Forging Industry Association

What Forging Industry Association does

The Forging Industry Association (FIA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1913 and headquartered at 6363 Oak Tree Blvd., Independence, Ohio. It serves the U.S. forging industry — a metal-manufacturing sector that shapes metal using localized compressive forces — by acting as the primary industry body for standards, advocacy, education, and networking. Membership spans open-die, closed-die, and seamless rolled ring producers and includes recently onboarded companies such as Bosch, Prime Metals, MTS Forge, Milwaukee-Forge, and Rickard Metals, alongside strategic event partners including Howmet Aerospace and Ellwood Quality Steels.

FIA's product and service portfolio centers on (a) member-only conferences and workshops (Fall Meeting & Marketing Conference, Safety Conference, Mechanical Press Maintenance Workshop, First Line Supervisory Development Seminar, and the annual FIERF Golf Outing), (b) technical publications — including the Product Design Guide for Forging, Open Die Forging Technology, and tolerance guideline booklets for aluminum, impression-die, and seamless rolled ring forgings — sold via an online shop at member and non-member price points, (c) the Forging Career Center (careers.forging.org), a dedicated job board hosted in partnership with Naylor Association Solutions offering Featured Employer branding packages ranging from $459 to $5,850 (Network tier up to $10,750), and (d) workforce-pipeline programs through its affiliated non-profit FIERF — including the Forge the Future Summer Camp for ages 11-15 and Forging Club grants to universities such as UConn.

The revenue model is a hybrid of recurring membership dues (undisclosed amounts), event registration fees (tiered from $75 for Summer Camp to $1,900 for the Fall Meeting first attendee), Career Center subscription packages, and shop sales. Go-to-market is primarily event-driven, supplemented by content marketing, the website storefront, and the Forging RFQ submission form that connects buyers with member forging companies. FIA employs 11-50 staff and operates with a small, lean infrastructure centered on conference execution, member services, and industry-funded research and scholarships.

Name

Forging Industry Association

Legal name

Forging Industry Association

Website

https://forging.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Forging Industry Association (FIA) is a U.S. non-profit trade association founded in 1913, serving forging manufacturers and suppliers through membership dues, conferences (Fall Meeting, Safety Conference, workshops), technical publications, the Forging Career Center job board, and workforce-pipeline programs operated via its FIERF affiliate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB), Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ), Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)

Keywords

• Forging industry association
• Metal forging manufacturing
• Trade association services
• Industry events conferences
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference and Event Registration Fees: FIA generates revenue through registration fees for its conferences and events, including the bi-annual Safety Conference, Fall Meeting & Marketing Conference, Mechanical Press Maintenance Workshop, First Line Supervisory Development Seminar, and the annual FIERF Golf Outing. Conference fees range from $950 (Next Gen discounted) to $1,900 (first attendee), with additional fees for spouse/guest and activities.
2. Shop Sales (Publications and Apparel): FIA operates an online store selling technical publications (books, booklets, pamphlets) and branded apparel (polo shirts). Books are priced at $35-$49 (non-member) with member discounts available. Apparel such as polo shirts is priced at $50. Publications include educational materials on forging technology, tolerances, and design guidelines.
3. Forging Career Center Job Board Services: The Forging Career Center (careers.forging.org) serves as a job board platform. Employers can purchase Featured Employer packages ranging from $459-$5,850 depending on duration and membership status, with Network Featured Employer packages ranging from $1,107-$10,750. The platform connects job seekers with forging industry employers.
4. Membership Dues: FIA operates as a membership-based trade association. The FIA Fall Meeting & Marketing Conference is designated as 'Member Only.' New member companies (Bosch, Prime Metals, MTS Forge, Milwaukee-Forge, Rickard Metals) are showcased on the homepage, suggesting active membership recruitment. Specific dues amounts are not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Forging Industry Association is a trade association that provides services such as industry conferences (Fall Meeting, Safety Conference), technical publications, career services through the Forging Career Center, training and educational programs, networking events (Summer Camp, Golf Outing), workshops, seminars, and branded apparel to forging industry member companies and professionals.

Product overview

The Forging Industry Association (FIA) is a trade association serving the forging industry with a portfolio of publications, career services, and professional development events. Its product offerings include technical publications such as the Product Design Guide for Forging, Open Die Forging Technology, and various guideline tolerance booklets for aluminum, impression die, and seamless forgings, as well as a 10-page introductory pamphlet 'FORGING: Where, Why, How?'. The association operates the Forging Career Center, a career services platform connecting job seekers with forging industry employers, and provides a Career Learning Center with articles and video presentations. FIA organizes multiple annual events including the FIA Fall Meeting & Marketing Conference, FIERF Forge the Future Summer Camp (educational program for youth), FIA Safety Conference, Mechanical Press Maintenance Workshop, First Line Supervisory Development Seminar, and FIERF Forging Foundation Golf Outing. Corporate branded apparel (men's and women's polo shirts) is also sold through the online store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fall Meeting Conference Annual industry conference organized by FIA for forging industry members and professionals, providing networking, education, and industry updates.
• Safety Conference
• Forging Career Center
• Technical Publications

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ellwood Quality SteelscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2026Ellwood Quality Steels is the host of the optional plant tour during the 2026 FIA Fall Meeting & Marketing Conference. Located in the Pittsburgh area, Ellwood is a leading producer of carbon, alloy, and stainless steel, as well as nickel alloys, offering ingots and semifinished products with state-of-the-art melting processes including vacuum arc remelting and electroslag remelting.
• Howmet AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2026Howmet Aerospace serves as the plant tour host for the 2026 FIA Safety Conference. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Howmet is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for aerospace, gas turbine, and transportation industries, with approximately 1,200 granted and pending patents. The plant tour provides attendees with firsthand exposure to aerospace forging and manufacturing operations.
• Westfield Country ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2026Westfield Country Club (South Course, Westfield Center, OH) hosts the annual FIERF Golf Outing. The historic South Course is nearly 6,800 yards and has hosted the Junior Ryder Cup Matches (2004), Westfield Junior PGA Championship (2001-2007), and the Ohio Open (2013-2016). The venue provides a premium setting for industry networking.
• Cuyahoga Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2026Cuyahoga Community College (Advanced Technology Training Center, 3409 Woodland Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115) serves as the host venue for the 2026 FIERF Forge the Future Summer Camp. Breakfast and lunch are provided to campers. The college's facilities enable hands-on forging activities and STEM programming for students aged 11-15.
• Dango DienminorOthersDango Dien is a sponsor of the 2026 FIERF Forging Foundation Golf Outing, contributing to funds raised that support FIERF's mission of industry-relevant research and student engagement programs.
• Underys FamilyminorOthersThe Underys Family is a sponsor of the 2026 FIERF Forging Foundation Golf Outing, contributing to funds raised that support FIERF's mission of industry-relevant research and student engagement programs.
• Weber MetalsminorOthersWeber Metals is a sponsor of the 2026 FIERF Forging Foundation Golf Outing, contributing to funds raised that support FIERF's mission of industry-relevant research and student engagement programs.
• VK (sponsor of Forge the Future Camp)minorOthersVK is the thanked sponsor of the 2026 FIERF Forge the Future Summer Camp Cleveland. The camp exposes students aged 11-15 to the forging industry through hands-on STEM activities and facility tours.
• Naylor Association SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationNaylor Association Solutions provides the software platform for and hosts the Forging Career Center (careers.forging.org) on behalf of FIA. Naylor also provides candidate support (1-888-491-8833, [email protected]) and handles data processing for the career center. The logo of Naylor Association Solutions appears on the careers.forging.org footer.
• UConn Metalworking ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUConn's Metalworking Club has been awarded a FIERF Forging Club grant to purchase new equipment and materials for metalworking activities. The club must participate in the annual FIERF Axe Challenge forging competition as a grant requirement. The club, launched seven years ago, aims to use the grant to expand operations and design and forge an American felling axe for the 2026 competition.
• Jason Aldean's Kitchen + BarminorOthersJason Aldean's Kitchen + Bar in Pittsburgh serves as the venue for the Next Gen (aged 35 and under) networking event during the 2026 Fall Meeting & Marketing Conference. FIA has reserved space for the group beginning at 7:00 PM on October 20, 2026. Transportation and dinner costs are the responsibility of each attendee.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): MEP is a federal program providing consulting and workforce services to U.S. manufacturers. While not a trade association, it competes for member companies' training and workforce development budgets that FIA also targets via FIERF and the Career Center.

Direct peers

• American Foundry Society (AFS): AFS is the leading U.S. trade association for the metal casting industry — a closely adjacent metals manufacturing process. Like FIA, it organizes annual conferences, technical publications, workforce development programs, and operates as a member-funded nonprofit serving industrial manufacturers.
• Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA): FMA serves metal forming, fabricating, and welding manufacturers with conferences, publications, and certification programs. It competes with FIA for members in the broader metalworking value chain and runs a similarly structured event-and-publication revenue model.
• Steel Founders' Society of America (SFSA): SFSA represents steel casting producers with technical publications, safety programming, and annual meetings. It is closely comparable to FIA in scope, structure, and member demographics within the specialty steel/metal components manufacturing ecosystem.
• National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA): NTMA represents custom precision machined parts and tooling manufacturers with a comparable membership, conference, and workforce development model. Many forging buyers and suppliers also belong to NTMA, making it a near-substitute trade association for industrial members.
• Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI): IFI is the trade association for North American manufacturers of mechanical fasteners and formed parts. It operates a similar technical standards, conference, and certification model serving metal-formed component manufacturers — many of whom overlap with FIA's member base.
• Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA): PMPA serves precision machined parts manufacturers with a similar member-driven structure: conferences, technical standards, publications, and training. It overlaps with FIA in serving U.S. metal component manufacturers and competing for the same member companies' association budgets.
• Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST): AIST is the global trade association for iron and steel manufacturing professionals. It shares FIA's industry-conference model, technical publication library, and member-funded nonprofit structure, and serves adjacent upstream supply-chain companies.

Broad incumbents

• Aluminum Association: The Aluminum Association represents the broader aluminum value chain (producers, extruders, recyclers) with statistics, advocacy, and conferences. It overlaps with FIA's aluminum-forging publications and competes for the same downstream OEM members.
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME): SME is a much larger, broader manufacturing trade organization offering conferences, publications, and certifications across all manufacturing disciplines. It is a broad incumbent whose tooling, fabrication, and materials conferences compete for similar industrial member spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forgingindustry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forging Industry Association