume/low cost production of small sized aluminum
parts. A million unit can be produced at a fraction of time, comparatively
speaking, and helped the company grew rapidly. In 1996, the growth
of Greater Atlanta caught us as a surprise. The Department of Transportation
announced that it would build a road through our plant in Smyrna
in an effort to widen the commuter road between Atlanta and Marietta.
We turned that surprise into a growth opportunity. In 1999, we
relocated to a beautiful countryside in Carrollton, GA. On our
industrial acres, a 30,000 SF. building was erected to accommodate
all aspect of the aluminum casting operation. The flow of work
is intact; the system of making the finished cast product from
a sketch still exists, thanks to a fully equipped, sophisticated
modern machine shop on one side and foundry operation on the other
side. The plant is well equipped with various tasking machines
beyond foundry work. The production line includes secondary work,
such as polishing, stamping, drilling, bending & other modifications
and assembly to complete the operation. Spacious shop floor also
accommodates flexibilities required with custom order productions,
R&D work and testing. In one-stop, a customer can conveniently
and economically receive various services from engineering consultation & making
molds to finished product. And we are able to guarantee the workmanship
in each stage of the production.
In the days of oversea competition overwhelming small businesses
everywhere, our promise to deliver the high quality aluminum parts
we produce at our foundry using American made supplies and our
know-how to help customers will continue to prevail against all
the odds. We continue to believe in the skills and dedication here
in America. While we are surprised to hear comments from our customers
in the recent months that our prices are quite competitive in the
global market, we also see the return of manufacturing demands
back to the states. In 2011, it is still attractive to many companies
to find the good value we provide through our long-term commitment
of offering reliable products, a friendly technical service and
teamwork spirit. We strive to grow with the utilities and telecommunication
sectors as they evolve and open new opportunities for us to contribute
with our long history of innovative problem solving skills and
products.
Let us be the one to qualify in your supply chain. We stand behind
our products and services. Give us a call for any question regarding
our operation and capabilities to help your business grow. And for the existing friends, we continue to owe our success to
you, our many loyal customers, employees and venders. Still our
motto: strive for perfection where anything is possible.
Robert Jean, President
Southland Machine & Mold Company, Inc.
Mold Engineering and Aluminum Casting Foundry
Ph: 770-832-3303 Fx: 770-832-6186
www.southlandmachineandmold.com
e-mail: smmi@csiispeed.com |
