The automotive supplies industry and OEMs are facing new challenges, particularly in the field of lightweight construction. Lighter, stronger and more corrosion resistant parts and components are needed. With the FutureSteelVehicle project voestalpine, together with WorldAutoSteel, has demonstrated that it is possible to reduce the weight of a car body by 35%. That represents a saving of 102 kg on a vehicle body weighing 188 kg, proving that steel is the ideal material for lightweight construction. With solutions including phs-ultraform, zinc-magnesium coatings, isovac and ultra-high-tensile steels voestalpine offers the ideal steel for every application.
Press-hardened steels such as phs-ultraform have the highest strengths, of up to 1,800 MPa. In comparison, steels produced in series have strengths ranging from 200 MPa to 1,200 MPa. Higher strength steels can be produced in small series. In future voestalpine plans to manufacture steels in series up to strengths of 1,500 MPa. For press-hardened steels, voestalpine is focusing on changing part strengths in various directions, so that parts are available in two or more different strengths. This makes increases in strength better and more linear, enabling customized strengths and solutions to be generated. In addition to their ultra-high strength, press-hardened steels also have excellent cathodic corrosion-prevention characteristics and are particularly suited for complex part geometries, such as A and B pillars, sills, etc.
In addition to press-hardened steels, voestalpine also manufactures hot-dipped galvanized strip with a zinc-magnesium coating. This offers increased process security and excellent processing characteristics. In addition to zinc-magnesium coated steel strip, voestalpine also offers isovac electrical steel. While its electromagnetic characteristics are excellent, it is particularly distinguished by its isolation systems which are environmentally compatible and safe to health. Advanced high strength steels (AHSS), with strengths up to 1,200 MPa and above, are also finding increasing application in the automotive sector.
Parts with customized characteristics, so-called tailored-property parts, have recently been manufactured in series. By doing so, voestalpine is combining the advantages of press-hardened parts with the proven corrosion resistance properties of galvanized steel strip. By using special heat-treatments in heating-up, cooling-down and after hardening, as well as by using tailored-welded blanks, it is possible to produce complex part geometries and special strengthening processes to absorb stresses during a crash using only a few individual components.
For more information or contact, please visit our website: http://www.voestalpine.com/nordic
