2019 Forging Business Outlook Survey Question Title * 1. What metals do you forge? (Please check all that apply) Alloy Steel Aluminum Brass & Copper Alloys Carbon Steel High Temperature Alloys Stainless Steel Titanium Question Title * 2. How many employees do you have in your forging operation? Under 20 20-49 50-99 100 - 249 250 or more Question Title * 3. What type(s) of forging is/are performed at your location? (Please check all that apply) Impression die Open die Ring rolling Impact extrusion Powder forging Other (please specify) Question Title * 4. Indicate the approximate value of forged products your plant will ship during 2018. Less than $1 million $1 - 5 million $5 - 10 million $10 - 20 million $20 - 50 million $50 - 100 million More than $100 million Question Title * 5. How will your 2018 forging shipments (tonnage) compare with 2017 forging shipments (tonnage)? About the same Increase Decrease Question Title * 6. If you selected "increase" for Q5, by what percentage (estimate)? 0-10% 10-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-90% +90% Question Title * 7. If you selected "decrease" for Q5, by what percentage (estimate)? 0-10% 10-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-90% +90% Question Title * 8. How do you expect your 2019 forging shipments (tonnage) to compare with the 2018 forging shipments (tonnage)? About the same Increase Decrease Question Title * 9. If you selected "increase" for Q8, by what percentage (estimate)? 0-10% 10-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-90% +90% Question Title * 10. If you selected "decrease" for Q8, by what percentage (estimate)? 0-10% 10-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-90% +90% Question Title * 11. What percentage of "normal" plant capacity is represented by your 2018 average monthly forging production? ("Normal" being the number of employees, shifts, and days your plant normally operates.) 0-50% 51-65% 66-80% 80-90% 90-99% 100% Question Title * 12. How are forging imports affecting your business? None Becoming more of a competitive factor Becoming less of a competitive factor We’re increasing our exports Question Title * 13. Please detail your response to Q12: Question Title * 14. Do you plan to make any capital expenditures during 2019? New Plant Addition to Plant New Equipment None Question Title * 15. What do you estimate will be the total of your capital expenditures during 2019? Less than $100,000 $101,000 to $250,000 $251,000 to $500,000 $500,000 to $1 million $1 million to $5 million More than $5 million Question Title * 16. How will your 2019 capital expenditures compare to 2018 expenditures? About the same Increase Decrease Question Title * 17. If you selected "increase" for Q16, by what percentage (estimate)? 0-10% 10-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-90% +90% Question Title * 18. If you selected "decrease" Q16, by what percentage (estimate)? 0-10% 10-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-90% +90% Question Title * 19. What are your borrowing plans for 2019? Retire debt Maintain debt about the same Not currently carrying any debt Increase debt Question Title * 20. What types of investments are planned for your forging operation in 2019? (Please check all that apply) Air compressors Billet feeders/conveyors Cleaning/finishing equipment Cranes/hoists Cutoff equipment Design software/hardware Die sinking equipment Forge furnaces/billet-bar heaters Forging handlers/conveyors Forging machine rebuild/controls modernization Grinding equipment Heat treating equipment Lift trucks or loaders Machine tools Market studies New forging machines (presses, hammers, upsetters, ring mills, etc.) Pollution control equipment Process control software/hardware Process monitoring equipment Product research Quick die-change equipment Robots/manipulators Simulation software/hardware Testing/inspection equipment Training/Education Other (please specify) Question Title * 21. Have any of the issues listed below been significant problems for your operation during 2018? (Please check all that apply) Availability of capital Energy cost EPA requirements Foreign competition General labor shortage Higher labor costs Higher raw materials costs Interest rates Lack of orders Medical/insurance costs On-time delivery of forgings OSHA requirements Product liability Quality of forgings Raw material lead-time Raw material quality Workers’ compensation Other (please specify) Question Title * 22. Are any of the issues listed below likely to become a significant problem in 2019? (Please check all that apply) Availability of capital Energy cost EPA requirements Foreign competition General labor shortage Higher labor costs Higher raw materials costs Interest rates Lack of orders Medical/insurance costs On-time delivery of forgings OSHA requirements Product liability Quality of forgings Raw material lead-time Raw material quality Workers’ compensation Other (please specify) Question Title * 23. Do you currently use computer simulation in the design or analysis of your forging process? Yes No Question Title * 24. If Yes to Q23, what is the primary value of computer simulation in your company? As part of the design process (reduce shop floor trials, optimize forging processes) To perform analysis after the fact; if process problems are encountered on the shop floor Both Other (please specify) Question Title * 25. If No to Q23, why not? Unaware of any computer simulation technology for our particular applications Don’t see the value in computer simulation Don’t have personnel with the experience to use computer simulation Cost All of the above Other (please specify) Question Title * 26. Which of the following will have the greatest impact on the future of the forging industry? Increased availability of qualified workers Inability to retain the current workers Lack of continuing education and training for existing workforce Lack of programs to grow the incoming workforce (internships, scholarships, etc.) Other (please specify) Question Title * 27. Which of these will be most effective at encouraging professional growth in forging? Additional scholarships and internships Additional or alternate training programs (programs at colleges, trade schools) Involvement of companies with trade associations and colleges New professional associations (geographical? market-focused? forging industry-specific, etc.) Question Title * 28. What is your age? Under 25 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60 or older Prefer not to answer Question Title * 29. Which of these market areas offers the most promise for your forging company? Alternative energy (wind, solar) Nuclear energy Oil/natural gas Fuel efficient engines Other automotive components Aircraft / aerospace components Lighter composites for transportation Medical / surgical equipment or devices Infrastructure and construction None of the above Other (please specify) Question Title * 30. Any additional comments that you might have regarding the state of the foundry industry and the business outlook will be appreciated. Your comments are confidential. We may quote relevant comments, without attribution, for our report in the December 2018 issue. Question Title * 31. If you would like to be entered in the drawing, please fill-in your information below: Name: Country: Email Address: Done