Wendell August Forge

Forging ahead with Christian Werner at the helm

By Paula Green

Since 1923, Wendell August Forge has made a major impact in the Pittsburgh region. Wendell McMinn August founded the company in Brockway, Pennsylvania, initially crafting custom iron latches and hardware.

In the early days, Wendell teamed up with Alcoa, a Pittsburgh aluminum company, to make iron gates and elevator doors for their new building. Alcoa liked his work so much that they asked him to design decorative trays inspired by the famous elevator doors. This became the company’s first gift item and helped launch its success.

Now, 103 years later, Wendell August Forge is America's oldest and most well-known forge. People associate their name with skilled artisans and beautiful handcrafted metalware.

The August family ran the company until 1978, when the Knecht family took ownership. Christian Werner became a minority shareholder in 2016 and purchased the remaining shares from the other two shareholders in the fourth quarter of 2024, becoming the sole owner.

“My wife Susan serves on the board of directors of Wendell August Forge and has been an incredible supporter throughout this journey. I oversee daily operations as President and CEO. I am proud to say that I am only the third owner of the company. I have always been intrigued by entrepreneurship, so when the opportunity came for me to take over, I knew it was right. I have a really unique job where I get to run a forge every day. We are incredibly proud to preserve American craftsmanship and our Pennsylvania heritage. Our artisans create more than products; they make meaningful gifts that celebrate life's most special moments that we are honored to celebrate with them,” Werner said.

“There are a lot of major events that happen in western Pennsylvania. We do projects with numerous companies: U.S. Steel, Alcoa, UPMC, and Pittsburgh sports teams: Pitt, the Steelers, and the Penguins. We just completed a major project with Villanova and Notre Dame college basketball. They’re doing a historic international game in Rome, Italy,” said Werner.

“We currently have 63 full-time employees, and our team grows to approximately 90–105 employees during the busy holiday season. Our oldest daughter, Elle, has joined Wendell August Forge in Human Resources. It is especially meaningful to have another generation of our family involved in this remarkable institution. We are located at the Grove City Premium Outlets at a retail team at its Flagship store and museum at 1911 Leesburg Grove City Road, Suite 955, in Grove City, Pennsylvania, and we are open at www.WendellAugust.com 24/7,” Werner remarked.

“Our biggest seller is our seasonal ornament. Some customers collect them and buy them year after year. This year, we were fortunate that we celebrated our country’s 250^th anniversary. The commemorative 250^th ornament was a big seller. It has become officially licensed. We will be selling that one until the end of the year,” Werner added.

Wendell August Forge has several teams that work every day to hand-make its elegant metalware. The company has production and engraving teams, an internet division that handles sales, packing, shipping, warehouse, and accounting, and a retail team at its main store in Grove City.

Werner enjoys overseeing Wendell August Forge, and he also volunteers. As he notes, “God calls all of us to serve and help.”

Werner is involved with the Passavant Hospital Foundation. He also helps Hinds Feet Farm in Huntersville and Asheville, North Carolina, which supports people living with brain injuries. In addition, Werner volunteers with Christian Family Life in Charlotte, North Carolina, an organization that helps strengthen marriages and families using biblical principles.

Werner grew up in Akron, Ohio. He and Susan have three children, two daughters and a son. They spent many years living in Lake Norman, North Carolina. Now, he is glad to call Pennsylvania home and feels comfortable at Wendell August Forge.

As Werner noted, “I am truly grateful for this opportunity. It’s a blessing to help preserve a 103-year-old American institution alongside such an amazing team of artisans and employees and customers in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth!”