A forging is a steel part shaped by hammering or pressing hot metal, either between flat tools (open-die) or inside shaped dies (closed-die). Working the steel closes internal porosity and lines the grain up with the part's shape, so forgings are stronger and tougher than castings or parts machined from plate — which is why shafts, flanges, valve bodies, gears and crane hooks are forged.
Open-die forging works a hot ingot or bloom between flat or simple tools on a press or hammer, drawing it out, upsetting it and turning it until it reaches a rough shape that is later machined: shafts, rotors, discs, blocks and the hollow forgings for heavy vessels. Closed-die (drop) forging squeezes a heated billet into shaped dies so that the part comes out close to its final form; it suits long runs of smaller parts such as connecting rods, flanges, fittings, hand tools and automotive parts. Ring rolling pierces a forged disc and rolls it out into a seamless ring.
Forgings are made from ingots, billets and blooms and bar. The hot work breaks up the cast structure, closes porosity and gives a grain flow that follows the shape of the part, so a forging has better toughness and fatigue strength than a casting of the same steel. Most forgings are then heat-treated — normalised, or quenched and tempered for alloy steels — and inspected ultrasonically before machining.
Forging grades range from plain carbon steels (C22, C45, ASTM A105) to quenched-and-tempered alloy steels (42CrMo4, 34CrNiMo6, 4140, 4340) and the chromium-molybdenum steels used for high-temperature pressure parts. Forgings for piping and pressure equipment are bought to ASTM or EN pressure-purpose standards with impact testing and full traceability; general engineering forgings to EN 10250 or ASTM A668.
In the GCC most forgings are imported, especially flanges, fittings and valve bodies from India, China, Italy and Korea and heavy open-die parts from Europe and Asia. Local machine shops finish forged blanks into flanges, shafts and spare parts for the oil and gas, power, desalination and heavy industries.
Forgings are made to a drawing and supplied in the delivery condition agreed — as forged, rough machined or finish machined — with a heat treatment and the tests stated in the order.
| Region | Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | EN 10250 CEN-CENELEC |
Open die steel forgings for general engineering purposes — Part 1 general requirements; Parts 2–4 non-alloy, alloy and stainless steels |
| Europe | EN 10222 CEN-CENELEC |
Steel forgings for pressure purposes — Part 2 ferritic and martensitic steels with elevated temperature properties (P250GH, 16Mo3, 13CrMo4-5) |
| Europe | EN 10243-1 CEN-CENELEC |
Steel die forgings — tolerances on dimensions for hot hammer and press forgings |
| Europe | EN 10228 CEN-CENELEC |
Non-destructive testing of steel forgings — magnetic particle, penetrant and ultrasonic inspection |
| USA | ASTM A105/A105M ASTM |
Carbon steel forgings for piping applications — flanges, fittings and valves |
| USA | ASTM A182/A182M ASTM |
Forged or rolled alloy and stainless steel pipe flanges, fittings, valves and parts for high-temperature service (F11, F22, F304, F316) |
| USA | ASTM A350/A350M ASTM |
Carbon and low-alloy steel forgings requiring notch toughness testing for piping components (LF2, LF3) |
| USA | ASTM A694/A694M ASTM |
Carbon and alloy steel forgings for pipe flanges, fittings, valves and parts for high-pressure transmission service (F42–F70) |
| USA | ASTM A668/A668M ASTM |
Steel forgings, carbon and alloy, for general industrial use (classes A to N) |
| USA | ASTM A788/A788M ASTM |
General requirements for steel forgings |
| Japan | JIS G3201 JSA |
Carbon steel forgings for general use (SF340A to SF640B) |
Grade equivalents and the standards bodies: Steel grades & standards
Steel Mills - Agents & Traders · Coil Service Center · Stockist - Distributor · Fabrication · Jeddah
Steel Mills - Agents & Traders · Stockist - Distributor · Fabrication · Other Steel Users · Dubai
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