The art of forging dates to at least 4000 B.C., when different metals were forged to produce hand tools and weapons of war. The same concept of producing weapons for war continues today, using more contemporary metals and advanced forging processes.
Some say that today’s world of forging is yesterday’s world of being a blacksmith. But when it comes to Trinity Forge & Machine, being labeled a modern-day blacksmith or forge smith offers no real explanation of what the company does or the level of importance of the products it produces.
“Ancient history of the industry doesn’t tell who we are nor the capabilities of Trinity Forge & Machine,” says John Fairbanks, President and CEO.
For 71 years, Trinity Forge has been growing and evolving by providing services and products to major industries that fuel, develop, protect and help move the country forward.
In the simplest terms, Trinity Forge is a modern, industry-certified closed-die forging and precision machining custom contractor offering built-to-print metal components. With a wide scope of capabilities, the company specializes in forging and machining parts with complex shapes and a variety of sizes to meet stringent customer specifications.
“We’ve been here at this location since 1969 as one of Mansfield’s oldest manufacturing companies. Prior to that when the company started in 1955, we were in Hurst and basically outgrew that location.”
As for the current location off Airport Drive, the city once had major plans for the land.
“The plans for this area here in Mansfield were to build an airport, hence the name of the local street that you come in on is Airport Drive. But then there was a little thing that happened called DFW Airport,” says Fairbanks, as he chuckled. “That put a halt to building a major airport in Mansfield, but it opened a lot of space for industry growth.”
When Trinity Forge started, the company primarily provided products for the oil and gas industry. As recently as 15 years ago, oil and gas accounted for 70% of its business. The company was heavily focused on oil and gas for years. But when much of that business moved offshore to India, Trinity Forge saw the writing on the wall. The company began strengthening its processes and engineering capabilities on the manufacturing floor and expanded into the defense industry, which is significantly more demanding than oil and gas.
Today, defense accounts for 80% of the company’s business. Its customers include Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, among others. “We basically have all the tier one defense companies.”
Government contracts are awarded through a competitive bidding process, and meeting the requirements of the defense industry demands precision, consistency and close attention to detail. The work is intense, and safety remains a top priority. On the forging side, employees take regular breaks throughout their shifts. “One thing that keeps people around on the forging side in that environment is we rotate; we give them both breaks every 30 minutes. It keeps the workers alert and keeps safety first a top priority.”
Having the right equipment, paying attention to detail and having a team that cares about the company, its customers and its products go a long way toward attracting new clients and renewing existing business. “I’ve had the government officials on-site come in and inspect us and look at how we ‘re doing and what ERP system we’re using, and what designing software system we’re using, so it’s a pretty rigid process to get into the defense world.” Trinity Forge also provides services to several other industries, including aerospace, railway, transit, firearms and nuclear power. The company remains involved in the oil and gas industry as well. “I expect to bring in more oil and gas products.”
With currently 110 employees, Trinity Forge has more than 30 employees who have been with the company for more than 20 years. Asked about the secret to employee longevity, Fairbanks says, “We treat our people right and make every effort to respect everyone who walks through our doors.”
Trinity Forge recently celebrated Don Moody and Richard Hughes, two employees who have been with the company for 50 years.
While Trinity Forge recognizes the importance of long-term employees, the company is also focused on being a leader in the next era of growth. That includes developing and preserving the legacy of employers, skilled workers and institutional knowledge in the region that helped build its economy in the first place. The company continues to advance, upgrade and utilize technology to promote growth and stability across all facets of its business.
For Fairbanks, a lifelong resident of Mansfield, aside from his time serving in the military, being part of the Trinity Forge family is a source of pride.
“I’ve seen many changes to the landscape and growth in this city and this business. I’ve been blessed to be a part of a great community and a great company that have a positive impact with our employees and our clients.”
The forging business has come a long way since 4000 B.C., and Trinity Forge sees a bright future as it continues to forge ahead.
