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Two Hammers, Horse & Buggy Hardware in the Beginning . . . Canton Drop Forge was founded in 1903. Consisting of one 50’x100’ building and two hammers, the very first plant opened in Canton, Ohio. Early markets were railroad tools, horse and buggy hardware and automobile parts. Over the next two years the company came into the principal ownership of Charles A. Brauchler. By 1909, Canton Drop Forge had grown to six hammers and commissioned the construction of a new machine shop. New Patents Secured, Forgings Go To War . . . In the twenties, CDF became a major producer of parts for the undercarriage of passenger railcars. Mr. Brauchler acquired patents for his designs of these unique parts, which are still being forged today. In 1942, the Defense Department built a new plant for the production of forgings to support the war effort. CDF operated the facility, making parts for aircraft and land based fighting equipment, and officially purchased the plant from the U.S. Government in 1951. Forging New Markets . . . During the fifties, turbine blades for power generation and discs for jet engine applications were added to CDF’s growing list of market applications. Producing products for the field of oil and gas exploration also became a large part of CDF’s forging business and still is today. Aircraft Parts on the Rise, Ownership Changes Hands . . . The seventies and eighties brought increased business in the aerospace industry as CDF became heavily involved in the production of aircraft landing gear parts. In 1981, the Brauchler Family decided to sell the company to a group including Mr. James J. O’Sullivan, who is now the principal owner of CDF. And in 1983, the original plant in Canton was closed to concentrate on heavy, lower volume forgings made in the Southway plant. Growth through Diversity, Global Presence . . . Through all the years of operation, CDF has grown its business through the diversification of markets. Providing quality forging products and services for the high-performance applications of our customers has led us into new and exciting territories, both domestically and throughout the world. |
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