Custom Stainless Steel Forging Services

Yes, 304 stainless steel can be forged. It is one of the most commonly forged austenitic grades. The process requires careful temperature control—typically between 2100°F and 2300°F—to achieve optimal grain refinement and mechanical properties. Forged 304 stainless offers superior strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance compared to cast or machined equivalents, making it suitable for aerospace, chemical, and industrial applications.

Forged stainless steel is a component produced by applying compressive force to a stainless steel billet at elevated temperatures, shaping it into the desired geometry while refining its internal grain structure. This process produces parts with greater tensile strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance than cast or machined bar stock equivalents, making forged stainless steel the preferred choice for critical aerospace, nuclear, and pressure-containing applications.

MTS Forge works with a wide range of stainless steel grades including 316-L, duplex grades such as Ferralium 255, and high-performance alloys like Monel K-500. We also produce forgings in nearly all commercially available stainless grades for upset forgings, rings, and cylinders. Our metallurgical team will recommend the optimal grade based on your mechanical, corrosion, and compliance requirements.

MTS Forge supplies custom stainless steel forgings to aerospace, defense, commercial nuclear, power generation, chemical processing, machine manufacturing, agriculture, medical, construction, and gas and petroleum industries. Our quality programs—including NCA 3800 for nuclear applications—make us a trusted supplier to sectors with the strictest traceability and performance mandates.

MTS Forge operates under a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program that includes Mil I 45208 (inspection systems), NCA 3800 (commercial nuclear quality assurance), and Mil Q9858 (quality program requirements for defense). These certifications ensure complete material traceability, dimensional verification, and process control from raw material receipt through final inspection—essential for nuclear, military, and aerospace procurement requirements.

For upset forgings, rings, and cylinders, MTS Forge can produce components up to 26 inches in forging diameter and up to 1,500 pounds per piece. Flanges are manufactured up to 14 inches in size. For closed die, contour, and custom forgings, size capabilities vary by geometry—contact our engineering team with your specific dimensional requirements for a detailed assessment.

Yes. MTS Forge performs normalizing heat treatment in-house at its Coatesville, PA facility. Normalizing involves heating a forged component above its upper critical temperature and allowing it to cool in still air, which breaks up uneven grain structures caused by forging, producing a refined microstructure with consistent tensile strength, improved toughness, relieved internal stresses, and enhanced machinability across the full part.

Yes. MTS Forge offers in-house rough machining immediately following the forging process, removing flash, surface irregularities, and dimensional excess to bring components close to their near-net shape. This eliminates the need for a separate machining vendor, reducing handling risk, lead times, and overall cost. Rough machining is available across all forged product types in stainless steels and high-performance alloys.