Built to Last Campaign

For more than 145 years, Ajax/CECO/Erie Press has helped manufacturers around the world produce the components that keep industries moving, and the equipment we build has a habit of outlasting expectations. Some of those machines have been running for decades. A few have been running for over a century.

The Built to Last campaign celebrates the legacy Ajax, CECO, and Erie Press equipment that’s still on the floor, still producing, and still proving what it means to be engineered right the first time.

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117 Years Later, Still Finding New Homes

In 1909, Ajax built a 2” Forging Machine: the kind of horizontal upsetter that would go on to become one of the most trusted workhorses in the forging industry. More than a century later, that specific machine is still intact, still operational, and still in demand.

A 1909 Ajax Upsetter

This machine is currently owned by Peak Machinery Sales, a California-based company specializing in industrial and fastener manufacturing equipment. At 117 years old, it continues to attract serious interest from manufacturers looking for proven forging capability, all without the lead times or cost of new equipment. It runs, it works, and it’s still worth buying. That’s a direct result of the engineering principles Ajax has built on since the beginning: heavy-duty construction, tight tolerances, and a commitment to long-term performance over short-term convenience.

While technologies have changed and production requirements have evolved dramatically since 1909, the mechanical integrity of this machine has not.

Legacy Machine Details

Machine: Ajax 2″ Forging Machine (“Upsetter”)

Built: 1909

Current Status: Operational

Years in Service: 117+

Current Owner: Peak Machinery Sales Location: California

Industry Focus: Industrial and Fastener Manufacturing Equipment

“The fact that it was built in 1909 makes it a remarkable example of equipment longevity and industrial craftsmanship.” — Rita Elias, Peak Machinery Sales

Made for Decades of Service

The most valuable forging equipment isn’t measured by years owned; rather, it’s measured by years producing.

Ajax, CECO, and Erie Press machines have always been built to that standard, offering heavy frames, precision machining, and serviceability engineered into the original design. That philosophy is why machines built generations ago are still competitive in today’s production environments.

Durability

Every Ajax, CECO, and Erie Press machine absorbs continuous, high-force workloads that would wear down equipment built to a lower standard. The result is forging machinery that not only lasts, but holds its performance over the long haul.

Adaptability

Equipment crafted on sound mechanical principles doesn’t become obsolete. It finds new applications, new operators, and new production environments. The 1909 Upsetter is proof. Machines engineered for real-world use age differently than machines engineered for spec sheets.

Long-Term Value

A machine that runs reliably for 30, 50, or 100+ years doesn’t just pay for itself: it redefines the economics of your operation. Lower lifecycle costs, reduced replacement frequency, and the ability to rebuild rather than replace all contribute to returns that compound over time.

Do You Have Legacy Equipment Still in Production?

The 1909 Upsetter isn’t alone. Across North America and around the world, Ajax, CECO, and Erie Press equipment is still on the floor running shifts, forming parts, and outlasting newer machines parked right next to it.

We want to find those machines and tell their stories. If you operate legacy Ajax, CECO, or Erie Press equipment — whether it’s been running in your facility for decades or recently changed hands — we’d like to hear about it.

Share the details below, and our team will follow up to feature your machine as part of the Built to Last collection.