Forge World was licensed by GW to produce several early kits (the first titans, drop pods, banblades etc.). GW saw how much dough these guys were making and pulled the license (sound familiar anyone?) then started their own Forgeworld. The old FW split into Armorcast and Epicast, (before or after the license was pulled-I'm not sure) which are both still around, although Armorcast went down and was recently bought out by a new crew and Epicast just does figure bases.
Forgeworld does fantastic work-I'll be the first to admit this-but you pay for what you get.