Forging Foundation News November 2023

Forging Competition – Deadline to Register is December 1st!

 

Each year, students will come together to compete in the Forging Foundation’s Forging Competition. The Forging Competition is a great way for students to have a hands-on opportunity to learn more about forging while competing for prizes!

The second annual Forging Competition is April 25, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI. Students will have the opportunity to compete in creating a Halligan bar. Each bar will be put through a series of tests appropriate to the application.  You can expect the bars to be tested in prying, punching, twisting, and striking.  All submissions will include a Halligan bar, a project video, and technical report documenting the design and manufacturing process.

Submission Dates:

Prizes:

Each Halligan Bar entry will be eligible for 5 awards and a Grand Prize:

  1. Best design and process
  2. Best authentic Halligan Bar design for the form, fit and functions, but the team can use any materials they wish for their entry
  3. Best forging
  4. Best project video documenting the project
  5. Best performance based on testing and expert evaluation

Click the red button below to register your team. If you would like to fill out a paper registration form, click here.

Industry Partnerships Needed:

Students are encouraged to partner with FIA Member companies. Industry partners are asked to work with a team of competing students to provide guidance, materials, and information about forging.

If your company is interested in being an industry partner, please contact Amanda Dureiko at [email protected] to be connected with a competing team.

Now Accepting Research Grant Applications

 

Time to Start Considering Research Topics

The Forging Foundation (FIERF) awards grants to universities and community colleges to advance the science of forging and to engage students and professors in industry-relevant research. The FIERF Board of Trustees has implemented the use of a Stage-Gate Process to manage industry research projects over $10,000 or one year in length. Grant requests of less than $10,000 and one year in length may complete the Micro Grant application.

After some discussion, the FIA Technical Committee feels that there is a need in the industry for projects pertaining to:

  • Metallurgical Processing and Process Design, from primary melting through forging, heat treatment and joining
  • Process simulation, including microstructural / mechanical property prediction
  • Metallic Materials Development (additive, hybrid processes, metal matrix composites, and cast and wrought manufacturing)
  • Lightweighting
  • Die materials, surface technologies and die repair
  • Industry 4.0 & Digital Manufacturing including AI or Machine Learning
  • Forging Lubrication
  • Automation, Ergonomics & Robotics
  • Carbon Emission Reduction and Environmental, including Recycling
  • Inspection Techniques
  • Materials Characterization
  • Forging Industry Equipment Lifecycle Extension
  • Forging for Extreme Environments (hypersonics, chemical, nuclear, sub sea, space, and sub zero)

Please Note: This list is not exclusive and the committee invites proposals on all areas of forging research & technology.

Stage Gate Grant Request Form
Micro Grant Request Form

Click here to see previously funded projects. All requests should include deliverables that relate to the needs of the industry as defined in the 2022 Forging Industry Technology Roadmap and follow the Grant Policies and Procedures. Please submit all requests to the Foundation Office at [email protected] by February 15, 2024.

NEW! Forging Club Grants

 

Looking to start a forging club at your school?

The Forging Foundation (FIERF) is excited to introduce its very first forging club grant opportunity. The purpose of this grant is to help cover the cost of forging equipment, materials, and personal protective equipment needed to start a forging club.

Four institutions will be awarded $5,000, to help start or continue Forging Clubs at their school. Awarded schools must commit to compete in FIERF’s Forging Competition in 2025 and start an official Forging Club at their school.

Example of acceptable items to purchase when starting a Forging Club:

If your school already has an established Forging Club, funds from the grant can be used to improve or expand your forging capabilities.

After two years of having a successful forging club, schools are eligible to apply for an additional $5,000 to use to continue the success of the club.

Submit applications to [email protected] by February 15, 2024.

New Community College Partnership

 

The Forging Foundation (FIERF) is very pleased to announce a new scholarship partnership with Moraine Valley Community College through FIERF’s Presidents’ Challenge Program.

The Forging Foundation Ted Gutt Family Scholarship, started by Mike Wozniak of Wozniak Industries in honor of Ted Gutt’s 50-year anniversary at Commercial Forge Products (CFP – a Wozniak Industries company) will be available for students attending Moraine Valley Community College majoring in coursework related to the forging industry such as Computer Automated Design, CNC Machine Technology, Industrial Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Machine Tool Technology, Mechanical Systems, Mechatronics, Multi-skilled Maintenance Technology, Robotics and Automated Technology, and Welding Technology.

Students will be awarded $500 their first semester and upon completion of a plant tour of Commercial Forged Products and FIA’s Forging University Forging 101 course, will be awarded another $500 the following semester.

Interested in starting a scholarship at your local community college? Contact Amanda at [email protected].

Workforce Development Grants

FIA’s lobby firm, The Franklin Partnership (TFP), provides FIA with a document that contains the current workforce grants and tax credits that are available to companies to apply for. Click on the link here to view the current initiatives happening in your state.

Partner with FIERF

Thank you to all of the new and continued supporters of the Forging Foundation (FIERF).  We couldn’t continue to do what we do with out the generous support from you!

We invite you to partner with the Forging Foundation. A partnership with the Forging Foundation means you will help develop our future workforce!

All contributions, donations, and gifts to the Forging Foundation (FIERF) are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. All administrative costs and event expenses are paid by the Forging Industry Association so your donation goes directly to supporting FIERF programs such as scholarships, forging related research projects, education initiatives, and workforce development programming.

If you are interested in learning more about the Forging Foundation and the workforce development programming that we do, contact Amanda Dureiko at [email protected] or 216-781-6260.