Description

K.D.K. Forging Company, now operating as KD Forge Company, a Division of Forge Resources Group (FRG), is a historic and well-established forging manufacturer located in Blue Island, Illinois. Founded in 1947, K.D.K. Forging Company initially specialized in producing torsion bars for vehicles and has since expanded its capabilities to include hot forged upset forgings, press forgings, and fabricated products. The company serves a diverse range of industries including mining, off-highway, defense, agriculture, and rail. As part of Forge Resources Group, KD Forge benefits from the resources and expertise of a larger organization that operates six other plants across Illinois and Michigan, collectively generating over $50 million in annual sales. FRG, established in 1988 by the Jones family, has grown through strategic acquisitions and continuous investment in infrastructure and technology. The group is ISO 9001 and AS9100 certified and ITAR compliant, emphasizing quality, safety, and continuous improvement through Six Sigma and 5S programs. Their manufacturing capabilities include working with a broad spectrum of materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, tool steel, micro-alloy, and nickel-based alloys. The company is known for its flexibility in production volumes, catering to small and medium quantities to help customers reduce inventory costs. KD Forge and its sister facilities utilize advanced quality control processes including hot-dimensional inspection, magnetic particle inspection, coordinate measuring machines (CMM), and 3D scanning technology to ensure precision and compliance with customer specifications. The company’s extensive machinery includes power hammers, screw presses, mechanical presses, induction lines, high-speed saws, and a modern heat treatment facility, allowing it to maintain redundancy and flexibility in production. Centralized corporate functions such as sales, accounting, marketing, human resources, purchasing, and engineering are based in DeKalb, Illinois, allowing KD Forge and FRG to leverage buying power and operational efficiencies. This integrated approach supports their mission to deliver near-net shape, high-quality forgings on time, positioning KD Forge as a premier metal solutions provider in a competitive marketplace.