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FIA Welcomes O'Brien & Gere |
O'Brien & Gere is FIA's newest supplier member. Located in Liverpool, New York, O'Brien & Gere provides furnace design, fabrication and installation to the forging industry.
Joe Martin, National Sales Manager, will serve as Official Representative. (315-956-6042)
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More Companies Stepping Up to Anvil Support!
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Thanks to the generosity and participation of members, FIERF (Forging Industry Educational & Research Foundation) has ended its fiscal year with a strong increase in contributions. 100% of all contributions go directly to programs and activities to advance technology and develop the future skilled workforce so vital to our industry (see related article "High School Teachers are Forging the Future!" for one example of the Foundation's recent activities).
Thank you to the following Very Important Partners who have "stepped up" to the challenge!

Scot Forge Co.

Ajax-CECO, a Park-Ohio Company
Modern Drop Forge Company

Composite Forgings, Ltd
Ulven Forging Incorporated
Universal Stainless
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Sixteen Students Awarded Finkl Scholarships |
Included in this year's Finkl Scholarship recipients are four students currently interning at a FIA Member Company. Here's what John Agrusa had to say to Foundation donors:
"I would like to thank you and everyone else involved in the Charles W. Finkl Scholarship program. I am very grateful to receive this scholarship. I have been working in the forging industry, at Formtech Industries LLC, since June 2011. I am currently an engineering intern and have been helping engineer the tooling for many different car parts. This scholarship will help me with my schooling to receive my bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University.
Ever since I started working as an engineering intern at Formtech, forging has caught my interest. I am very excited to receive my bachelor's degree and start a career in the forging industry."
2012 Scholarships were recently awarded to:
John Agrusa, Lawrence Technological University, Mechanical Engineering
Michael Bergagna, Marquette University, Mechanical Engineering
Sara Bidar, Ohio State University, Electrical Engineering
Elizabeth Eisinger, Kettering University, Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Ben Foldesy, Ohio University, Mechanical Engineering
Elizabeth Gillen, University of Toledo, Mechanical Engineering
Madeline Hatlen, Colorado School of Mines, Material/Metallurgical Engineering
Brendan Herrera, Pittsburg State University, Manufacturing Engineering
Jonathan Kuta, Marquette University, Electrical/Computer Engineering
Michael Monahan, University of Dayton, Mechanical Engineering
Randall Neu, Marquette University, Electrical/Computer Engineering
Joshua Sampsel, University of Toledo, Chemical Engineering
Iddrisu Seidu, Cleveland State University, Mechanical Engineering
James Short, University of Michigan, Civil Engineering
Marissa Singley, Ohio University, Mechanical Engineering
William Smythe, Case Western Reserve University, Materials Engineering
The Foundation continues to support fifteen students awarded scholarships in 2011. Scholarships are awarded to university engineering students entering their junior year. Students receive $2000 in their junior year and $2000 in their senior year.
The scholarship program was established by gifts of A. Finkl and Sons Co. and contributions from the forging industry in memory of Chuck Finkl as a tribute to two of Chuck's passions - education and the forging industry.
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Nuclear Submarine Captain to Forging Producer |
Chris Ratliff, a June 2012 graduate of FIA's Theory & Applications of Forging & Die Design School, after retiring from the U. S. Navy, has launched a new career within the forging industry. He is now producing components for the next generation of warships.
Please read what Chris has to say. "During my twenty-eight year naval career, I commanded two submarines and served on five other submarines and an aircraft carrier, all of them nuclear powered. In my earliest days of going to sea, I became acutely aware that the ship's equipment must be of the very highest quality and reliability. As I walked through the engine room of any of my submarines, I would often put my hand on a fluid system component to feel the machinery at work. I was never less than awed by the fact that all of us on board owed our lives to the strength and durability of the equipment that totally surrounded us. And as my shipmates and I embarked on another mission of vital relevance to national security, I knew that success or failure of the mission also hinged on that same equipment. I am pleased to report that we all came home every time with much to be proud of."
"When I was in a position to choose a second career, I was honored to be offered a leadership role in the business of building our nation's nuclear-powered warships. I take very seriously my obligation at Cunico Corporation to provide our seagoing men and women with fluid-system components of the same high quality that I relied on during my many years of service on and beneath the sea."

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Promoting Forgings To Aerospace Industry |

FIA exhibited at AeroMat 2012, June 18-20 in Charlotte, NC. The show's theme was Aerospace Materials and Processes: Making Next Generation Designs Possible. Over 400 attendees walked the exhibit hall of the Charlotte Convention Center, and there were 7 forging specific papers presented. The forging sessions were very well received and ASM is considering adding a forging track to next year's AeroMat to be held in the Seattle area.
 
AeroMat exhibit hall R Hardy & D Farley in FIA Booth
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High School Teachers are Forging the Future! |
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Teachers Camp graduates at Case western Reserve Unitversity |
Why would groups of high school teachers be sitting in classrooms all over the country this summer? To attend ASM Materials Camps! Matt Morrison, SIFCO and Wayne Turner, Eaton Steel Bar talked with teachers at the camp held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland recently about the importance of manufacturing,the forging and steel process and the many career paths available to students.
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Greg Scheuring, Ellwood City Forge at Carnegie Mellon |
Greg Scheuring, brought Ellwood City Forge summer intern Colin Galey when he spoke at the Carnegie Mellon Camp in Pittsburgh as a real life example of the type of students our industry would like to attract. Greg also gave the teachers examples of where locally produced forgings are found in various end use markets.
The Forging Foundation is a sponsor of the ASM Materials Camps for Teachers. In addition to participating in four camps over the summer, every teacher that attends a camp in the US and Canada will receive a "Forging Your Future" tool kit with information about the forging process and careers in the industry.
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DLA Land and Maritime pilot project |
DLA Land and Maritime located in Columbus, Ohio is pursuing a pilot project on the use of Long Term Contracts with forges to reduce Administrative Lead Time (ALT) and potentially reduce Production Lead Time and unit costs. The DLA is initially seeking 4-5 forges who are interested in being the prime contractor for 10 or more National Stock Numbered items. If you have been the prime contractor on a number of DLA solicitations and are interested in learning more about the pilot project, please contact Chris Bergner at Chris.Bergner@scra.org or Jon Tirpak at jon.tirpak@scra.org.
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FDMC seminars
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Presenting for the third time at Robins AFB, the FDMC provided instruction on Forging Design on June 18th. 21 students attended, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. These seminars parallel the Forging Design Seminars offered publicly through FIA. For information about the FDMC seminars, contact Jon Tirpak at 843-760-4346. For the FIA led seminars contact George Layne (glayne@forging.org) at FIA.
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Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation
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19 Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation employees took a bus trip to U.S. Drop Forge in New Jersey on June 5th. FDMC and the DLA'S Aviation Forging & Casting Assistance Team (AFCAT) coordinated the trip for DLA employees to learn more about the forging process. The trip included training on the bus en route to U.S. Drop Forge, and once at the forge, Mr. Chuck Lafferty, Engineering Manager, and Mr. Bill Yarger, Plant Manager, gave the group an overview of the forging industry, U.S. Drop Forge's processes and capabilities, and a tour of their facility.
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2012 Forging Capability Guide Released
| FIA is pleased to announce availability of the new 2012 Forging Capability Guide (FCG). The fully searchable CD contains location and facilities listings of all FIA Member custom forge shops, forging market and process descriptions and graphics, and a "Special Capabilities" column that further defines forging company capabilities, making it easier for customers to select prospective sources.
The primary purpose of this Guide is to promote the capabilities of FIA members and the forging process to forging customers and prospects. It will be distributed to thousands of customers and prospects worldwide. Copies of the 2012 Forging Capability Guide are available to customers at no charge, FIA members for $25.00 each and to FIA non-member forging and supplier companies at $100.00 each (postage and handling included). Click Here to order or contact FIA at info@forging.org.
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Tech Conference 2012 - Technical Program Available NOW!
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The Industry Technical Conference is designed to showcase the best in forging technology. This year's conference will be offering 34 papers presented by forging industry experts, international researchers, and individuals from academia. To provide a platform of discussion for both, Newly Applied Technology and Research, and to accommodate the different levels of experience, dual tracks on day 2 will be offered for the first time.
Also offered will be Roundtables for focused discussion on topics of interest. Objective of the conference is to report out FIERF funded research projects and industry collaborative group results; discussion of case studies; provide a forum for students and professors to present their forging research; and provide a networking opportunity between industry, academia and research partners.
(Click here) to view the brochure.
(Click here) to register online.
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September Marketing Workshop to Focus on Opportunities/Fundamentals
| Forging and supplier sales and marketing executives are encouraged to mark September 18-19, 2012 on their calendars for the 2012 FIA Marketing Workshop... this year to be held in Pittsburgh, PA at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel. Highly rated speaker at a past Workshop, Sean Coyle of Peak Performance Management, returns to discuss Maintaining Efficient Customer Service in the Modern Age. This will be followed by a hot topic for all...Opportunities and Threats for Suppliers to the Shale Gas Industry. The first day will wrap up with a Material Supplier Panel discussing elements that influence pricing and delivery lead times, and immediate and long-term opportunities / threats from offshore material suppliers.
The following day will open with a 'how to' on Using Social Media and New Marketing Tools in a B2B Environment. A one-on-one consultation to review interested attendees' electronic marketing programs will be available that day at no additional charge. (Advance registration for said service will be required - details to come.) The day and the Workshop will conclude with IHS Global Insight taking an in-depth look at our customer markets, where they are heading and the impact on open, impression and rolled rings sales for the coming 5 years.
This Workshop is an opportunity not to be overlooked. Complete information and registration materials will be mailed, e-mailed and posted on the FIA website later this month.
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Theory & Applications of Forging & Die Design School Offered Again - October 2012
| Due to a sellout June class, FIA is offering the Die Design School again this year, October 29 - November 1, 2012, in Cleveland.
The "Theory and Applications of Forging & Die Design" school continues to evolve, reflecting new insights into forging technology and the wide availability of metal flow simulation software. This four-day school is taught by a team of industry experts and engineering professors who work together to carefully explain principles and practice. We urge you to join the 1500+ forging employees who have already attended this course.
(Click here) to view/print full Program.
Class size is limited, the June class filled up early, leaving many closed out, please don't wait to register.
For additional information, contact George Layne at: glayne@forging.org.
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Hammer Maintenance Workshop - October 16 - 17, 2012 - Cleveland
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This 1½ day workshop will act to introduce participants to the different types of hammers. It will provide an explanation of the various elements of the hammer to provide an understanding of how they work and their influence on other parts of the hammer and the forging process.
The emphasis of the Workshop is predictive and preventative maintenance of the elements of the hammer, and things to be taken into account when planning a repair.
This Workshop will not be delivered again this year, so don't miss it! Class size is limited, so don't wait to register.
For additional information contact George Layne at: glayne@forging.org
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First Line Supervisory Development Seminar September 24 - 27, 2012 Cleveland |
A three-day Seminar focusing on the continued development of your organization's first line supervisors by enhancing their skills in the following areas:
o Leadership and Relationship-building;
o Effective Communication (verbal and non-verbal);
o Use of Interpersonal Problem-solving Tools;
o Coaching for Performance Improvement;
o Personal Development and Self-actualization;
o and much more.
For additional information contact George Layne at: glayne@forging.org
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