Drop Forgings
Drop forging shapes hot metal in closed dies using repeated blows from a falling or power-driven hammer. It produces strong, tough parts such as spanners, hooks, levers, fittings and automotive components with good grain flow.
What it is
The heated billet is placed in the lower die and struck repeatedly by the upper die attached to the hammer, progressively filling the impressions. Flash is then trimmed, and parts are heat treated and shot blasted.
Drop forging is a form of closed-die forging, widely used for hand tools, hardware and vehicle components.
Typical applications
- Spanners, wrenches and hand tools
- Lifting hooks and chain fittings
- Automotive levers and yokes
- Pipe fittings and flanges
- Agricultural implement parts
Suitable materials
- Carbon steels (EN8, C45, 1045)
- Alloy steels (EN19, EN24, 42CrMo4, 20MnCr5)
- Stainless steels (304, 316, 410, 17-4 PH)
Points to consider
- Tooling is needed per part; suitable for repeat volumes.
- Draft angles and radii are essential.
- Hammer forging suits many shapes; presses give better control on some precision parts.
- State hardness after heat treatment.
Frequently asked questions
What is drop forging?
Closed-die forging where a hammer repeatedly strikes the hot metal into shaped dies.
Are drop forged tools stronger?
Yes. Forging gives aligned grain flow and toughness, which is why quality spanners and hooks are drop forged.
What volumes suit drop forging?
Repeat volumes from a few thousand parts upward, where the die cost is recovered.