November 2022 Volume 4

PRESIDENT'S NOTE

President's Note

Good news from the recent FIA-FIERF board meetings includes two important new standing committees: Women in Forging, and the NextGen Group (<35). What does this mean? Each group will now have a formal committee structure (Chair, Vice Chair) and expectation to develop training and programs for the membership. We’ve had good response from both groups as staff has developed some initial events to test the waters. More good news on the Government Affairs front: additional focus on ourMilitary supply chains, whichwe believe will raise all member boats, whether military forgings are in your mix or not. How you ask? The funding is used for research and equipment at universities and trade schools which benefits all members, andmembers can also apply for funds for equipment investment. FIA has been approached by our nation’s armed services to work cooperatively with Congress to secure funding for a forging program. In response to this request, the FIA Board has approved technical-focused appropriations lobby firm (SMI Inc.) to assist us lobbying Congress for specific appropriations to be managed by the Army Research Lab (ARL) and another with the Industrial Base Analysis & Sustainment (IBAS). This recent activity was driven in part by the President’s Supply Chain Analysis executive order study order that highlighted several industries and segments – including forgings and castings. Focus here is on FY-2024 funding period so a year long effort in front of us in 2023 which begins at FIA’s February Lobby Day program. We will keep members apprised of the journey. We're Moving! Join us at our Open House in Independence, Ohio (just south of Cleveland) on Monday, December 12th to see why we're so excited to share FIA’s new home office and world-class training room with our members. (For more details turn to pg. 69.) Best regards, James R. Warren President and CEO

Meetings Are Back Nearing the end of 2022…time for reflection! First: is it me or did this year go by at warp-speed x infinity? With a full year with Covid mostly under control, the activity ‘floodgates’ opened wide and broad! From an FIA staff perspective,

adding three new conferences in 2022 (plus our regular load) and seeing them all with great event features, plant tours and content AND great attendance really was a thrill, and I could not be prouder of the FIA staff and committees (Safety, Lightweight, ForjaMex). Probably earned myself a sizeable bullseye on the back for pushing everyone so hard, but in the end, I believe the staff and committees who worked on these events were proud of their effort and happy with the results. I’m referring to our new Forging Lightweight Alloys Conference (February), Safety Conference (March), and ForjaMex (September). More memories of the year: FIA launching its first ever Government Affairs department, securing a new lobby firm (The Franklin Partnership) and the board committing to the Fall Meeting of Members in Washington D.C., of which we are just back from. Literally, it has been a firehose blast of activity – beginning with a manufacturing-industry wide effort to keep the 301 trade tariffs on China at the 25% tariff rate. We succeeded!! Thank you to Trenton Forging for testifying at the USITC hearing and thank you to all members who filed comments on the USTR website. Our work here is not done. Starting November 15th tariff proponents (FIA, FIA members) can file additional comments and those against the 301 tariffs have their chance to comment (unlike the summer hearing – limited to tariff supporter comments only). We will be communicating with you more on this, and please see articles in this issue from our Government Affairs Manager (pg.4) and our FIA lobbyist (pg.6). The Coming Year Lots going on! It is a Forge Fair year, andwe’re off to a great start. The show floor is filling up quickly with exhibitors. We expect another record pace of industry events and have every reason to believe this economy will hold together so members are comfortable getting to the upcoming training and conferences.

Forging Industry Association

PUBLISHER James R. Warren jwarren@forging.org MANAGING EDITOR Angela Gibian angela@forging.org Editorial Staff

Board of Directors

Antonio Alvarez Perry Bennett Peter Campbell

Mark Derry JimKravec Mike Morgus Scott Naar James Romeo

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Amanda Dureiko amanda@forging.org DESIGN Lorean Crowder lorean@forging.org

CHAIRMAN Dan Ulven VICE CHAIRMAN Chelsea Lantto

Mark Candy John Coward

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2022 1