According to the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), hundreds of smaller manufacturers critical to the supply chain in the United Kingdom could be forced to close when the government withdraws its Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) at the end of March 2023.

Danieli received an order from Lucchini RS Group for a new open-die forging press for its site in Lovere, Bergamo, Italy. The press will broaden Lucchini RS Group’s product portfolio while supporting its efforts in energy and raw-material optimization and cost reduction. With a 7,000-ton force, the press will give shape to ingots for automotive and industrial applications. It will be the most powerful and energy-efficient open-die forging press among those in operation for Lucchini RS Group. The press will start operation by early 2024.

Strojmetal, a European manufacturer of aluminum chassis parts, installed a 2,500-ton scotch yoke press from Schuler subsidiary Farina. It is the centerpiece of a line that is currently in operation at Strojmetal's new site in Bruntál, Czech Republic. Thanks to the kinetic energy recovery system, the power consumption of the GLK-type press is reduced by up to 40%, while the output increased. The machine is part of a fully automated line that also includes several industrial ovens and robots as well as another 250-ton press provided by Schuler subsidiary Beutler Nova for deburring the forgings.

SMS group received an order from China’s Jiangsu Pacific Precision Forging Company for a fully automatic closed-die forging press. The 31.5 MN eccentric press will enable Pacific Precision to forge aluminum chassis components on a larger scale. SMS group will deliver the press and the tools, which are specially designed for aluminum forging. Pacific Precision Forging, a worldwide supplier of precision gears and gear shafts, has been mainly focusing on steel forging. This investment in aluminum forging provides Pacific Precision with access to the automotive market segment for more lightweight designs. Commissioning of the press is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.

Forged Solutions Group Inc. (FSG), a provider of complex, precision forged rings and closed-die products to aerospace and defense customers, acquired Steel Industries Inc. Headquartered in Redford, Mich., Steel Industries is a vertically integrated manufacturer of open-die forgings and seamless rolled rings for the aerospace, defense, space and industrial markets. Since 1913, Steel Industries has forged components for the most demanding end-use applications. Steel Industries offers forging, heat-treating, machining and finishing services.

This article considers the production deficits, logistics turmoil and demand surges that contributed to supply-chain disruptions that were brought into focus with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perryman Company, a titanium producer based in Houston, Pa., placed an order with SMS group for the supply of two forging machines. The order includes a 40/45 MN high-speed open-die forging press in the pull-down design and an SMX 500/15 MN hydraulic radial forging machine with two forging manipulators. Perryman also ordered a production control system for the entire forging line. The open-die forging press will be used to forge cast titanium billets to the required size so that, in the next step, they can be finish-forged in the radial forging machine to produce bars (round, square or flat) up to a maximum length of 550 inches (14,000 mm).

The year-over-year U.S. inflation rate through February 2022 hit a 40-year high of 7.9%, eroding purchasing power especially for gas, food and rent.

France’s Obut has been producing steel balls weighing around 700 grams each for popular sport Pétanque since 1955. In an effort to improve production of boule balls at its headquarters in Saint-Bonnet-Le-Château, the company ordered a 1,300-ton forging press from Farina. The forging press replaces two lines with a press force of 600 and 800 tons respectively, which are becoming obsolete. The future line, which also includes a transfer and a furnace, will form a half shell every 2 seconds. The starting material for the boule balls, which have a diameter of just over 2.75 inches (7 cm), are steel rods cut into sections that a press first forms into discs and then into half shells. These are then welded together, machined and polished to a mirror finish.

Italian ring and bevel gear manufacturer Molla has been evaluating forging presses from Schuler's subsidiary Farina to produce its products for use in trucks and construction and agricultural machinery. Following successful preliminary acceptance, a 10,000-ton line will be on its way to the company’s facility in Solbiate Arno this summer. Molla currently operates a 6,000-ton press and a 1,000-ton press. The three machines form a forging cell for preforming, deburring and finish forging of rings. This cell will increase Molla’s production capacity in preparation for future market requirements.