Innovative manufacturing technology enabling light weighting with steel in commercial vehicles

Abstract

Improved manufacturing technology is often needed when working with high strength steel. In this respect manufacturing technology has to adapt to the altered (and typically reduced) formability and weldability of modern high strength steel. However, this is a rather passive approach from a manufacturing point of view. An indeed much more powerful approach is to generate synergies between innovative manufacturing technology, design and material enabling additional weight savings and efficiency gains. Laser-based material processing, in particular laser welding, offers a wide range of opportunities in this sense. Furthermore, hot stamping and roll forming open up new possibilities for advanced manufacturing of commercial vehicle components. Applications and examples of these technologies will be given in terms of producing innovative semi-products as well as final components.

Keywords

Commercial vehicles / Light weighting / High strength steel / Roll forming / Press forming / Hot stamping / Tailor-welded blanks / Tailor-welded coils