Forming, Forging & Rolling: The Shape of Heavy Industry
FMP’s forming department is defined by a single, rare asset: the 3,000-ton open die hot forging press. It’s the capability that makes projects possible that would otherwise require expensive castings or multi-piece weldments. Combined with a 600-ton manual press brake, a 360-ton CNC press brake, and a 500-ton hydraulic press, FMP’s forming capacity covers the full spectrum from precision brake work to massive hot-forging operations.
Equipment
Cincinnati 600-Ton Manual Press Brake
The heavy brake for structural forming, channel bending, and large-plate work. Six hundred tons of forming force across 16 feet (192″) of bed capacity handles the thick-plate structural components found in mining, bridge, and heavy equipment applications.
- A36: up to approximately 1″ at shorter lengths; 0.75″ at full 16′ bed
- Grade 50 / Stainless: proportionally reduced capacity
- AR400 / Manganese: requires generous radii and careful technique
Open Die 3,000-Ton Press
This is FMP’s most distinctive capability. Very few job shops in the United States operate a 3,000-ton forging press. This machine enables hot forging — the process of heating material to 1,600-2,000°F and forming it under extreme tonnage into shapes that are physically impossible to achieve cold.
Why hot forging matters:
- Components too thick for cold forming — When a part exceeds the press brake’s cold-forming capacity, heating the material reduces yield strength dramatically, allowing it to be shaped at the same tonnage
- Materials that crack when cold-formed — Manganese steel, certain high-carbon grades, and thick AR plate must be formed hot to prevent brittle fracture
- Near-net-shape production — Forging produces a part closer to final dimensions than flame-cutting from thick plate, reducing machining time and material waste
- Improved grain flow — Hot forging aligns the material’s grain structure with the part geometry, producing stronger components than machining from solid block
HPM 500-Ton Hydraulic Press
For straightening, flattening, assembly pressing, and forming operations that require controlled, slow-stroke force rather than the impact of the mechanical press. Essential for:
- Straightening weldments that have distorted during cooling
- Pressing bearings, bushings, and pins into assemblies
- Controlled bending of thick-wall components
JMT CNC 360-Ton Press Brake
This CNC press brake has a Delem controller, which allows for programming of multiple bends, reducing setup time and increasing productivity. 120″ (10′) bed.