Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 7221
Mechanical forging press worker
A mechanical forging press worker is a person who sets up and operates the mechanical presses that form ferrous and non-ferrous metal parts, among them tubes, conduits and hollow sections and other semi-finished steel products, into a required shape.
Check yourself in a minute: mechanical forging press worker
Rate 5 of the 16 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
remove inadequate workpieces
troubleshoot
remove processed workpiece
perform test run
wear appropriate protective gear
About mechanical forging press worker
A mechanical press generates set compressive forces through cranks, cams and knuckle joints, working by repeated blows rather than steady pressure. The worker sets the force and the working cycle of the press so that the part reaches the required shape. The worker configures the machine control panel and runs test pieces until the part comes out within tolerance.
The worker knows metal types and forging processes, and so knows at what temperature a given steel has to be worked, how much it will deform under one blow and when it is at risk of cracking.
The worker knows the parts of a mechanical forging press, monitors the automatic machines, and recognises from the finished part that something in the tooling has moved. Problems are solved at the press. Requirements for entering the job are set by the employer, and the basis is knowing how a forging press is built and how metals behave.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (16)
mechanical forging press partsmechanical forging press partsThe various part of a mechanical press used for forging metalworking processes, such as cams, cranks and toggles in the preset, a ram, upper die, lower die, and others.types of metaltypes of metalQualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.quality standardsquality standardsThe national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.forging processesforging processesThe various processes in the metalforming practices of forging, such as swaging, open-die forging, automatic hot forging, cogging, impression-die forging, roll forging, upsetting, press forging, and o...remove inadequate workpiecesremove inadequate workpiecesEvaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.remove processed workpieceremove processed workpieceRemove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.monitor automated machinesmonitor automated machinesContinuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment...supply machinesupply machineEnsure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.ensure correct metal temperatureensure correct metal temperatureEnsure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.remove scale from metal workpieceremove scale from metal workpieceRemove the accumulated scale, or metal 'flakes', on the surface of the metal workpiece caused by oxidation after removal from the furnace by spraying it with an oil-based liquid that will cause it to ...set up the controller of a machineset up the controller of a machineSet up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.tend mechanical forging presstend mechanical forging pressTend a mechanical forging press, designed for forming hot or cold metal by use of a high energy force mechanically, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.
Optional (32) — show
non-ferrous metal processingnon-ferrous metal processingVarious processing methods on non-ferrous metals and alloys such as copper, zinc and aluminium.manufacturing of metal structuresmanufacturing of metal structuresThe production of metal structures for construction.ferrous metal processingferrous metal processingVarious processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.metal forming technologiesmetal forming technologiesThe variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.manufacturing of metal containersmanufacturing of metal containersThe manufacture of reservoirs, tanks and similar containers of metal, of types normally installed as fixtures for storage or manufacturing use. The manufacture of metal containers for compressed or li...diesdiesThe qualities and applications of various kinds of dies, the different components of a die (such as the die block, punch plate, pierce punch and others) and the types of die used in specialised manufa...manufacturing of steel drums and similar containersmanufacturing of steel drums and similar containersThe manufacture of pails, cans, drums, buckets, boxes, through metalworking processes.cold forgingcold forgingThe metalworking process of forging whilst hot metal is right below its recrystallisation temperature, being cooled and solidified after casting.manufacturing of heating equipmentmanufacturing of heating equipmentThe manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.types of metal manufacturing processestypes of metal manufacturing processesMetal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.manufacturing of doors from metalmanufacturing of doors from metalThe manufacture of metal doors, windows and their frames, shutters and gates, and the metal room partitions for floor attachment.hot forginghot forgingThe metalworking process of forging whilst the hot metal is right above its recrystallisation temperature after casting and being solidified.manufacturing of weapons and ammunitionmanufacturing of weapons and ammunitionThe manufacture of heavy weapons (artillery, mobile guns, rocket launchers, torpedo tubes, heavy machine guns), small arms (revolvers, shotguns, light machine guns), air or gas guns and pistols, and w...types of forging presstypes of forging pressTypes of presses used in the metal forging process, such as hydraulic and mechanical forging presses.manufacturing of steam generatorsmanufacturing of steam generatorsThe manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The man...precious metal processingprecious metal processingVarious processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.inspect quality of productsinspect quality of productsUse various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.maintain hydraulic forging pressmaintain hydraulic forging pressTend a hydraulic forging press, designed for forming hot or cold metal by use of a high energy force hydraulically, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.supply machine with appropriate toolssupply machine with appropriate toolsSupply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.monitor gaugemonitor gaugeOversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.record production data for quality controlrecord production data for quality controlKeep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.apply preliminary treatment to workpiecesapply preliminary treatment to workpiecesApply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.hold metal work piece in machinehold metal work piece in machineManually position and hold a, potentially heated, metal work piece for the machine to perform the necessary metalworking processes on it. Take the forming character of the machine into account in orde...monitor conveyor beltmonitor conveyor beltMonitor the flow of the work pieces on the conveyor belt as they are processed by the machine to ensure optimal productivity.operate forging tongsoperate forging tongsOperate the appropriate forging tools and equipment safely, including forging tongs for handling and moving hot metal workpieces during forging processes.perform machine maintenanceperform machine maintenancePerform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.advise on machinery malfunctionsadvise on machinery malfunctionsOffer advice to service technicians in case of machinery malfunctions and other technical repair tasks.consult technical resourcesconsult technical resourcesRead and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.operate lifting equipmentoperate lifting equipmentTransport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.set up automotive robotset up automotive robotSet up and programme an automotive robot working on machine processes and substituting or collaboratively supporting human labour, such as the six-axis automotive robot.replace diereplace dieEvaluate if a replacement of the die of a machine is deemed beneficial and take the necessary actions for replacing it either manually (depending on its size, by the use of a manual lifting tackle) or...
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
hydraulic forging press worker14 shared essential skillsdrop forging hammer worker13 shared essential skillsmetal rolling mill operator12 shared essential skillselectron beam welder11 shared essential skillslaser beam welder11 shared essential skillslaser cutting machine operator11 shared essential skillslaser marking machine operator11 shared essential skillsplasma cutting machine operator11 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a mechanical forging press worker do?
Mechanical forging press workers set up and tend mechanical forging presses, designed to shape ferrous and non-ferrous metal workpieces including pipes, tubes and hollow profiles and other products of the first processing of steel in their desired form by use of preset, compressive forces provided by cranks, cams and toggles at reproducible strokes.
What skills does a mechanical forging press worker need?
A mechanical forging press worker needs 16 essential skills, including mechanical forging press parts, types of metal, quality standards, forging processes, remove inadequate workpieces.
Will AI replace mechanical forging press worker jobs?
The AI disruption score for mechanical forging press worker is 48/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record production data for quality control, remove processed workpiece, monitor gauge. Most resilient: operate forging tongs, hold metal work piece in machine, forging processes.
AI Replacement Risk
48/ 100
Moderate Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupMetal, machinery and related trades workers
Essential Skills16
Is mechanical forging press worker right for you?
Take the free 10-minute Career Portrait to see which career direction fits your motivations and strengths.
Take the free test