November 2021 Volume 3

EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

In modern times, some manufacturers have taken to adding services to their core competencies, pursuing a strategy of full-service, or turnkey, solutions to their customers. There are various ways to achieve vertical integration. It may be done through exclusive contractual arrangements that lock in pricing and supplies of products and services; it may be done through internal development; or it may be done through acquisition. Regardless of how it is done, the result is often a strategic advantage accruing to the vertically integrated shop. According to long- time forging industry participant and observer Jon Tirpak, Chief Engineer of Sabbatis, LLC, and former President of ASM International, “The last person to touch the part has added the most value to it.” Sometimes Market Conditions Prevail Every forge is different in numerous ways. Even though vertical integration into machining services may work for some, it is not the only growth strategy worthy of pursuit. Anchor Harvey (AH) of Freeport, Illinois is a case in point. AH describes itself as a data-driven aluminum forging company with a century-long legacy in precisionmanufacturing, engineering, and supply chain management. They pride themselves on providing quality forged aluminum products and in having “modernized the age-old aluminum forging process by introducing sophisticated technology to monitor and control every step of the process, ensuring part consistency…”

Their engineers will design a die with a negative impression of the final part, which will include the materials to be used, a tool path for machine tools to cut the die faces, a heat treatment specification for the final die, and a manufacturing process to produce the die. Like many forges, AHproduces its own forging dies from a machine shop on the premises. AHruns five press lines forging closed-die aluminumparts that serve the automotive, general transportation and other industry sectors. The machine shop runs 3 shifts, though the third shift is not always a fully staffed one. The sole purpose of the machine shop at AH is to supply forging dies to the press lines. There are 6 CNC machining centers that produce all the dies required by the presses. However, the tool room does no captive machining of the company’s forged products, nor does it provide independent machining services for outside customers. AH’s Sales Manager, Kerry Kubatzke, explains why: “We operate in a Great Lakes manufacturing region where there is abundant access to outsourced machining services that are competitively priced. We focus our efforts on improving the forging process to reduce the amount of machining services needed.” At present, Anchor Harvey plans on leaving its internal machining operations and outsourcing of product machining intact. Nonetheless, as a strategic alternative in the future Kubatzke says, “We are evaluating the situation.”

Anchor Harvey uses its machine shop strictly for its own tooling needs. Images courtesy of Anchor Harvey.

SRP is today run byMcCreavy’s great-grandson, Alex Jennings, who is the company’s president. He started with the company 28 years ago in a quality assurance role, and after a time as plant manager, he assumed his present job 16 years ago. During that time he led the company’s development as a leader in seamless ring production of ferrous and nonferrous materials for use primarily in bearing and gear applications.

Starting Almost from Scratch More than 130 years ago, William T. McCreavy came to the U.S. from Ireland and set up shop in eastern Pennsylvania to forge industrial parts for his customers. His business was called Schuylkill Forge Company. In 1910 McCreavy was awarded a U.S. patent on mill machinery that could forge seamless rolled rings of steel. The company he started is today known as Specialty Ring Products (SRP), Bensalem, Pennsylvania, which is still owned and run by the founder’s descendants.

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2021 17