Company History

J.L. French began making aluminum die castings in 1968 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin as a small, family owned business. The Company specialized in small engine components, other lawn care related parts, and marine engine products until receiving its first major automotive oil pan program in 1983. The success of this first oil pan program propelled the Company into becoming the world’s leading provider of highly engineered and assembled die cast aluminum oil pans within a few short years.

The launch of the Gateway facility in 1994 established a new identity for J.L. French as it quickly became recognized as the most efficient die casting and machining facility in the industry, with a fully integrated secondary smelting operation for material quality and cost control. In 1996, the Company was sold to Windward Capital Partners who introduced an aggressive growth plan with the desire to become a global supplier to the automotive industry. Soon after Windward Capital took control, J.L. French was awarded a major contract to supply automatic transmission cases for light trucks and SUV’s. This necessitated a major expansion to the Gateway facility in 1997 for the installation of the Company’s first 3500 ton die cast machines.