Project Details

GF Linamar, a joint venture between GF Automotive and diversified manufacturing expert Linamar Corporation, was announced mid-July 2015 to combine their leading expertise in casting and machinery. This new state-of-the-art plant, specializing in light metal die-casting, is located on a 57-acre site at the Ferncliff Industrial Park in Mills River, NC. GF Linamar hired Evans to develop and build a state-of-the-art “white foundry” that produces light metal automotive components such as gear housings and structural frame components made of specialty magnesium alloys. This LEED certified, zero-emission facility is integrated in the North Carolina Blueridge Mountain Landscape and designed to set a new standard in sustainable production of castings products. During the design phase, special attention was given to air quality, daylight harvesting and rainwater harvesting, as well as bio retention ponds to filter parking lot, run-off water.

The 350K sf facility consists of a division headquarters office, melting furnace area, die-casting hall, heat treatment hall, waste water treatment facility, central utility supply mezzanine, customer sequencing logistics area, hazardous material storage, tools storage and tool shop, The production, tool and maintenance areas are serviced by 50 ton wide-span overhead cranes. All die castings machines are serviced from a central utility mezzanine to keep the areas around completely accessible from all sides. Machine control cabinets are also placed on the utility mezzanine.

Due to the special requirements associated with the handling of magnesium products the entire facility is constructed of non-combustible building products.