Sheffield
Independent Forgings & Alloys Ltd
Sheffield is still one of Europe´s most traditional steel cities with numerous operating forges, rolling mills and steelworks.
Independent Forgings and Alloys is one of these and belongs among the oldest.
The first mention of blacksmithing here dates back to 1587.
Image photography
By Viktor Macha in 2024.
Plant facts and figures
Full description
However, the roots of the current company are dating back to 1778 when the first forge, ´Daniel Doncasters´, was established here.
In 1898 the first open-die forgings were put into operation. A heavy forge with two 5t hammers was built in 1937.
In 1947 the forge was equipped with mechanical manipulators – the very first machinery of this type in whole UK.
IFA Ltd was established in 2001 after the acquisition of the original Doncasters.
Between 2001-2019 the entire forge site was completely modernised.
In 2019, IFA Ltd also acquired Doncasters´ precision forgings forge and merged the two facilities into one unique operation combining free forging, die forging, a GFM rapid forging plant and a seamless rings rolling mill.
The cold rotary forging technology was commissioned in 2022.