General Preamble

The make up of the membership remains the same today and all companies and persons interested in forging are welcome to join the AFG.

The group initially recognised that the Australian forging industry was extremely diverse and contained a number of people with considerable expertise in the art of forging and the manufacturing procedures associated with the production of forgings. These wide ranging skills had developed through necessity because of a the relative isolation the Australian industry when compared with Europe and the USA. The local forging industry has been limited by many things including local equipment constraints and low volume production runs.

Frequent visits to overseas forges have in many cases provided the incentive to introduce the latest production methods.

The idea of the founding group was that this expertise could be tapped for the benefit of all members thereby helping to make the Australian forging industry more competitive against imported product and to participate in selected overseas markets.

Policy Direction

Since 1985 the policy directions of the AFG have expanded in line with the increase in membership as well as specific member requirements. The main policy directions of the AFG fall within the following giudelines:

• To educate students, buyers, and engineers of the inherent advantages of using forgings compared to other methods of component manufacture.
   
• To keep members abreast of the latest technical developments in the industry by providing technical meetings, seminars, and inviting overseas keynote speakers and lecturers.
   
• To institute marketing policy based on the superior attributes of forgings and to present a common front in opposition to the importation of subsidised forged product.
   
• To provide training courses for members.
   
• To liaise with government departments.
   
• To organise a common basis for research work where members funds can be used to best advantage.
   
• To provide a vehicle whereby members can meet socially and discuss common problems.
   
• To encourage plant visits.
   

Policy in Action

In considering policy in action it must be pointed out that the AFG is an entirely voluntary organisation. Although it is run by an energetic and enthusiastic committee, many policy actions do take a significant amount of time to come on stream.

• Education of students buyers and engineers
  This continues to be a slow process, although we are making some headway. Some success in promoting forgings has been obtained by inviting students, buyers, engineers and other interested people to our various technical and social activities. It is our intention to produce a video representative of our industry, and this will be considered for action in 1999.
   
• Keeping members abreast of technology developments
  Technical meetings are normally held three times per year. At each these meetings experts in a nominated field are invited to address members. Opportunity is frequently taken during visits of various overseas experts, to organise a lecture for members. Seminars are generally run on at two yearly intervals. Often overseas speakers are invited to participate.
   
• Marketing
  To date the AFG has been advised on marketing developments by a small active committee. Most concern has been expressed over imported product and there effect on the local industry. Additionally the committee advises, when necessary, of changes and developments in workplace relations. The AFG are presently formulating a marketing policy, and action is to be taken to enlarge the marketing committee so that it can become more effective, in implementing policy decisions.
   
• Training courses
  Due to our small membership of active forgers it has not been economically feasible to run frequent training courses. In the areas of heat treatment and metallurgy the AFG have recommended that members attend courses run by the Institute of Materials Engineering Australia (IMEA). These courses are run in all states of Australia on an annual basis. The AFG have concentrated their training activities on die design and related forging activities. Since 1985 the AFG have organised four of these courses as follows:
   
  1. 1987 Die design and Forging Metallurgy - a joint venture between Swinburne University and the AFG.
  2. 1991 Die design course given by Dr Alwyne Thomas of Metal Forming Technology of the United Kingdom.
  3. 1995 Die design course given by Dr Alwyne Thomas of Metal Forming Technology of the United Kingdom.
  4. 1998 Die design and forging technology given by Charles Crout and Ian Williamson of Forging Developments International of the USA
• Liaison with government departments
  Co-operative relations have been established with the Victorian Government departments of Occupational Health and Safety, and the Department of Small Business. The AFG assisted The Department of Occupational Health and Safety on proposed new regulations covering industrial safety and advised as to how the legislation required modification when applied to the forging industry. The AFG are frequently invited to small business presentations given by the Department of Small Business. This department has given financial assistance to the AFG as a contribution to running training courses in forging technology. Contact has been established with the Federal Government Department of Science. This relationship needs to be developed together with contacts in other departments so that matters effecting the forging industry may be brought to Federal Government attention.
   
• Research:
  In collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation (CSIRO) funds have been made available under the Commonwealth Industrial Grant Scheme to carry out research in the forging industry. Commonwealth funds are conditional on CSIRO and the AFG contributing a percentage of the overall estimated cost of any particular project. In establishing areas of research activity of most benefit to AFG members, project proposals are discussed and priorities established. Presently CSIRO have completed an initial investigation into ways of improving forging die life. This investigation is continuing under the terms of a second research grant conjointly with projects covering dezincification of brass plumbing forgings, and forging of die cast aluminium alloy preforms.
   
• Discussion of common problems
  These may be formal or informal occasions. All members are invited to attend committee meetings, usually held on the first Monday of each month, to present a particular problem for discussion. Informal meetings are normally held at three to four monthly intervals. These meetings are held at a local venue where a light meal and refreshments are served, usually a short address (approx 10 min) on a topic of common interest is presented. Following the address the meeting is opened for discussion on any topic of interest to a particular member. Member companies are invited to include personnel from all levels in their establishments so that a wide representation of forging industry people may be present. These meetings have proved invaluable to the AFG committee in drawing attention to member and employee concerns.
   
• Plant visits
  Due to the small number of active forgers in Australia it is quite common for an individual to have worked for many years at one location. As a result, the forging knowledge and experience of many employees is restricted to the particular practices at his own company. The AFG have recognised this as a problem and determined that the opportunity to broaden ones knowledge should be addressed by organising plant visits to member companies where possible. Until now visits have been made, primarily to supplier members establishments. Currently arrangements are being finalised to allow visits to a limited number of forging companies during 1999.
   

JK Anderson (March 1999)