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voestalpine Reveals Enhanced phs-ultraform Product
03/02/2012 - voestalpine will present at the Geneva Motor Show an enhancement to its patented phs-ultraform, a hot-dip galvanized high-strength steel developed for lightweight construction of car body panels. In conjunction with Swiss prototype manufacturer Rinspeed, a laser-welded door made of phs-ultraform will be on display.
voestalpine will present at the Geneva Motor Show an enhancement to its patented phs-ultraform (press hardening steel), a hot-dip galvanized high-strength steel developed for lightweight construction of car body panels. In conjunction with Swiss prototype manufacturer Rinspeed, led by Frank Rinderknecht, a laser-welded door made of phs-ultraform will be on display.
voestalpine notes that it is the only manufacturer able to produce phs-ultraform components using both the indirect and direct process—a newly added capability.
“For the first time, press-hardened components made of phs-ultraform can be manufactured using either the direct or the indirect process. With this development, we are definitely once again a big step ahead. The advantage in terms of know-how is secured by 21 patent families,” said R&D Director Peter Schwab.
With phs-ultraform components, voestalpine combines the advantages of high-strength yet lightweight components with the proven corrosion protection of galvanized steel strip. Premium carmakers have used phs-ultraform for longitudinal members, A- and B-pillars, side and front walls, sills, doors, and hatches. The highly demanding automotive components are produced and processed on four continents.
“I expect us to double the turnover of 1.1 billion euros in the automotive sector over the next few years,” said Wolfgang Eder, Chairman of the Management Board of voestalpine AG. To develop the phs-ultraform components, the company invested 30 million euros up to 2008, and now a further 100 million euros will be added to this figure, according to voestalpine. Its research budget for the current fiscal year amounts to 121 million euros; a total of 670 researchers work for the voestalpine Group throughout the world.
In the direct hot forming process (stamping method), steel blanks are heated to around 900°C and then shaped into their final geometry and hardened in a cooled form-hardening tool. voestalpine already has fully developed prototypes of car components that are produced using the direct process.
The indirect process already in use involves one additional step. The steel blanks are first formed and cut to their final geometries using conventional cold-forming technology and then heated to 900°C. By cooling the parts down to 70° within a few seconds, they become extremely hard and their component geometry is finalized, the company explained.
voestalpine is a globally active group with a variety of specialized and flexible companies that produce, process, and further develop high-quality steel products. The group is represented by 360 production and sales companies in more than 60 countries on five continents. With its highest quality flat steel products, voestalpine is one of Europe's leading partners to the automotive, white goods, and energy industries. It also is the world market leader in turnout technology, tool steel, and special sections, as well as number one in Europe in the production of rails.
