Menu
< Back to News
April 13, 2020

Wynnchurch Capital Invests in Western Forge & Flange

Rosemont, IL – April 14, 2020 – Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. (“Wynnchurch”) announced today that it has acquired the assets of Western Forge & Flange Co. (“Western”). Western is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, specialty forgings and flanges. Founded in 1944 and headquartered in Cleveland, Texas, Western has established a niche through its robust capabilities, infrastructure and ability to provide high-quality products and solutions with quick turnaround times on orders ranging from standard to highly custom. Western will unite under one platform with Pennsylvania Machine Works (“Penn Machine”), a Wynnchurch portfolio company.

“We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality forging-solutions with quick turnaround times and industry leading service, and we are excited to partner with Wynnchurch and Penn Machine as we continue that mission,” said Walt Pierce, CEO of Western. Walt added, ​“We are excited about the opportunities available through partnering with Penn Machine to better serve our current customers and to accelerate our growth plan.”

Joe Pro, President of Penn Machine, said in a statement, ​“We are very excited about partnering with Western to capitalize on the significant industry knowledge, expertise and resources of two leading specialty forging companies into one market leading platform.” 

Greg Gleason, Partner at Wynnchurch, said, ​“Western and Penn Machine have both built strong reputations for providing customers with specialty forged products for the most demanding applications with industry-leading service levels. We look forward to partnering with Walt, Joe and their teams.” Paul Ciolino, Partner at Wynnchurch, added, ​“We are excited to add Western to the platform to create one of the largest domestic, vertically integrated manufacturers of fitting and flanges with meaningful growth potential.” 

Wynnchurch Capital is actively seeking investment opportunities for its $2.277 billion Fund V. In February, Wynnchurch acquired Pennsylvania Machine Works, a fully integrated manufacturer of high pressure forged fittings and branch connections. Other recent Wynnchurch investments include: Clyde Industries, a leading designer and manufacturer of sootblowers, a critical component within recovery, power, and steam boilers; Eastern Metal Supply, a leading value-added distributor of aluminum extrusions and related products; MPL Holdings, a leader in cultured marble products for the hospitality and multi-family housing markets; and Premier Forge Group, a leading provider of high-value, complex forgings for the industrial and aerospace and defense markets.

About Western Forge & Flange:

Western Forge & Flange Co., headquartered in Cleveland, Texas, is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, specialty forgings and flanges used in petrochemical, nuclear, military and other industrial infrastructure applications. Founded in 1944, Western has established itself as the industry leader for specialty flanges through its robust capabilities, infrastructure and ability to provide high-quality products and solutions with quick turnaround times on orders ranging from stock jobs to highly custom projects. For more information, please visit: www​.west​ern​-forge​.com.

About Pennsylvania Machine Works:

Pennsylvania Machine Works, LLC, headquartered in Aston, Pennsylvania, is a fully integrated manufacturer of high pressure forged fittings and branch connections that are sold into downstream oil & gas, petrochemical, LNG, industrial and shipbuilding end markets. Founded in 1931, Penn has established itself as the industry leader for quick lead times, comprehensive manufacturing capabilities and high-quality products. Supported by its forging facility in Swedesboro, NJ and two machine shops in Aston, PA and Houston, TX, Penn is well positioned to meet the dynamic needs of its customers. For more information, please visit: https://​www​.pen​nusa​.com.

About Wynnchurch Capital:

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with offices in California and Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch’s strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2 billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings. For more information, please visit: https://​www​.wyn​nchurch​.com.

For more information please contact