332111: Iron and Steel Forging

What this code covers

Census assigns 332111 to plants that make iron and steel forgings from metal they purchase, using open die, closed die, upset, or ring rolling methods. A mill that melts its own steel and then forges it is classified as a steel mill, and a plant that forges only for its own product line takes that product's code. Aluminum, titanium, and nickel forgings sit in the nonferrous forging code.

For defense and aerospace that means landing gear and engine blanks in steel, shafts, gear blanks, flanges, rolled rings, track and suspension parts for ground vehicles, ordnance and ship components, and rough forgings that a machine shop finishes.

What federal buyers typically ask for

DLA posts forged spares by stock number across its aviation, land, and maritime supply chains. Army arsenals and depots post forgings for weapons and vehicles. Navy activities post shafting and propulsion forgings. Many forgings reach the government inside a finished part, so award history for machine shops under 332710 points at customers as well as buyers.

Forgings are where the DFARS specialty metals clause bites hardest: the steel must be melted in the United States or a qualifying country, and buyers want the melt source on the certs. Expect a forging specification with grain flow and macroetch requirements, heat treat and mechanical test records, ultrasonic and magnetic particle inspection, and traceability from heat to serial number. First article is standard for a new source. Government-owned dies are common on legacy parts, and the notice says whether tooling is furnished. Drawings are frequently export controlled.

Forging buys go unrestricted more often than machined parts because fewer sources exist, but small forge shops still win set-asides on lighter work.