A system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle includes providing a negative cast mold having cavities to form the cradle having a length greater than a width to define a longitudinal axis and providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism includes primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with the cavities. The method further includes melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, moving the mold to a vertical orientation about the longitudinal axis while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities, and moving the cast mold to a horizontal orientation. A second solidification time in the risers is greater than a first solidification time in the mold such that shrinkage of the solidified metallic material occurs in the risers away from the mold.