Forest City Gear’s President Kika Young, Director of Operations Jared Lyford, and Value Stream Manager John Cochran attended the 2023 American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) Strategic Networking & Leadership (SNL) Forum in Fort Worth, TX. The annual event is held to offer mid-level managers and executives within the gear manufacturing industry opportunities to network and educate one another.  

AGMA members descended on Fort Worth, Texas, from all corners of the country (and industry!) for three days of the 2023 Strategic Networking and Leadership Forum sponsored by Gleason Corporation, WD Bearings, Blaser Swisslube, and Specialty Steel Treating. Professionals from gear shops and OEMs alike gathered to share their experience and insight about where we are as an industry and where we're going. 

Three members of Forest City Gear’s board of directors—President Kika Young, Mindy Young, and Appy Mikel—attended the 2023 AGMA/ABMA annual meeting in March. The meeting, hosted by the American Gear Manufacturers Association and the American Bearing Manufacturing Association, was held at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) has changed its board of directors. These changes took place at the 2023 AGMA Annual Meeting in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

From 2020 to 2022 I had the honor of serving as the AGMA Chair. As I close the two-year service commitment, I have been asked by several people: What has AGMA accomplished recently, and where is the 107-year-old trade association heading? This question is easy and difficult to answer all at the same time.

Those who wish to make submissions for the 2023 AGMA Fall Technical Meeting (FTM) have until January 13, 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.

AGMA is pleased to announce the publication of three new documents: AGMA 923-C22, Metallurgical Specifications for Steel and Cast Iron Gearing, written by the AGMA Metallurgy and Materials Committee, AGMA 929-B22, Calculation of Bevel Gear Top Land, Slot Widths and Cutter Edge Radii, written by the AGMA Bevel Gearing Committee, and AGMA 955-A22, Guidance for Industrial Gear Lubrication written by the AGMA Lubrication Committee.

The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) recently applied for and received reaccreditation from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) organization for its educational courses. An IACET accreditation allows gear industry professionals to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attending AGMA courses. To celebrate, Gear Technology caught up with Stephanie Smialek, Education Manager, AGMA, to discuss the full breadth of AGMA’s professional development programs.

The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) recently applied for and received reaccreditation from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) organization for its educational courses. The accreditation is valid for a period of five years, through November 2027. 

In July, Raymond J. Drago, P.E.—chief engineer of Drive Systems Technology, Inc. (DST), a mechanical power transmission consulting organization that he founded in 1976—will lead an IACET-accredited course on both the geometry and rating of involute splines of various types along with their applications. Topics under discussion include spline configuration variations, including half depth, full depth, and special function designs; both fixed and flexible spline configurations in terms of usage and design; lubrication methods, including grease, oil bath, and flowing oil, as well as coatings appropriate for various spline applications; and shear and compressive stress rating methods with analyses methodology in both equation and graphical methodology via various rating charts.