Paul Gouwens
Founder and CEO
CMI Novacast sadly announces the death of our founder and CEO Paul Gouwens on Saturday January 23.
Born March 8, 1922 in South Holland, Illinois, Paul spent his life associated with the Foundry Industry. Paul received a B.S in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honors, his post-graduate, metallurgical engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology. He was also an Electronics specialist in the US Navy. He served in the US Navy during World War II in China and Korea. Except for his military service, Paul’s entire career has been in the casting industry.
From 1940 to 1957, Paul began his career in research metallurgy at Fahralloy Foundry, Harvey, Illinois starting as a Co-op student and becoming Technical Director.
From 1957 to 1966, Paul served as Manager, Foundry & Steelmaking Research at IIt Research Institute. He contracted with government and industry developing, promoting and managing research programs. Projects included utilization of waste materials, shaping of metal, molding aggregates, ceramic molding, alloy additives, powder production, pattern wear, melting problems, cast cutting tools, cast forging dies, high temperature alloys, centrifugal casting, cleaning techniques, refractory metals, thermocouples, high temperature reactions, radiography, monotype casting, grain refinement, inoculation and plastic casting.
From 1966 to 1971, Paul served as Vice President-Technology, with American Foundryman Society, with responsibility for all technical activities. He coordinated over 100 technical committees which controlled programming of the Casting Congress, monitored research, and promoted information exchange.
From 1971 to 1972, Paul was Managing Director of AFS T&RI (now Cast Metals Institute). His task was to implement its research and continuing education.
In 1972, along with his son Lee, Paul formed Cast Metals International to find good, innovative technology from around the world, and bring it back to the United States. Technology involved included the French Fluid sand process, the Japanese V-Process, the Renault low pressure casting process, and the French Electromagnetic Pump for metering molten aluminum.
In 1981 Cast Metals International became CMI Novacast Liquid Metal Systems to exploit the use of Electromagnetic Pumps for automated pouring of Aluminum. Later becoming CMI Novacast, Inc., this privately owned company continues to seek innovative solutions to the task of pouring all different types of metals including Zinc, Sodium, and Magnesium. Paul served as CEO until his retirement in 2008.
We will all miss him very much.
Lee Gouwens
President
Lee has always had a dominant interest in technology and especially in applied electronics. As a boy, he tinkered endlessly with radios and TV’s, and often startled everyone by discharging perhaps lethal voltages from his Tesla coils. His basement lab was scary.
In college, he and a friend constructed and usually operated the college radio station.
He maintains an active interest in community theater technical plans, creating all kinds of illusions and mood enhancing situations. Perhaps this is similar to making aluminum pumps having no moving parts? Is it just an illusion too?
As President of a small company he also is fully involved in all management functions, ranging from accounting systems to production equipment designs, to modifications to tooling, to cash flow predictions.
It’s a life that requires many talents and yet continual pump and pump system improvements are always on his mind.
Thomas Gouwens
General Manager
Since he officially joined the CMI Novacast team in 2011, there are few business functions Thom hasn’t been involved with. After working on the floor as a machinist and welder for several years, Thom moved into the office where he oversaw accounts payable and managed other HR responsibilities. In 2018, joined the sales team, which he now leads. He’s come a long way since he assumed his first (un)official role with the company at the age of 6: assistant bubble wrap popper.
Now, as general manager, Thom supports clients, manages projects, and continually seeks opportunities to build CMI Novacast’s customer pipeline. He travels frequently to clients’ foundries to help get new projects off the ground and to troubleshoot issues when they arise. From spearheading experimental initiatives with international clients, to helping stateside foundries squeeze out as much yield as they can, Thom has been integral to ensuring all clients get the most out of their electromagnetic pumps.
Thom finds fulfillment in working through challenges with clients and helping them accomplish their goals. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time outside, gardening and grilling.
Hussain Imam
Office Manager
Hussain joined CMI Novacast in 2023 and has been an asset to both the team and our clients ever since. Hussain is a process-oriented and detail-focused professional who leverages his background in customer relationship management and operations management to provide clients with streamlined service and to keep the CMI Novacast ship running smoothly.
As office manager, Hussain answers calls from clients and connects them to their correct point of contact. He enters orders and oversees shipping to ensure each order is accurate and delivered promptly. Internally, Hussain oversees payroll and assists with bookkeeping. He is our office’s reliable “jack-of-all-trades.”
Prior to joining CMI Novacast, Hussain was a company manager at Jaws Distribution. Outside of work, Hussain is passionate about cars.
Robert McMahon (1961 – 2024)
Robert “Rob” McMahon, a beloved husband, uncle and friend, was an enterprising engineer and integral member of the CMI Novacast family. As our engineering manager for over a decade, Rob played a significant role in refining the performance and flexibility of electromagnetic pumps. He leaves behind a legacy of engineering excellence and leadership acumen.
When Rob joined CMI Novacast in 2010, he brought with him a wealth of engineering expertise. Rob held a B.S. in Industrial Technology Engineering from Southern Illinois University and, prior to joining CMI Novacast, worked with Mathews Company for 24 years. There, he worked his way up from mechanical engineer, to engineering manager, and, finally, to plant superintendent. During his tenure, he also ran the Research and Development Department and managed outside construction crews.
As CMI Novacast’s engineering manager, Rob wore many hats. Rob designed new pumps and enhanced existing models to fit client’s specifications and needs. He excelled at leveraging his deep well of knowledge and applying his technical talents to devise and manufacture thoughtful, high-performing products. A dedicated problem solver, Rob relished every opportunity he had to work through engineering challenges to deliver innovative solutions to our clients.
Rob’s love of engineering extended to his personal life. An avid DIY-er, Rob was enthusiastic about beautifying the home he shared with his wife, Candee, and their two dogs and cat. Outside of his engineering pursuits, Rob was highly active: he enjoyed dancing, biking with Candee, and playing basketball with his nephews. He maintained many lifelong friendships and was very active within his church community.
Rob will be remembered by those lucky enough to know him for his warmth, easy-going nature, and ability to tackle challenges with grace and ease. He will be greatly missed.