2:30 p.m.

New Press-Hardened Steels and Process Enhancements for Hot Stamping

Multiple press-hardening steel (PHS) grades exist, with options having tensile strength ranging from 1000 to 2000 MPa after full hardening. Other grades, known as press-quenched steels, can pair with PHS grades in the hot stamping process to create areas of lower strength but higher ductility, cut-edge stretchability and energy absorption. Key to their expanding use are techniques to achieve tailored strength, stiffness or energy absorption within a single part.

Press-hardened steels for initial applications did not have corrosion protection, and these uncoated steels find use today. However, coatings for PHS grades have several functions, including preventing scaling and decarburization in the furnace as well as corrosion protection.

Recent years have also seen an increase in the understanding of the warm and hot stamping of aluminum alloys. Billur and Schaeffler will discuss these topics, and more!

3:30 p.m.

Controlling the Heating and Cooling Cycles During Hot Stamping

How austenitization and martensitic phase transformations for boron steel are managed, and how related aluminum silicon coatings are controlled during both steps.

8:45 a.m.

Die Development and Process Simulation for Hot Stamping

Kannan, engineering manager at AutoForm Engineering, who will discuss recent advances in engineering and simulation technology related to hot stamping, including:

• Part-property tailoring technologies, by controlled cooling of the blank prior to forming and quenching

• Phase-dependent characterization of press-hardenable steels

• Handling of tribology in press hardening

9:30 a.m.

Case Study: Hot Forming High Strength Aluminum at Fischer Group

High-strength 6000- and 7000-series aluminum alloys offer the opportunity for weight reduction in the automotive industry as well as other industries forming aluminum sheet. Until now, the production of automotive body-in-white components from these materials using conventional processes has been possible only to a limited extent. With the recent introduction of aluminum hot forming using the hot-form quench (HFQ) process, fischer group, at its new state-of-the-art production plant in Achern, Germany, has opened up new possibilities in the design and construction of complex, high-strength, lightweight-aluminum components. 

The process comprises three main steps: solution annealing of the shaped blank, at approximately 450-550 C; rapid forming and simultaneous quenching of the component in the forming tool; and artificial aging at 180-200 C to achieve the final mechanical properties. Using the process to form 6000-series alloys results in tensile strengths exceeding 390 MPa, and for 7000-series alloys, material strength can exceed 560MPa, while delivering tight tolerances with very high repeatability.

10:45 a.m.

Applications for Hot Stamping in the New WorldAutoSteel Steel E-Motive Ride-Sharing Vehicle

Just released, the new Steel E-Motive fully autonomous electric-vehicle body structure concept from WorldAutoSteel consists of 33-percent press-hardened steel, achieving an average body-structure tensile strength of 1259 MPa. This presentation will take a deep dive into the most significant applications for hot stamping that contribute to the overall success of this 3-yr. project. 

One highlight: Virtual B-pillars integrated into the doors, creating a compact section for optimum passenger visibility and access. Bake-hardenable steel’s Class A-quality surface combined with a scissor door design enables elimination of the bodyside outer for mass and cost savings.

11:30 a.m.

President and CEO, GNS North America

GNS executives Michael Alcala and Jason Blust will update attendees on the application of hot-stamping technology at GNS North America, recently named a 2022 GM Supplier of the Year, and prepare attendees for what they will witness during their tour of the GNS Holland facility.

1:30 p.m.

Tour of GNS North America, Holland, MI

GNS North America excels in manufacturing press-hardened steel (hot-stamped) and conventionally stamped parts. It covers bumper-to-bumper products that include structural parts, roof reinforcements, bumper components, B-pillars and door beams. Its Holland facility hosts the firm’s North American headquarters, corporate sales offices, manufacturing operations and tooling development. Tour participants will see:
• Press-hardened steel stamping lines, featuring robotic material handling and automation, with vertically stacked ovens and hydraulic press capacities ranging from 500 to 800 tons.
• Trumpf 8030-series, five-axis laser-cutting cells used to perform secondary operations such as hole/slot cutting and trimming of non-developed trim edges.
• Assembly weld cells, in both flexible and purpose-built configurations. Capabilities include robotic material handling, carried and non-carried resistance welding, robotic gas-meta-arc welding, and automated inspection and traceability.
• Non-weld fastener-application cells robotically applying clinch studs and nut clips.

The GNS Holland facility also is home to Quincy Tool and Engineering, the GNS North America Operations tool and die-design/engineering and build center.