Hot Drop Forging

Some manufacturing processes evolve, while others remain definitive.

When Oscar Eckenstein entered the Grivel forge in Courmayeur in 1909 to develop the first modern crampon alongside Henry Grivel, the family workshop was already recognised among alpinists for the strength and reliability of its ice axes.

At the foot of Monte Bianco, Grivel tools had earned a reputation through use in demanding alpine terrain. It is said Henry Grivel would demonstrate the strength of his equipment by striking it against the granite block outside the forge itself.

That confidence came from the process behind the material: hot drop forging.

Steel is not as uniform as it appears. Internally, its structure follows directional lines, much like the grain within wood. These internal fibres influence how force travels through the material, determining its strength, resistance, and durability.

When steel is heated to forging temperature, approximately 950°C, its internal structure can be reshaped. Through repeated hammering and compression, the grain flow is aligned along the directions where strength is required most. In an ice axe, for example, these lines follow the geometry of the head and shaft, reinforcing the tool where force and impact are concentrated.

This process is then stabilised through heat treatment, permanently fixing the internal structure of the steel.

The result is hot drop forging: a process that optimises both the form and the mechanical performance of the material itself.

More than a century later, it remains the benchmark for producing high-strength alpine equipment.

1 / STRENGTH
Hammering and compression align the grain structure of the steel along the required load paths, increasing strength and structural integrity.

2 / CONTROLLED GEOMETRY
Hot forging allows steel to be shaped three-dimensionally, increasing material thickness where greater resistance is required, while reducing excess material elsewhere, for a concise execution and finish.

3 / BALANCE AND WEIGHT
Material is placed only where needed. The result is lower overall weight, improved balance, and more precise handling in use.