The FIERF (Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation) Board of Trustees recently approved funding for projects to benefit the forging industry. The Illinois Institute of Technology will continue its investigation of void closure in large open-die forgings. Industry support and co-sponsoring is provided by A. Finkl & Sons. Case Western Reserve University will evaluate additive manufacturing as an option to replace flood welding for die repair. Industry partners are American Axle & Manufacturing and TECT Power. Marquette University will study and document best practices for infrared thermometer and handheld pyrometer usage and quantify reading errors based on wavelength, single versus dual color as well as multi-wave. Support for the project is provided by Queen City Forging Co. and Inductotherm Group. The Ohio State University will study process and design variables at various warm forging temperatures. Three students will gain detailed insight into the forging process, die design and microstructures of forgings and fulfill FIERF’s mission of training the future workforce for the forging industry.