Rio Tinto plans to provide responsibly sourced aluminum to the BMW Group’s vehicle production plant in Spartanburg, S.C., for use in body components starting in 2024. Low-carbon primary aluminum from Rio Tinto’s hydro-powered operations in Canada, combined with recycled content, could generate a reduction of up to 70% in CO₂ emissions compared to BMW Group’s benchmark for aluminum. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see technical experts working together on how to embed low-carbon solutions into BMW Group’s supply chain while ensuring the highest standards of vehicle quality are maintained.

Hot Edge Detection (HED) allows for the collection of information on the shape change that takes place during forging in real time. Integrating HED will provide a reliable and automatic geometry measurement, which provides a better understanding of the microstructural evolution that takes place during forging.

In a move to boost manufacturing in India, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and Bharat Forge Ltd., announced a partnership to manufacture main landing-gear components, subassemblies and assemblies of remotely piloted aircraft. With over five decades of experience in manufacturing a wide range of high-performance, critical-safety components, Bharat Forge offers full-service supply capability from concept to product design, engineering, manufacturing, testing and validation. It the company, which is part of the Kalyani Group, manufactures structural and engine parts and subsystems for aircraft and engines for both civil and military applications. Its portfolio includes aircraft turbine and compressor manufacturing; high-end engine components like blades, discs and shafts; and airframe components, including aircraft landing gear. 

India’s Bharat Forge Ltd. commenced supply of forgings utilizing green steel manufactured and supplied by Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Ltd. (Saarloha), which is part of the Kalyani Group.

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.

General Motors Co. (GM) will invest $760 million at its Toledo, Ohio, propulsion manufacturing operations to prepare the facility for production of drive units that will be used in future Ultium-based battery electric trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC Hummer EVs. Toledo Propulsion Systems will be GM’s first U.S. powertrain or propulsion-related manufacturing facility transformed for EV-related production. Once the plant is converted, it will produce GM’s family of EV drive units, which convert electric power from the battery pack to mechanical motion at the wheels. GM’s EV drive units will cover front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive propulsion combinations.

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.

Here is a complete list of all the feature articles that appeared in the pages of FORGE magazine in 2021. The month each article appeared in is included. All articles are hyperlinked for your convenience.

American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) secured multiple next-generation full-size truck front and rear axle programs with global OEM customers. These contracts, including a previously announced award in early 2021, are expected to generate more than $10 billion of lifetime revenues from mid-decade to beyond 2030.