Wyman-Gordon

File:Crompton Loom Works.jpg in Worcester, Massachusetts was the first customer of Wyman and Gordon's new company.]]

The Worcester Drop Forge Works was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1883 by Horace Wyman and Lyman Gordon. It was later renamed the Wyman-Gordon Company.

The company began with eight people in a small wooden factory building, forging crankshafts for looms. A 50-horsepower steam engine provided power for the drop hammers and other equipment.

The fathers of the founders were both managers at the Crompton Loom Works and helped their sons' business win contracts for the crankshafts and for pistol and micrometer components.

The company won contracts from railroads for automatic couplers and from bicycle manufacturers for sprockets, spindles, and pedals, having gained a reputation for the high quality of its early work.

From around 1902, it also began filling orders for crankshafts from manufacturers of the recently invented automobile.

Horace Wyman died in 1905 and Lyman Gordon in 1914; George F. Fuller (1869–1962) succeeded to the company presidency upon Gordon's death.

Fuller had joined the company as an accountant, but had invented several ways to improve the quality of the forged metal components.

The company grew steadily under his leadership.

File:Flying jenny cropped.jpg on a training flight during World War I (1918), using Wyman-Gordon components]]

When World War I broke out, the U.S. government contracted with Wyman-Gordon to supply forgings for the 90-horsepower engines of Curtis Jenny biplanes. This was followed by contracts to produce airframe and engine forgings for almost all U.S. military aircraft. Wyman-Gordon maintained a close relationship with manufacturers of commercial and military airplanes after the war, making growing numbers of parts for engines, crankshafts, propellers, airframes, and landing gear. The company expanded the Worcester factory and opened a new plant in Harvey, Illinois.

During World War II (1939–1945) the company expanded again to supply many types of forged components to airplane manufacturers. Every American plane in combat service included Wyman-Gordon components.

File:Wyman Gordon 50000 ton press.jpg, put into use by the company in 1955]]

In 1944, Wyman-Gordon was chosen to receive an 18,000-ton closed-die hydraulic press, the largest in the United States. The War Production Board had found from captured airplanes that Germany had larger presses than U.S. engineers had thought practical, and was using that equipment to forge large aircraft components from lightweight magnesium. Seeking to replicate this capability in the U.S., the War Production Board contracted with the Mesta Machine Co. of Pittsburgh to fabricate a new large press to be operated by Wyman-Gordon. A new plant was built around the press in North Grafton, Massachusetts, completed after the war in 1946.

The introduction of jet engines in the years after World War II caused a drastic switch in requirements, demanding fewer forgings, but forgings that were larger, lighter, stronger and more tolerant of heat than anything made so far. The new components produced by Wyman-Gordon were of much greater value, compensating for their decreased number.

The Korean War stimulated demand for new airplanes, requiring even larger components than could be built by the North Grafton press. In 1951, construction began on a plant that opened in 1955 with two presses, one with 35,000 tons of force and the other 50,000 tons. The 50,000-ton press was the largest machine in the world at the time, 10 stories high and with foundations extending {{convert|100|ft|abbr=on}} into bedrock. In 1983, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers designated the 50,000-ton forging press in North Grafton as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.

Wyman-Gordon was a pioneer in forging titanium, with the first main use being for compressor disks in Pratt & Whitney engines. Westinghouse and General Electric also used the company's titanium forgings, and its products were used in building the engine of the LGM-30 Minuteman missile. Demand continued to grow during the 1960s and 1970s, with military demand due to the Vietnam war and growing demand from commercial civilian airplane manufacturers. The support beam for the Boeing 747 landing gear was larger than any closed-die titanium forging that had ever been made in the past.

In 1980, Wyman-Gordon was hit by a severe shortage of titanium that hurt its ability to fulfil orders for hundreds of types of aircraft. In the early 1980s, the company bought International Titanium, a company based in Moses Lake, Washington, built a state-of-the-art facility for International Titanium to produce titanium sponge, and built a new facility in Millbury, Massachusetts, to alloy the sponge with other metals. Because the company now had complete control of its supply chain, customers were more certain of Wyman-Gordon's delivery capability, leading to increased orders.

Harry G. Stoddard became a vice president of Wyman-Gordon in 1911 and was appointed President in 1931. He also had interests in banking and was part owner of the Worcester Telegram.{{cite web

|url=http://incitytimesworcester.org/2008/10/08/francis-j-mcgrath-versus-the-worcester-mafia/

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415051149/http://incitytimesworcester.org/2008/10/08/francis-j-mcgrath-versus-the-worcester-mafia/

|url-status=usurped

|archive-date=April 15, 2013

|work=InCity Times

|title=Francis J. McGrath versus the Worcester mafia

|date=October 8, 2008

|author=Steven Maher

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

His son Robert Waring Stoddard joined the company in 1929 and succeeded Harry G. Stoddard as president in 1955, holding that position until being elected chairman in 1967. He was one of the founders of the right-wing and anticommunist John Birch Society.{{cite web

|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19841215&id=dukLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3744,3862278

|title=Robert Stoddard, Birch Society Founder

|work=The Evening Independent

|date=Dec 15, 1984

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

Stoddard was opposed to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which would make racial discrimination illegal. In 1964, the company employed black workers only as janitors. Abbie Hoffman was the press officer for a group of civil-rights agitators who targeted the Worcester plant for picketing. Later, they filed petitions with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the U.S. Air Force. In July that year the company agreed to change its hiring practices.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6G1qpNjGPA4C&pg=PA225 |pages=223–227

|title=The Education of a Black Radical: A Southern Civil Rights Activist's Journey, 1959–1964

|author=D'Army Bailey, Roger R. Easson

|publisher=LSU Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0807134764}}

As late as the 1970s, Wyman-Gordon was a major player in automotive forging. Due to growth of international competition in this market, the company decided to focus on aerospace.{{cite web

|url=http://forbesindia.com/printcontent/16802

|title=Bharat Forge's Trial By Fire

|author=T Surendar

|work=Forbes India |date=Aug 30, 2010

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

Wyman-Gordon India, a joint venture, went public in February 1962.{{cite book |page=1054

|title=Economic and political weekly |volume=9

|publisher=Sameeksha Trust. |year=1974|issue=3 }}

In 1964, Wyman-Gordon India started mass production of forged steel crankshafts and other components for an Indian-made jeep that Mahindra & Mahindra was manufacturing. This was the first time crankshafts had been produced in India.{{cite book |page=57

|title=American machinist |volume=108 |issue=14–20

|publisher=Penton Publications |year=1964}}

Later the company changed its name to WG Forge & Allied Industries Limited.{{cite book |page=vii

|title=Kothari's economic and industrial guide of India

|publisher=Kothari |year=1976}}

In the long run, the company was not successful. It was referred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction, which tried to revive it, but without success.{{cite book

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8YGhhK5keUC&pg=PA221 |page=221

|title=Strategic Management And Business Policy

|last=Kazmi

|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education |year=2008 |isbn=978-0070263628}}

In 1992, it went into liquidation.{{cite web

|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/74793/

|work=Bombay High Court

|title=S.A. Sarang vs W.G. Forge & Allied Industries

|date=14 February 1995

|author=B Srikrishna

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

File:Wyman Gordon, Houstoun Industrial Estate. - geograph.org.uk - 80175.jpg, Scotland]]

In the late 1980s, the need for military components was reduced as the Cold War ended, coupled with a decline in demand for commercial aircraft parts. By 1993, the aerospace industry was just 60% of its size in the mid-1980s. Wyman-Gordon had to lay off employees.

Despite financial difficulties, in March 1992, the company announced a joint venture with Pratt & Whitney and Perth, Western Australia-based Western Aerospace to form Western Australian Speciality Alloys. The new company would process Australian ores into nickel-based superalloys at a new plant at Canning Vale, near Perth. These alloys are designed to handle extreme heat (as in jet engines) and are extremely durable.{{cite web

|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PRATT+%26+WHITNEY,+WYMAN-GORDON+FORM+JOINT+VENTURE+IN+AUSTRALIA+WITH...-a011987111

|title=PRATT & WHITNEY, WYMAN-GORDON FORM JOINT VENTURE IN AUSTRALIA WITH WESTERN AEROSPACE

|date=March 6, 1992

|publisher=Pratt & Whitney

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

Wyman-Gordon also acquired PFI investment cast facilities (1988), Arwood investment cast facilities (1990), and Cameron Forge (1994).

File:Huge building, Wyman Gordon, Houstoun Industrial Estate. - geograph.org.uk - 75614.jpg

In May 1999, Precision Castparts Corporation agreed to pay $721 million for Wyman-Gordon, while also assuming $104 million in debt. The combined company would be able to supply both castings and forgings for airplane engines.{{cite web

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/18/business/company-news-precision-castparts-to-acquire-wyman-gordon.html?ref=precisioncastpartscorporation

|work=New York Times

|title=COMPANY NEWS; PRECISION CASTPARTS TO ACQUIRE WYMAN-GORDON

|date=May 18, 1999

|access-date=2012-05-06}}

The purchase would have potentially reduced competition in the industry.

To gain approval for the deal from the Federal Trade Commission, PCC was required to divest two of Wyman-Gordon's foundries, one in Albany, Oregon, and the other in Groton, Connecticut.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/11/pcc2.shtm

|date=November 10, 1999

|title=Precision Castparts, Wyman-Gordon Settle FTC Charges

|publisher=FTC

|access-date=2012-05-06}}

The acquisition was completed on 12 January 2000.

At least in the short term, it was planned that Wyman-Gordon would retain a separate identity.{{cite web

|url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/nickel/500400.pdf

|work=U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2000

|title=NICKEL

|author=Peter H. Kuck

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

In April 2000, PCC announced that it was closing Wyman-Gordon's Buffalo, New York, pipe-making plant.

The 12,000-ton extrusion press would be moved to the Wyman-Gordon facility in Houston.

By consolidating production in one plant, the company would cut costs and speed up the production cycle.{{cite web

|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2000/04/17/daily15.html

|title=Precision Castparts consolidates Wyman-Gordon operations

|work=Portland Business Journal

|date=April 19, 2000

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

Wyman-Gordon purchased the UEF aerospace division of United Engineering Forgings in May 2000 for £22m, calling the new subsidiary Wyman Gordon Lincoln.{{cite web

|url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/uef-sells-aerospace-division/282577.article

|title=UEF sells aerospace division

|date=19 May 2000

|work=The Engineer

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

The division based in Lincoln, England, makes forged engine discs, engine shafts, and components of airframes and landing-gear.

Its main customer is Rolls-Royce.{{cite web

|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2000/05/08/daily10.html

|title=PCP adds to Wyman-Gordon division

|work=Portland Business Journal

|date=May 9, 2000}}

In 2000, Wyman-Gordon built a manufacturing facility in Plzeň, Czech Republic.

The {{convert|5400|m2|adj=on|abbr=on}} plant makes titanium, nickel, and steel alloy rotary parts for the power generation and aerospace industries,

using immersion ultrasound to test the products.{{cite web

|url=http://www.precast.cz/?p=1&lan=en

|title=Precision Castparts CZ s.r.o.

|publisher=Precision Castparts CZ

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

In December 2000, Wyman-Gordon acquired the Drop Dies and Forging Company, which had been founded in 1919 by Joseph F. Rice.{{cite web

|url=http://www.dropdies.com/profile.htm

|work=Drop Dies & Forging

|title=Wyman-Gordon: A Family Tradition

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

In January 2011, it was reported that Wyman-Gordon had expressed interest in a joint venture with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited to manufacture boiler tubes in India.{{cite web

|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/bhel-plans-1st-foreign-plant-in-indonesia/731790/0

|work=Financial Express

|title=Bhel plans 1st foreign plant in Indonesia

|author=INDRONIL ROYCHOWDHURY

|date=Jan 1, 2011

|access-date=2012-05-07}}

Wyman-Gordon serves the marine, aerospace, power, fuel, and construction industries. It uses forging and extrusion presses that are among the world's largest, including a 35,000-ton press in Houston and a 30,000-ton press in Livingston, coupled with custom-made dies to produce various complex components. Its plants process steel, titanium, and nickel-based materials, among others.{{cite web

|url=http://pccenergygroup.com/wg-power-about.html

|publisher=PCC

|title=About Wyman Gordon Power Products

|access-date=2012-05-06}}

• Heavy Press Program

{{reflist |colwidth=33em |refs=

{{cite web

|url=http://files.asme.org/ASMEORG/Communities/History/Landmarks/5662.pdf

|title=The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dedicates a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark: The Wyman-Gordon 50,000-Ton Forging Press, Grafton, Massachusetts, Thursday, October 20, 1983

|year=1983

|publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150201213858/http://files.asme.org/ASMEORG/Communities/History/Landmarks/5662.pdf

|archive-date= 1 February 2015

|url-status=dead

|access-date=2012-05-06}}

{{cite book

|url=https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0014unse

|url-access=registration

|page=563ff

|title=International directory of company histories, Volume 14

|chapter=Wyman-Gordon Company

|author=Thomas Derdak, Tina Grant

|publisher=St. James Press

|year=1996

|isbn=1558623426

}}

{{cite web

|url=http://www.wyman-gordon.com/history.htm

|publisher=Wyman-Gordon

|title=Wyman-Gordon History

|access-date=2012-05-06}}

{{cite web

|url=http://sharepoint.worcester.edu/internal/lei/Shared%20Documents/Fuller%20Scholarship.pdf

|title=The George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation Scholarship

|publisher=Worcester State College

|access-date=2012-05-06}}

}}

{{Commons}}

• {{official website}}
• {{HAER |survey=MA-82 |id=ma1348 |title=Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant, 244 Worcester Street, Grafton, Worcester County, MA |photos=3 |color=1 |cap=2}}
• {{HAER |survey=MA-82-A |id=ma1374 |title=Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant, 2000 Ton Press |photos=2 |cap=1 |link=no}}
• {{HAER |survey=MA-82-B |id=ma1375 |title=Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant, 18000 Ton Press |photos=6 |cap=1 |link=no}}
• {{HAER |survey=MA-82-C |id=ma1376 |title=Wyman-Gordon Company, Grafton Plant, 50000 Ton Press |photos=13 |color=2 |data=2 |cap=2 |link=no}}

{{Berkshire Hathaway}}

Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Massachusetts

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1883

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Houston

Category:Metal companies of the United States

Category:2000 mergers and acquisitions