Custom Steel Forging for Agriculture

Walker Forge manufactures closed-die steel forgings for agricultural equipment OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Our Wisconsin operation combines forging with engineering, in-house die design and manufacturing, heat treating, precision machining, and metallurgical testing to support more of your component program through one source.

Custom steel forging for agriculture starts with the part’s function and production requirements. Whether you are sourcing a new design or reviewing an existing component, we work from your print or 3D model, steel specification, and expected volume to develop the forging and downstream manufacturing scope.

Agricultural machinery brings together drivetrains, transmissions, chassis, and other systems with different demands on each part. A transmission component may require specific mechanical properties and machined interfaces, while a hub or spindle has its own geometry and acceptance criteria. The component’s requirements guide the manufacturing plan.

Walker Forge’s product range includes transmission gears, input and output shafts, wheel hubs, spindles, and other custom steel parts. These product families provide a starting point for evaluating agricultural applications. The drawing, operating requirements, and delivery condition determine the scope for your particular component.

We use special bar quality, or SBQ, carbon, alloy, and stainless steels. Material selection follows the specification and intended service requirements, rather than treating every agricultural part as a candidate for the same grade.

Closed-die forging shapes heated steel through a sequence of dies. The Forging Industry Association’s process explanation describes how forging forms metal under pressure, rather than melting and pouring it into a casting mold. At Walker Forge, that process is developed around the required geometry and repeatable production.

A finished-part drawing and a forging drawing serve different purposes. Our engineering services connect the customer design with the forging geometry, tooling, and later operations needed to produce it.

Capabilities include 3D modeling, QForm forging simulation, forge process and tool design, and gauge and fixture design. Simulation allows the proposed forming process to be evaluated before production tooling is finalized. The resulting forging design is developed for customer approval.

That early review also establishes which surfaces remain as forged and which need machining. Sharing critical dimensions, assembly interfaces, and inspection requirements at the beginning helps keep the forging and finished-part requirements aligned.

Walker Forge operates 13 forging press lines ranging from 850 to 4,000 tons. Published production capabilities range from a few thousand to approximately 750,000 parts per year, with the appropriate press and process determined by the component. Tell us about expected annual demand and any planned ramp so the review reflects your production needs.

The work after forging can be as important to sourcing as the forging itself. An agricultural component may need a specified heat-treated condition, finished dimensions, or testing before it can move into assembly.

Our heat treating capabilities include normalizing, quench and temper, annealing, carburizing, vacuum hardening, and induction hardening. The process and sequence are selected against the steel grade and required properties.

Precision machining and an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited metallurgical laboratory add support for finished dimensions and material verification. Coordinating these operations with forging can reduce the number of separate supplier handoffs your program requires.

Walker Forge holds ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016 certifications. The supply scope can cover forging alone or a broader combination of operations, with the required testing and delivery condition established during review.

Send your current print or 3D model, material specification, expected annual quantity, and required delivery condition. Include any approval requirements, launch schedule, or changes from an existing part so we can evaluate the program with the right information.

For custom steel forging for agriculture, request a quote from Walker Forge or call sales at 414-223-2754. We can review the component and discuss the forging, processing, and verification steps your program requires.