November 2020 Volume 2

INDUSTRY NEWS

“Down the road we welcome FIA to come back to tour the new facility with any of its committee meetings or training events,” Ishigaki further stated. ABF hosted both FIA’s Plant Engineering and Safety, Health & Environmental committees back in January of 2020. ■ Asahi Forge Group Completes New Ring Mill Plant

As part of their three columned business plan, Asahi Forge Group has completed construction of its 3rd forging plant in Richmond, Ky. Asahi Bluegrass Forge (ABF plant 2) will produce ring rolled products for the worldwide automotive markets. Asahi Forge of America (AFA) and Asahi Bluegrass Forge Corporation (plant 1) produce hub components for automotive markets. At fully staffed ABF plans to hire 80 people and plans for $50 million in annual sales by 2023. The total capital investment for this project is $40 million. Production is expected to being in the 3rd quarter of 2021. The plant features state-of-the-art ring rolling presses, normalization &machining operations. “A substantial portion of the new plant’s capacity had been reserved for overseas markets. Of course, with the global pandemic came a shift in product plans for all our Tier 1 and OEM end customers. We are still on target for 3Q production start and look forward to an improving economy” said Makoto Ishigaki, President for Asahi Bluegrass Forge (ABF).

ABF ASAHI BLUEGRASS FORGE – PLANT 2

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2020 29