May 2026 Volume 8

PRESIDENT'S NOTE

PRESIDENT'S NOTE

T he forging industry often straddles take weeks or longer to deliver. These, and other competing forces give rise to another – innovation. In this edition, we explore how these forces are reshaping the forging industry two competing forces: The demand for speed and the reality that forgings can

Editorial Staff

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Angela Gibian Deputy Chief Executive | Forging Industry Association angela@forging.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Amanda Dureiko Executive Director (FIERF) | Forging Industry Association amanda@forging.org DESIGN Lorean Crowder Sr. Graphic Design & Publication Specialist | Forging Industry Association lorean@forging.org CHAIRPERSON Paul A. Spitz Vice President - Sales & Marketing | Unit Drop Forge Co. Inc. VICE CHAIRPERSON Jeff Krueger Exec. Dir. of Corp. Sales | Scot Forge Co. Robert R. Bolin President | GLAMA USA Inc. Mark Derry VP Operations | Portland Forge Rick Egbert VP & CFO | Carbo Forge, Inc. Colby Hamilton President | McInnes Rolled Rings Bret Halley COO | Valley Forge & Bolt Mfg. Co. James D. Kane VP of Commercial Sales | Ellwood Quality Steels Co. Louis Philippe Lapierre COO | Finkl Steel Frank Sikon Director of Procurement Operations | Howmet Aerospace Luke Spinelli Executive VP - COO | Aluminum Precision Products, Inc. Board of Directors

to satisfy the needs of customers, improve company’s bottom lines, and reducing health and safety risks through AI, automation, and modern material handling. In this edition, we explore what that looks like in practice. • Our cover story examines modern material handling and the growing role of vision and AI in forging operations on page 18. • Strategies for maintaining automated handling equipment in forging environments are found on page 26. • We look at the principles of safety by design in automated environments on page 28. • Practical guidance for forgers just beginning their automation journey is found on page 38. You’ll also notice two new additions to the Magazine. We’re launching a dedicated Safety Section [pg. 28] to give this critical topic the sustained attention it deserves. And our new Faces of Forging [pg. 67] feature puts a spotlight on the people behind the products our members make. Although it can seem AI is all anyone wants to talk about, forging is and will be a people driven industry. You can’t “AI-away” these jobs! As you read through this edition, I hope you see your own operations and your own teams reflected in these stories. The world is demanding more, and our members are answering the call to lead. Best Regards,

Mark Ames, AAiP President and CEO Forging Industry Association

FIA Magazine (ISSN 2643-1254 (print) and ISSN 2643-1262 (online)) is published 4 times annually, May, August, November and February by the Forging Industry Association, 6363 Oak Tree Blvd., Independence, Ohio 44131. Telephone: (216) 781-6260. Only (1) copy of the print version distributed at no charge only to members of the Forging Industry Association. Digital version distributed at no charge to qualified individuals. Subscription requests available at www. forging.org. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid in Independence, OH and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Forging Industry Association, 6363 Oak Tree Blvd., Independence, Ohio 44131. Copyright © 2026 by the Forging Industry Association in both printed and electronic formats. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations or for any statement made or opinion expressed herein. Data and information presented by the authors of specific articles are for informational purposes only and are not intended for use without independent, substantiating investigation on the part of potential users.

FIA MAGAZINE | MAY 2026 3