Schuler adapting hot-forming technology to the rising demand of automotive aluminium alloys

Schuler, the technological and global market leader in metal forming equipment such as presses, automation, dies, with deep process know-how is adapting the technology of hot forming to the special demands of high-strength aluminium alloys used in automobile manufacturing.

The lightweight construction material, aluminium, is becoming increasingly important for the automotive industry, due to its high strength and low weight. High-strength aluminium alloys offer the greatest potential for weight reduction in body construction. With the newly developed technology of hot forming of aluminium sheet, now it is possible to produce complex geometries.

High-strength aluminium alloys make special demands on shaping processes with regard to formability. In a cold state it is only possible to form geometrically simple parts with these alloys. In Schuler plants a variety of aluminium alloys are already being processed. As system supplier, Schuler also offers tools and technical expertise for this. Using specially designed forming tools, Schuler has now succeeded in demonstrating the potential of hot forming by producing certain reference parts. Here, the combination of temperature control and shaping is of central importance for achieving the desired part properties.

Since the beginning of the 1990s Schuler has been supplying complete equipment systems for series production of hot-formed body parts using press hardening technology. Now the German engineering company is adapting the technology to the rising demands of high-strength aluminium alloys in automobile industry.

"We are already registering a lively interest for the technology from industry," says Johannes Linden, Head of Division Systems at Schuler. "After we have built up our expertise in aluminium hot forming, our declared goal is to position ourselves as system supplier in this area too. Here we intend to supply everything from one source: from the press to automation and tools, right to process know-how."