About FORGE
What is FORGE?
What is FORGE?
FORGE is a collaborative, year-round initiative designed to strengthen career pathways in trades, manufacturing, and engineering. It brings together schools, industry partners, and community organizations to create meaningful, hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional career fairs.
Rather than broad exposure, FORGE focuses on intentional participation, engaging students who are genuinely interested in skilled trades and technical careers. This approach leads to real conversations, real relationships, and real career decisions.
- Exploration → Exposure → Experience
- Built with educators and industry
- Designed for workforce readiness
Who is FORGE for? |
||
| Schools and Students | Industry Partners | Community and Workforce Partners |
|
|
|
Sponsors & Partners
Events & Programs
Manufacturing Month Tours
Held each October, Manufacturing Month Tours give students the opportunity to visit real manufacturing facilities and see careers in action. These tours provide early exposure to the workplace, introduce students to local employers, and help connect classroom learning to real-world applications.
* Status Note: Additional details and sign-ups will be added as tours are confirmed.
FORGE Instructor Training
FORGE Instructor Training is designed to support educators by connecting them directly with industry experts.
The training focuses on blueprint reading, weld acceptance criteria, hands-on welding, and coaching from experienced professionals.
* 2027 dates will be released in the Fall of 2026!
Welding Competition — April 15, 2026
The FORGE Welding Competition brings together students, schools, and industry for a high-quality, skills-based competition. Unlike traditional career fairs, participation is intentional — students attending are interested in welding and manufacturing careers, allowing for meaningful engagement and relationship-building.
* School Registration: https://forms.gle/aqNDPWKhYT7UWKmH8
* Industry Partner Registration: https://forms.gle/16uRxJxDCa2ubwiu7
Lending Library
The FORGE Lending Library provides schools with access to industry-grade equipment and resources to support instruction and hands-on learning. This initiative is currently being configured, with more details coming soon.
Welding Competition
Preparation: Materials, Equipment, Safety
This section outlines the materials, welding processes, equipment, and safety requirements for the 2026 FORGE Welding Competition. Please review carefully to ensure students are prepared and equipped appropriately.
Materials Provided
-
Metal - All metal provided will be mild steel (no aluminum or stainless steel).
Mild steel plate: 1/8" to 1/4" thick
Mild steel tubing: 1/16" to 3/16" thick
Scrap metal will be available for setup and test welds
-
Filler Materials
GMAW (MIG Welding)
Wire: Lincoln SuperArc L-56
Classification: ER70S-6
Diameter: .035"
SMAW (Stick Welding)
Rod: Lincoln Fleetweld-37
Diameter: 1/8"
Classification: 6013
Welding Processes Used
Competitors will be expected to work with both of the following processes. Students should be comfortable setting up and performing welds using both processes.
GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding / MIG)
SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding / Stick)
Equipment Provided
Welding machines and materials will be standardized across all competitor booths.
- Chipping hammer
- Wire brush
- Wire snips
- Scrap metal for practice or setup
What Competitors May Bring
Competitors should not need to bring additional tools, but may bring basic personal hand tools if preferred, such as pliers and/or small measuring tools. All items must fit within the booth space and be approved by event staff. No powered tools or specialty equipment will be allowed.
Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Each competitor must arrive with and wear the following PPE at all times while welding. Failure to meet PPE requirements may result in disqualification for safety reasons.
- Welding helmet
- Welding gloves
- Eye protection (safety glasses)
- Fire-retardant long-sleeve shirt or welding jacket
- Denim pants (no sweatpants or athletic pants)
- Boots or leather shoes
Not permitted:
- Sweatpants
- Athletic or synthetic pants
- Open-toed shoes
What to Expect for 2026
- The 2026 competition project will be released to each competitor when they arrive in the "Pre-Weld Room".
- Material sizes, gauges, and components will overlap with previous years.
- Judging criteria will continue to emphasize assembly and weld quality.
- Final scores will be judged on a scale of 1-100.
- All judges are certified weld inspectors and judge each piece to industry standards.
What to Expect at the Competition:
Upon arrival, competitors must check in at the registration desk
-
Name, school, grade information will be collected
-
Competitors will be assigned a Competitor Number (001 - 200)
-
Competitors will be assigned a Competition Time - they must arrive to the "Pre-Weld Room" by this time or may be disqualified from the competition
At Competition Time:
-
Students arrive to the "Pre-Weld Room" where they will:
Verify they have all necessary PPE
Pick up their metal
Pick up their plans
Have 20 minutes to look over the plans and ask for help from our Welding Experts.
Note: Our Welding Experts will not give answers to questions not asked. -
Students will transfer into the Weld Lab where they will:
Have 10 minutes to complete the GMAW process
Have 2 minutes to rotate
Have 10 minutes to complete the SMAW process
Quench their projects and turn them in on the table
Note: Instructors/Advisors will not be allowed into the Pre-Weld Room or the Weld Lab.
Practice Plans from Previous Competitions
To help instructors and students prepare for the 2026 FORGE Welding Competition, we’ve made previous competition plans available for download. These plans were used during past competitions and represent the level of difficulty, tolerances, materials, and processes students can expect.
Important: While the final 2026 competition project will not be released ahead of time, the same metal components or material types used in previous years will be used again - exact quantity and arrangement will not be released ahead of time. These plans are intended as practice resources.
How to Use These Plans
Instructors are encouraged to incorporate these plans into classroom labs, shop practice, or competition prep sessions. Using these plans is one of the best ways to prepare for the competition environment and expectations.These plans are best used to:
- Prepare students for real-world layout, fit-up, and welding expectations
- Practice GMAW and SMAW processes under time constraints
- Familiarize students with mild steel plate and tubing assemblies
- Reinforce safety, accuracy, and weld quality standards
Available PDF Downloads:
2023 Competition Practice Plan
2024 Competition Practice Plan
2025 Competition Practice Plan