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Aluminium hot stamping for automotive lightweighting
The lightweight material aluminium wins in the automotive industry because of high strength and low weight are becoming increasingly important. High-strength aluminium alloys offer the greatest potential for weight loss in the body. Through the newly developed technology of aluminium sheet hot forming can produce complex geometries now.
High-strength aluminium alloys place particular demands on the forming processes in terms of design. In the cold state can be produced from these alloys forms only geometrically simple components. On installations Schuler a variety of aluminium alloys already be processed. As a systems supplier Schuler supplies this also includes tools and methodological skills.
Using specially designed forming tools it is Schuler now succeeded in demonstrating the potential of the hot forming the basis of reference components. It is the combination of temperature control and shaping to achieve the desired component properties is essential.
Since the early 1990s Schuler provides a complete system for mass production of hot-formed body panels made of sheet steel (hot stamping). Currently Schuler adapts the technology to the special requirements of high-strength aluminium alloys.
"For this new technology, we are already seeing strong interest from the industry," said Mr John Linden, Head of the Systems Division at Schuler. "Once we have built the skills for hot forming of aluminium, it is our declared aim to act as a system supplier in this area and of the press about automation and tool up to the process know-how to supply everything from a single source."