Stainless Steel Forgings by MTS Forge

Yes, stainless steel is absolutely forgeable and is widely used in precision forging for demanding industries. Different grades — such as 304, 316-L, and duplex stainless steels — require specific temperature ranges, tooling, and press control to achieve the correct grain refinement and mechanical properties. MTS Forge has extensive experience forging multiple stainless grades for aerospace, nuclear, and chemical processing applications.

304 stainless steel is typically forged in the temperature range of 2100°F to 2300°F (1149°C to 1260°C). Starting at the higher end optimizes workability, while finishing at lower temperatures refines grain structure. Precise temperature control throughout the forging process is critical to avoid carbide precipitation and to achieve the desired tensile strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance in the finished component.

MTS Forge works with a wide range of stainless steel grades including 316-L for nuclear Section III applications, duplex grades such as Ferralium 255 for corrosion-critical environments, and austenitic grades including 304. We maintain a large tooling inventory and can accommodate various grades to meet the specific mechanical and corrosion requirements of your application.

MTS Forge offers closed die forging, contour forging, upset forging, ring and cylinder forging, flange production, special forgings, and fully custom forgings in stainless steel. We also provide in-house rough machining and heat treatment, allowing us to deliver components closer to final specification without requiring customers to engage multiple vendors.

Our stainless steel forgings are produced under a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program that includes Mil I 45208, NCA 3800, and Mil Q9858 certifications. These programs mandate complete traceability throughout the manufacturing process, making our forgings suitable for commercial nuclear, defense, and aerospace procurement requirements where documentation and material traceability are non-negotiable.

Yes. MTS Forge performs normalizing heat treatment in-house at our Coatesville, PA facility. Normalizing heats forged components above their upper critical temperature and allows controlled cooling in still air, breaking up uneven grain structures created during forging. The result is a uniform microstructure with improved tensile strength, toughness, ductility, and machinability — critical for downstream processing in demanding applications.

Our stainless steel forgings serve aerospace, defense, commercial nuclear, power generation, chemical processing, medical, gas and petroleum, machine manufacturing, and construction industries. We primarily work with manufacturers and procurement teams across Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kentucky, and Texas who require certified, traceable forged components built to demanding industry specifications.

For upset forgings, rings, and cylinders, we can produce components up to 26 inches in 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, capacity varies by configuration — contact our team with your specific dimensions and we'll confirm feasibility and lead time.