Efficient commercial-scale high-temperature press-hardening process

Hot-form hardening of sheet metal has proven its viability in industrial-scale automotive manufacturing. The highest cost-efficiency and process reliability have been found to be achievable with roller hearth furnaces. The following article shows that exceptionally good results can be obtained using various combinations of conveyor systems and heating modes. The process is also gaining increasing importance in other technical fields where the weight-to-strength ratio is critical, as well as in machinery and aircraft construction, since it allows even galvanized parts to be processed on an industrial scale now.