The Department of Defense recently awarded Lehigh Heavy Forge in Bethlehem a $15 million Defense Production Act Investments program grant.
Funding will be used for press equipment upgrades and enhancing heavy forging production capacity.
The company will purchase a forging manipulator that will improve the capacity of its 10,000-ton open die forging press. Enhancements include heat treatment furnace improvements and implementing an automated ultrasonic forging testing program.
Heavy forgings is used in the construction of certain aircraft carriers amphibious transport docks, destroyers, submarines, ship shafting for submarines.
“Heavy forging production is needed across many critical defense applications – including naval ship shafts and critical propulsion and structural components,” Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, said. “This award helps address the many capacity challenges faced by the U.S. heavy forge industry resulting from aging equipment and facilities.”
The grant program supports the 2024 National Defense Industrial Strategy to expand support for domestic production that increases supply chain resilience. During fiscal year 2024, 61 grants were awarded totaling $617 million.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy’s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization directorate oversees the program.
The office works to create and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base.