Investigators have determined the explosion and fires at the Dicastal Inc. facility on March 17 in Greenville, MI, were caused by sparks from a hand grinder that ignited aluminum dust, according to the Greenville Department of Public Safety Fire Investigation Unit.
The automotive supplier, which makes lightweight aluminum alloy wheels for Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda and Nissan, has not responded to requests from the Detroit Free Press for comment since the explosion.
"Evidence showed an employee was utilizing a hand grinder as part of a maintenance project in the foundry area. While performing the repair work to a piece of machinery, sparks from the hand grinder inadvertently ignited aluminum dust in the vicinity of the labor being executed. This ignition of dust set off the explosion," said a news release issued late March 22 from the city of Greenville.
