Inverness Castings Group Awarded Several New Program Parts With DaimlerChrysler

    ATCHISON, Kan., Feb. 17 -- Atchison Casting Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: AHNC) today announced that
its Inverness Castings Group ("ICG") has recently been awarded several new
program parts with DaimlerChrysler.
    The parts awarded are for the Jeep Grand Cherokee front axle program,
which consists of four aluminum die castings.  This business will launch in
the 2005 Model Year.  The vehicle will be produced in DaimlerChrysler's JNAP
facility in Detroit, Michigan.  The axles will be built at the Detroit Axle
Plant.
    ICG was also awarded two castings for the new LX vehicle which debuted at
the Detroit North American Auto Show as the "Magnum".  The parts are a
transmission mounting bracket and a suspension spacer.
    These awarded castings will contribute approximately $5 million in annual
sales.  Both programs are another vote of confidence from DaimlerChrysler in
Inverness Castings Group as a long-term supplier in their castings and forging
supply base.
    ACC produces iron, steel and non-ferrous castings for a wide variety of
equipment, capital goods and consumer markets.
    This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. Such statements include the Company's expectations as to
future performance and contingent obligations.  Among the factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking statements
are the following: costs of closing foundries, the results of the liquidation
of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Fonderie d'Autun, the amount of any
claims made against Fonderie d'Autun's prior owner which are the subject of
certain guarantees, business conditions and the state of the general economy
in Europe and the US, particularly the capital goods industry, the strength of
the U.S. dollar, British pound sterling and the Euro, interest rates, the
Company's ability to renegotiate or refinance its lending arrangements,
utility rates, the availability of labor, the successful conclusion of union
contract negotiations, the results of any litigation arising out of the
accident at Jahn Foundry, results of any litigation or regulatory proceedings
arising from the accounting irregularities at the Pennsylvania Foundry Group,
the competitive environment in the casting industry and changes in laws and
regulations that govern the Company's business, particularly environmental
regulations.