B.S. – METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING ’90
As the president and co-founder of his own company, American Foam Cast, Sidney “Sid” Tankersley has made a name for himself as an expert in the field of metallurgical and materials engineering, specifically the Lost Foam Casting (LFC) process.
Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Tankersley earned his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from The University of Alabama in 1990. After graduating from UA, Tankersley joined Bodine-Robinson, a small aluminum foundry startup that specialized in LFC, in Alexander City, Alabama. In his role as a foundry engineer for the company, he was responsible for process development and quality control of metallurgical processes. From 1993 to 1997, he worked at Mueller Co. in Albertville, Alabama, and oversaw iron casting processes and laboratory facilities.
Having completed a co-op at Robinson Foundry in Alexander City during college, Tankersley was inspired to start his own company when he recognized a significant need in the industry for another foundry that specialized in
LFC. In 1997, he fulfilled his vision and founded American Foam Cast, which now generates more than $20 million in revenue annually. As president, Tankersley oversees the company’s 45 employees and leads marketing efforts to secure and sustain new business. In 2013, the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce awarded the Edward Gantt Industry of the Year Award to American Foam Cast. This honor was indicative of the substantial impact the company has made on the local community over the years.
Tankersley has served as a guest speaker for the American Foundry Society and the Foundry Educational Foundation and is frequently asked to serve as a mentor for those looking to start their own business. He has also been a member of the Lost Foam Division of the American Foundry Society for more than two decades and is active in the Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society.
He is a current member of The University of Alabama College of Engineering Capital Campaign Cabinet as well as a member of the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Industrial Advisory Board and the Foundry Educational Foundation’s Industrial Advisory Board at the University. He was formerly the chapter president of the South Talladega County UA alumni chapter. Tankersley is also a deacon for First Baptist Church of Sylacauga, an officer in his local camp of The Gideons International, a director for the Boys’ Club of Sylacauga, and a board member of the Sylacauga Athletic Club Alumni Association. He is an aviation enthusiast and enjoys flying, golfing, fishing, boating, and watching Alabama sports in his spare time.
Tankersley and his wife, Angie, have two daughters, Anna and Megan. Anna just completed her second year of medical school at UAB, while Megan is following in her father’s footsteps and is currently a student in UA’s metallurgical and materials engineering department.