North American Forgemasters
North American Forgemasters is a 50-50 JV between Scot Forge and Ellwood Group that operates the only fully integrated open-die forge facility in the Western Hemisphere. It produces ultra-large custom forgings up to 325,000 lbs using the largest open-die press in the Americas for nuclear, defense, mining, oil and gas, power, and shipbuilding customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersNew Castle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What North American Forgemasters does
North American Forgemasters (NAF) is the only fully integrated open-die forging manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, established in 1997 as a 50-50 joint venture between Scot Forge (Spring Grove, IL) and Ellwood Group, Inc. (Ellwood City, PA). The company operates a single facility in New Castle, Pennsylvania, co-located with its primary ingot supplier Ellwood Quality Steels, enabling a hot-ingot-to-finished-forging workflow under one roof. NAF produces custom open-die forgings - blocks, discs and hubs, rings, shafts and bars, sleeves and stepped hollows, and custom shapes - weighing up to 270,000-325,000 lbs at a 100,000+ ingot tons/year throughput.
The technological core is the 90MN (10,120 ton) open-die forging press commissioned in 2015 with $95M of JV partner investment, the largest, fastest-acting, and most reliable press in the Western Hemisphere, with 6m vertical daylight, 5m column spacing, and 3.1m stroke. This is paired with a split ASEA-SKF secondary steelmaking system (two ladle refining units, custom alloy delivery, ladle vacuum degasser) producing steel cleanliness rivaling ESR and VAR re-melted processes, plus integrated heat treatment (furnaces for parts up to 88,000 lbs, 177 in. diameter, 75 ft length), Level III NDE testing (UT, MT, PT), and machining (over 30 large machine tools, VTL swinging 264 in.). The firm holds ISO 9001:2015, ABS, DNV, and NADCAP certifications and is building ASME Section III and NQA-1 compliance for nuclear.
NAF runs an enterprise B2B sales motion with quote-based pricing on individual projects initiated through a Request for Quote system, supported by technical product managers. Revenue is project-based and earned through one-time manufacturing fees tied to specifications, material, complexity, and value-added processing. The company serves eight vertical markets: Commercial Nuclear (including SMR via the U.S. Reactor Forging Consortium with NuScale Power), National Defense, Heavy Machinery, Mining, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, and Shipbuilding. Distribution is direct from the New Castle facility with no intermediaries.
North American Forgemasters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North American Forgemasters
- Legal name
- North American Forgemasters
- Website
- https://naforgemasters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- North American Forgemasters is a 50-50 JV between Scot Forge and Ellwood Group that operates the only fully integrated open-die forge facility in the Western Hemisphere. It produces ultra-large custom forgings up to 325,000 lbs using the largest open-die press in the Americas for nuclear, defense, mining, oil and gas, power, and shipbuilding customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North American Forgemasters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Open-Die Forgings
- NAICS
- Forging and Stamping (3321), Iron and Steel Forging (332111), Nonferrous Forging (332112)
- SIC
- Metal Forgings & Stampings (3460)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)
Keywords
Where North American Forgemasters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Castle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
North American Forgemasters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Open-Die Forging Manufacturing: Project-based manufacturing services producing custom open-die forgings (blocks, discs, rings, shafts, sleeves, hollows, custom shapes) for industrial customers. Revenue is earned through one-time project fees based on specifications, material, complexity, and processing requirements. Services include steelmaking, forging, heat treatment, machining, and testing as integrated offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing per project |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
North American Forgemasters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
North American Forgemasters is a fully integrated open-die forging manufacturer that produces custom large forged components — blocks, discs and hubs, rings, shafts and bars, custom forgings, and sleeves and stepped hollows — in weights up to 325,000+ lbs. The company operates the largest open-die forging press in the Western Hemisphere and combines steelmaking, forging, heat treatment, in-house metallurgical testing, and finish machining at its single New Castle, Pennsylvania site to serve industrial customers in nuclear, defense, mining, oil and gas, power generation, shipbuilding, infrastructure, and heavy machinery.
Product overview
North American Forgemasters (NAF) is an open-die forge facility producing billet stock, ring preforms and custom forged shapes in sizes up to 270,000 lbs. The company operates as a fully integrated manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, offering a comprehensive suite of products including Blocks, Custom Forgings, Discs & Hubs, Rings, Shafts & Bars, and Sleeves & Stepped Hollows. These core forging products are supported by add-on service modules including Steelmaking (ladle refined ingots up to 170 tons), Heat Treatment (furnaces up to 88,000 lbs capacity), Testing (chemical, mechanical, and NDE inspection), Machining (CNC and manual machining up to 75 ft lengths), and Quality Services (ISO 9001:2015 certified). The company serves critical markets including Commercial Nuclear, National Defense, Heavy Machinery, Mining, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, and Shipbuilding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Forged Blocks Forged blocks weighing up to 270,000 lbs with maximum width of 170 inches, suited to high-pressure and harsh-service applications due to refined grain structure. Sold to industrial customers in nuclear, defense, mining, oil and gas, power generation, and heavy machinery markets.
- Custom Forgings Near-net custom forgings including domes, cups with blind inside diameters, and shafts combining round, square, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal cross sections. Sold to industrial customers needing geometries outside standard product lines.
- Discs and Hubs Open-die forged discs and hubs produced by upsetting process that compresses grain structure for strength and ductility, with weights up to 270,000 lbs and maximum outside diameter of 160 inches. Used in rotating equipment and heavy industrial machinery.
- Rings Open-die and seamless rolled rings with controlled grain flow, weights up to 270,000 lbs, maximum outside diameter from 160 to 330 inches, and maximum height of 120 inches. Used in bearings, flanges, and large rotating or structural assemblies.
- Shafts and Bars Forged step shafts, round bars, square bars, flat bars, and hex bars with weights up to 270,000 lbs, maximum length of 75 ft, and maximum outside diameter of 160 inches. Used in turbine, generator, ship propulsion, mining, and heavy industrial drives.
- Sleeves and Stepped Hollows Seamless forged heavy-wall hollow cylinders and sleeves with unlimited variations of outside and inside diameters including tapers, maximum outside diameter of 160 inches, maximum length over 400 inches, and maximum weight exceeding 325,000 lbs. Used in pressure vessels, hydraulic cylinders, and reactor or containment shells.
Quantifiable outcome
- Forgings produce contoured grain flow and fine grain size providing greater strength and fatigue resistance compared to machined parts or castings
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use North American Forgemasters
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
North American Forgemasters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
North American Forgemasters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- NuScale PowercoreCollaboration agreement signed with U.S. Reactor Forging Consortium (RFC) comprised of NAF, Scot Forge, and ATI Forged Products. RFC and NuScale cooperate on design for manufacturability reviews for forged geometries to reduce welding, optimize configuration for fabrication. Supports U.S. supply chain planning as NuScale approaches commercialization of NuScale Power Modules (SMR technology).
- ATI Forged ProductscorePart of U.S. Reactor Forging Consortium with NAF and Scot Forge. ATI is a $3 billion global producer of high performance materials for aerospace and defense markets with world-class capabilities in closed die forgings and large rings. Located in Cudahy, Wisconsin.
- Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC)majorNAF partnering with CTC's Center for Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing on full production size shell research project using austenitic stainless steel for reactor and containment vessels in SMRs and advanced reactors. Funded in part by grant from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Economic Development. CTC performs independent technical evaluations while NAF handles melting, forging, heat treating, machining, and testing.
- Ellwood Quality SteelscoreAdjacent ingot steelmaking facility within same complex as NAF. Supplies majority of NAF's ingots via hot shipment (few hundred yards between plants). EQS is North America's most reliable producer of high-quality, low-cost carbon, alloy, tool, and martensitic stainless steel ingots.
- Scot Forgecore50-50 joint venture partner and employee-owned U.S. manufacturer of forged solutions since 1893. Headquartered in Spring Grove, Illinois. Scot Forge has the largest open die forging press in the Western Hemisphere with the combined highest tonnage and largest working area. JV partners share ingot steel supply and forge large parts that exceed individual press capabilities.
- Ellwood Group, Inc.core50-50 joint venture partner and family-owned (fifth generation) company founded as Ellwood City Forge in 1910. Headquartered in Ellwood City, PA with nine operating units across five states and Canada, over 2,300 employees. Parent company of Ellwood Quality Steels which supplies ingots to NAF.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
North American Forgemasters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scot Forge: Spring Grove, IL-based open-die forger founded in 1893 and 50-50 JV partner in NAF. Operates one of the largest open-die forging presses in the U.S. and competes with NAF across many of the same industrial and defense end markets.
- ATI Forged Products: Cudahy, WI-based forged products division of ATI ($3B+ specialty materials producer), co-member of the U.S. Reactor Forging Consortium with NAF and Scot Forge. Specializes in closed-die forgings and large rings for aerospace and defense.
- Ellwood City Forge (Ellwood Group): Family-owned open-die forger (founded 1910) and the other 50-50 JV partner in NAF. Operates a 5,000-ton press and produces large forgings for similar industrial, defense, and energy customers.
Broad incumbents
- Bharat Forge: India-based global forging leader with broad coverage across automotive, energy, oil & gas, and industrial markets. A scaled incumbent competing for large component programs where NAF also pursues orders.
- Japan Steel Works: Japan-based global leader in large steel forgings, particularly for nuclear, power generation, and shipbuilding. Largest open-die forging competitor globally and a key offshore incumbent NAF positions against for nuclear and energy projects.
- China First Heavy Industries (CFHI): Chinese state-owned heavy industrial group and one of the world's largest producers of large forgings for power generation, shipbuilding, and nuclear applications — a primary offshore competitor in the very segment NAF targets for reshoring.
Regional players
- Aubert & Duval: French specialty steel and forging producer (part of Eramet group) focused on aerospace, defense, energy, and nuclear. Competes with NAF in European and trans-Atlantic nuclear/defense programs but primarily serves EMEA customers.
- Leiber Group (Leistritz): German forging and machining group producing large forged components for power generation, oil & gas, marine, and general industrial applications — a European regional competitor with overlapping product mix.
- Frisa Forjados: Mexico-based open-die forger producing large seamless rolled rings and forged components for wind, oil & gas, and industrial markets. Competes with NAF in North American wind energy and oil & gas supply chains.
Others
- Ellwood Quality Steels: Adjacent steelmaking sister company within Ellwood Group that supplies the majority of NAF's ingots via hot shipment. Not a direct competitor, but a critical input supplier and ecosystem participant tightly coupled to NAF's integrated model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
North American Forgemasters social profiles
Digital presenceNorth American Forgemasters compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
North American Forgemasters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North American Forgemasters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
North American Forgemasters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North American Forgemasters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about North American Forgemasters
What does North American Forgemasters do?
North American Forgemasters is a fully integrated open-die forging manufacturer that produces custom large forged components — blocks, discs and hubs, rings, shafts and bars, custom forgings, and sleeves and stepped hollows — in weights up to 325,000+ lbs. The company operates the largest open-die forging press in the Western Hemisphere and combines steelmaking, forging, heat treatment, in-house metallurgical testing, and finish machining at its single New Castle, Pennsylvania site to serve industrial customers in nuclear, defense, mining, oil and gas, power generation, shipbuilding, infrastructure, and heavy machinery.
Is North American Forgemasters a public or private company?
North American Forgemasters is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was North American Forgemasters founded?
North American Forgemasters was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is North American Forgemasters based?
North American Forgemasters is headquartered in New Castle, United States, in the North America region.
How does North American Forgemasters make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Open-Die Forging Manufacturing.
Who are North American Forgemasters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scot Forge, ATI Forged Products and Ellwood City Forge (Ellwood Group). Broad incumbents are Bharat Forge, Japan Steel Works and China First Heavy Industries (CFHI). Regional players are Aubert & Duval, Leiber Group (Leistritz) and Frisa Forjados. Ellwood Quality Steels is listed as an others.
Does North American Forgemasters have an API?
No public API is recorded for North American Forgemasters.
What industry is North American Forgemasters in?
North American Forgemasters's product category is Industrial Open-Die Forgings. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAC, Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping). Its NAICS code is 3321 and its SIC code is 3460.