The Illinois Chamber announced Tuesday that Gunite Corp. was one of three winners of its annual Edie Awards, which stands for Economic Development in Illinois.
In 2012, Gunite’s parent company, Accuride Corp., consolidated Gunite’s North American operations into the Rockford facility on Peoples Ave., keeping 400 jobs in the Rockford region. Accuride also invested $35 million into upgrading the plant.
Gunite opened in Rockford in 1854 during the Franklin Pierce administration. The plant was the first foundry west of Pittsburgh to make malleable iron. Today, workers there make wheel-end components for trucking, off-highway and bus markets.
According to the business website, Hoovers.com, Gunite brings in more than $115 million a year in revenue.
The other winners were Dynegy of Baldwin and G&W Electric of Bolingbrook.
