Product category:
Press shop and sheet metal working automation, slitting, shearing
News Release from: AP and T AB, Automation, Press and Tooling | Subject: Press hardening at Baosteel
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 March 2008
Press hardening makes high quality
stampings
When Baosteel, China's largest steel supplier, decided to develop press hardening technology for its own purposes, they turned to APandT for equipment and process expertise
Together, the companies developed a complete press hardening process that Baosteel will use when developing future production solutions for the automotive industry The automotive industry focus on combining weight savings with increased impact safety has generated great interest in press hardening as a manufacturing method
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The potential of creating high-quality components with high strength at an attractive price was attractive.
APandT was contacted by steel giant Baosteel, who was in search of a partner with expertise on the entire press hardening process - from blank feeding, heating and press feeding to press hardening and ejection.
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Baosteel contacted and evaluated many suppliers, but in the end they put their faith in AP and T.
"We had limited experience in press hardening and needed a partner who has knowledge of the process and can deliver a turnkey solution," explained Dr Xu, head researcher at Baosteel.
He added: "AP and T also had several press hardening projects under their belt with many good references to show for it.
That was important to us".
In their development work, Baosteel and AP and T focused on the process of forming a passenger car B-pillar - a component that is a typical example of what press hardening is currently used for.
This must effectively absorb impact energy yet be low in weight.
"We are extremely pleased with the results of development with AP and T.
This bodes well for the future," said Dr Xu.
The first part of the line consists of an oven that heats the sheet metal to 950 deg C.
After heating, there is only a limited amount of time to shape the piece before the temperature drops, so a customized SpeedFeeder press robot picks up the glowing hot pieces and positions them in the APandT press hardening press.
The press tool is closed and the piece is formed into a finished B-pillar while being quickly cooled and obtaining its strong material properties.
The entire line is controlled by the AP and T LOGOS control system, which gives full control of every step of the forming process.
The press hardening line delivered by AP and T will be an important development resource in the Baosteel operations in Shanghai, China.
The company's ambition is to increase the degree of refinement in their production and expand their product range.
They want to be able to offer more installation-ready components to the automotive industry.
"Partnering with APandT gives us a competitive edge as a direct supplier to the automotive industry.
We already have the raw material - steel," said Dr Xu.
The tool was developed in close collaboration between the companies.
It is an advanced design with integrated cooling so that the temperature of the component can be rapidly reduced, giving it the right material structure.
The B-pillar formed in the tool has an extremely advanced geometry with radii that have been great challenges.
"We now know in certain terms that AP and T is an expert at developing tool solutions for press hardening," sayid Dr Xu.
AP and T said that the development line delivered to Baosteel will most likely be followed by production lines in which the steel supplier will produce other safety components for future car models.
"We are extremely pleased with the collaboration and hope to continue with production solutions," concluded Dr Xu.
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