Revolutionizing the
foundry industry

CaneKast™ is creating a coast-to-coast network of non-ferrous casting facilities that provide quality products, on time.  Our unique business model uses the latest technology and provides a scalable service model no matter the order size or casting requirement. We treat our employees and customers like family, whether you’ve been with us for five days or 50 years.

ABOUT CANEKAST™

ABOUT CaneKast

Who We Are

CaneKast™ started because we fundamentally believe in local manufacturing and want to ensure small businesses, often over 50 years old, will continue for generations to come. Our goal is to create a network of manufacturing facilities that combine the excellent customer service that small businesses are known for with the cutting-edge technology that scale efficiencies provide.

Our Mission

Our customers have access to workers with decades of experience in the “art” of casting, along with the technological know-how to implement the “science” of materials. Of course, our management team’s cell phones are available, so your questions are answered by a real person day or night.

Selling?​

CaneKast invests in small to medium businesses and family-owned companies that specialize in non-ferrous casting. We are looking to acquire other non-ferrous foundries around the country. Please Contact Us to discuss the possibility of acquiring your foundry.

NEWS

Disa Match 24x28 in full operation at Southern Aluminum Foundry

CaneKast’s DISA® MATCH 24/28 is Now Fully Operational, Revolutionizing Sand Casting Efficiency

CaneKast is transforming the metal casting industry with the full-scale launch of its DISA MATCH 24/28 at Southern Aluminum Foundry and Machine (SAF) in Clinton, SC. This cutting-edge technology revolutionizes sand casting efficiency, operating ten times faster than traditional equipment and slashing production times.
With seamless pattern changeovers, versatile alloy compatibility, and a cost-efficient process, this new system empowers manufacturers with faster time-to-market and superior casting precision. Whether you’re producing low- or high-volume runs, CaneKast’s state-of-the-art foundry solutions deliver unmatched speed, affordability, and reliability.

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January 24, 2025
Aerial view of Southern Aluminum Foundry & Machine

CaneKast Strengthens U.S. Manufacturing with Acquisition of Southern Aluminum Foundry & Machine

CaneKast is making bold moves in American manufacturing with its acquisition of Southern Aluminum Foundry & Machine (SAF). This strategic expansion strengthens CaneKast’s national presence and enhances its production capabilities, reinforcing its mission to support small U.S. manufacturers.

Since acquiring SAF in 2023, CaneKast has invested in state-of-the-art technology, including the high-speed DISA® Match 24/28, which can produce over 100 molds per hour—a game-changer in metal casting efficiency. The move also expands production capacity with SAF’s 33-acre facility, ensuring room for future growth.

“We’re committed to

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January 24, 2025

Our Team

Our management group comes from diverse backgrounds with decades of experience in both small and large companies across engineering, sales, business development, strategy, product management, and operations.​

Reg Zeller

CEO

Reg held executive positions in the areas of product management and acquisitions in four different Fortune 500 companies. 

More about Reg

Troy Pechman

CTO

Troy brings a powerful combination of experience, innovation, and relentless drive to his role as Chief Technology Officer.

More about Troy

Patrick Sullivan

Operations

Patrick is a key leader within CaneKast’s operational structure, overseeing the company’s daily operations.

More about Patrick

Jerry Bricker

Director of Sales

Jerry has built a career that spans patternmaking, quality assurance, project management, and sales.

More about Jerry

Our Companies

We focus on non-ferrous foundries and associated services such as CNC machining, heat treating, pattern/prototype development, and secondary finishing. We cover the breadth of casting production from green sand to no-bake/air-set to gravity-fed die-cast/permanent mold.

Ermak Foundry & Machining logo

Ermak Foundry & Machining

ermak.com

Ermak Foundry & Machining is the best one-stop-shop in the Midwest for aluminum sand casting, machining, and permanent mold production. From prototypes to one-of-a-kind custom products to large manufacturing runs, Ermak has you covered. Additionally, Ermak offers a variety of value-added services such as finishing and heat treatment.

Northwest Casting Logo

Northwest Casting

ermak.com/northwest-casting

Reg Zeller, CEO, acquired Northwest Casting of St. Paul, MN, in June 2019, adding their staff to the Ermak family. Northwest’s enthusiastic professionals bring many years of process knowledge and problem-solving experience to Ermak and to every casting project they undertake.

Patriot Foundry & Castings Logo

Patriot Foundry & Castings

patriotfoundry.com

Patriot Foundry specializes in high-quality non-ferrous sand castings with expertise in bronze, aluminum, copper, and zinc-based alloy casting. Whether you need a single custom product or thousands of them, Patriot meets and exceeds your engineering and product development challenges.

Superior Aluminum Castings

superiorcastings.com

Superior’s history stretches back nearly 75 years. Superior’s advanced equipment and expertise pouring aluminum alloys provide our customers further diversification across facilities. From concept through product completion, Superior produces world-class castings and provides an excellent customer experience.

Cushman Foundry logo

Cushman Foundry

Cushmancastings.com

Cushman Foundry is a well-known non-ferrous foundry with decades of casting high-quality aluminum products for many industries, including the fire suppression, industrial fan, and control markets. Cushman serves customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and the rest of the United States and Canada.

RDS Dock Logo

RDS Dock Hardware

rdsdockhardware.com

RDS Dock Hardware offers safe, effective, high-quality cast aluminum docks, dock hardware and accessories, deck components, and bridge hardware. RDS Docks, straight from the manufacturer, save time, money, and peace of mind. RDS has extensive field experience in constructing and installing docks, providing insights that allow us to create dock systems better suited for actual field and marine conditions.

Southern Aluminum Foundry

SouthernAluminumFoundry.com

Southern Aluminum Foundry, located in Clinton, South Carolina, is a leader in precision aluminum castings for diverse industries. SAF builds on decades of expertise and a legacy of excellence to deliver reliable, high-quality solutions. Together with CaneKast, they continue to expand their capabilities to meet the unique needs of their customers.

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Ermak Foundry & Machining

Chaska, MN

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Patriot Foundry & Castings

Franklin, NH

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Superior Aluminum Castings

Independence, MO

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Cushman Foundry

Cincinnati, OH

RDS Dock Hardware

Franklin, NH

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Southern Aluminum Foundry

Clinton, SC

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© 2025 CaneKast, Inc.

Reg Zeller

CEO

Reg Zeller is the driving force behind CaneKast, a visionary holding company dedicated to revitalizing non-ferrous foundries across the U.S. With a deep-rooted passion for local manufacturing and a commitment to preserving small businesses, Reg is on a mission to modernize and grow legacy foundries while maintaining their customer-first approach. Growing up in a small town surrounded by entrepreneurs— from a third-generation newspaper owner to a teacher-turned-entrepreneur—Reg developed an early appreciation for the resilience and ingenuity of small business owners. These formative experiences inspired his lifelong goal of scaling and improving small companies.

Before founding CaneKast, he held executive roles in product management and acquisitions at four Fortune 500 companies, where he gained invaluable insights into strategic growth and operational efficiency. He holds an electrical engineering degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

Reg is a forward-thinking and fast-moving leader who focuses on strategic growth through acquisitions and operational improvements. He is committed to leveraging the latest technology to create a scalable, efficient service model—regardless of order size or casting complexity. Under his leadership, CaneKast has become known for its transparency, guiding customers through a checklist-driven production process that ensures quality and consistency at every stage. Reg believes in fostering a company culture where employees are valued, well-trained, and given opportunities to grow within the organization.

Reg is relentless in his pursuit of continuous improvement, challenging industry norms to drive innovation and efficiency. With an eye toward the future, Reg envisions CaneKast as a platform for transforming small manufacturing in the U.S.

Troy Pechman

Chief Technology Officer

Troy Pechman brings a powerful combination of experience, innovation, and relentless drive to his role as Chief Technology Officer at CaneKast. With decades of experience in manufacturing and automation, Troy’s journey began in Wisconsin, where he honed his skills in the food and beverage industry before advancing to a principal engineering role with a leading system integrator in Nashville. Throughout his career, he has been committed to challenging the status quo and finding smarter, more efficient ways to enhance manufacturing processes.

At CaneKast, Troy is revolutionizing the foundry space by spearheading major initiatives, such as the rapid implementation of the DISA Match 24/28 at Southern Aluminum Foundry (SAF)—a project completed in just 14 months, well ahead of the industry standard of two years. His unwavering focus on continuous improvement drives him to explore cutting-edge technologies, including predictive maintenance, automation, and robotics, designed to enhance production capabilities and attract the next generation of talent.

A natural leader and collaborator, Troy believes that strong partnerships with vendors, suppliers, and customers are crucial to long-term success. He is dedicated to driving innovation within CaneKast and across the entire foundry sector, creating solutions that elevate the industry. His vision is rooted in transformation—making manufacturing processes safer, more efficient, and of the highest quality. With a hands-on, problem-solving approach, Troy continues to push boundaries and drive meaningful change, ensuring CaneKast stays at the forefront of an evolving manufacturing landscape.

Patrick Sullivan

Operations

Patrick Sullivan is a key leader within CaneKast’s operational structure, overseeing the company’s daily operations.

After graduating from Baylor University, Patrick started his career in the manufacturing industry in an inventory management and purchasing role. His journey soon expanded into production and operations, where he played a pivotal role in launching a new plant from the ground up in Temple, TX. Now a part of CaneKast, Patrick is heading up operations as the go-to guy for problem-solving and efficiency, ready to bring American manufacturing to the forefront.  

Patrick works to simplify plant managers’ day-to-day operations, helping them leverage their strengths while tackling the unique challenges of each facility. His approach enhances productivity and ensures a safe, fulfilling work environment—ultimately improving the quality of life for every team member involved.

As CaneKast expands its production capabilities, Patrick looks forward to ushering in a new age of American manufacturing, taking pride in each problem solved, each process improved, and every quality trade job created. 

Jerry Bricker

Director of Sales

Bringing over 25 years of experience in the foundry industry, Jerry Bricker has built a career that spans patternmaking, quality assurance, project management, and sales. He began his journey in wood patternmaking straight out of high school while continuing his education in CAD design. Over the years, he advanced his skills by working in production pattern and mold making. He eventually led efforts to implement standardized CAD modeling and manufacturing processes that improved operational efficiency across multiple departments. Jerry has focused on sales for the past eighteen years, leveraging his deep technical knowledge to support foundries and their customers.

Jerry’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Throughout his career, he has prioritized building strong, trust-based relationships with customers, colleagues, and suppliers. He understands that success comes from truly understanding customer needs and working collaboratively to develop solutions that add value. Whether solving complex manufacturing challenges or guiding clients through intricate foundry processes, Jerry’s approach ensures that CaneKast meets and consistently exceeds customer expectations.

Jerry has a proven track record in project management, engineering collaboration, and creating robust supplier networks to meet diverse customer demands. His expertise extends to identifying opportunities for process improvements and driving efficiencies within the sales and manufacturing pipeline.

Jerry contributes to CaneKast’s mission of revolutionizing the foundry industry, leveraging his inside knowledge to support client growth while refining and streamlining sales processes. His long-term commitment to his clients underscores his dedication to continuous improvement and his passion for helping businesses thrive in a competitive market.