February 2026 Volume 8

INDUSTRY NEWS

FIA Annual Meeting of Members April 29 – May 1, 2026 | Boulders Resort (Scottsdale, AZ) FIA UPCOMING EVENTS

A pr - M ay 29-1 2026

The FIA Annual Meeting of Members 2026 invites forging industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers to Scottsdale’s desert landscape for three days of insight, connection, and forward-looking dialogue. United under the theme “Forging Wonder: Metal, Magic and Momentum,” this year’s meeting highlights the imaginative, resilient, and transformative forces driving the forging industry into its next era. As the pace of global change accelerates, forging professionals face new challenges— but also unprecedented opportunities. This event showcases how today’s leaders are blending tradition with innovation, sharpening strategic foresight, and building the organizational resilience needed to thrive. Through compelling keynotes, high impact sessions, collaborative networking, and industry celebrations, attendees will explore how ingenuity and momentum can shape the future of forging. Forging Industry Technical Conference May 19-20, 2026 | Macomb University (Warren, MI) The Forging Industry Technical Conference is designed to showcase the best in forging technology with a diversity of presentations of interest to different processes, materials, and end-use markets; report out FIERF funded research projects and industry collaborative group results; provide a forum for students and professors to present their forging research; and provide a networking opportunity between industry, academia, and research partners. FIERF Forging Competition May 21, 2026 | American Axle & Manufacturing (Fraser, MI) The 2026 Forging Competition challenges students to creatively design and forge a functioning American Felling Axe. This year, teams will forge an American felling axe. Axe’s have a minimum weight requirement of 3.5 and cannot exceed 6 lbs. Axe’s have to have a 36” handle. Each axe will be put through a series of tests appropriate to the application. All submissions should include an axe, a project video and technical report documenting the design and manufacturing process.

M ay 19-20 2026

M ay 21 2026

Management Development Institute (MDI) FIA Headquarters (Independence, OH)

J une 8-10 2026

Session 1: June 8-10, 2026 Session 2: August 3-5, 2026 Session 3: October 5-7, 2026

This three-part series includes lectures, case studies, roundtable discussions, expert panels and structured networking specifically designed to provide mid-level managers with the tools they need to advance their careers.

Theory and Application of Forging & Die Design School July 13-16, 2026 | FIA Headquarters (Independence, OH)

J uly 13-16 2026

The course is facilitated by the official FIERF Professor from Colorado School of Mines and a team of industry experts and engineering professionals who work together to carefully explain the principles and practices of forging. Send your shop floor employees and technicians to this interactive, four-day training program!

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2026 58