Your all-in-one hot forming expert

Press hardening, also known as hot forming, is a thermomechanical process used to manufacture ultra-high-strength steel components for crash-relevant body structures. It allows for the combination of very high strengths with function-oriented geometries, provided that the industrialization process is properly designed from the beginning. voestalpine Automotive Components not only focuses on the material, but also on a stable series production process. This includes temperature control, cycle-time stability, and clearly defined interfaces between the blank, furnace, and press. Additionally, it is the goal to ensure a reproducible quality window from SOP throughout the entire production lifecycle.

Global footprint—close to OEM platforms

To ensure that press hardening steel (PHS) components are available wherever OEMs need them, voestalpine Automotive Components has established a global footprint. With expertise at 12 locations—including 4 PHS sites—and 14 PHS facilities across 4 continents, the foundation is laid for regional launch support, ramp-up management, and reliable series production. Standardized processes and harmonized quality standards ensure consistent performance across all regions.

Florian Gerstner, Head of PHS Development at voestalpine, is holding an unfinished car body part in his hand

At voestalpine Automotive Components, we combine globally available PHS capacities with well-thought-out process management. This allows us to tailor both the process route and coating solution to ensure stable SOP launches and reliable series production.

Florian Gerstner, voestalpine Automotive Components, Head of PHS Development

PHS as a perfectly designed, overall system

voestalpine Automotive Components approaches PHS as a fully integrated process. This includes blank production, tailor-welded blanks, patched blanks, austenitization, forming and hardening in the die, trimming, and further processing as well as joining and assembly operations where required. This system-oriented approach reduces interfaces, makes quality measurable, and increases robustness in series production.

Continuous induction furnace for austenitizing automotive body components during the hot forming process

Direct and indirect process combined with full coating flexibility

To meet various component requirements, voestalpine Automotive Components masters both direct and indirect hot forming, including variants with and without pre-cooling. In addition, the business unit offers maximum coating flexibility for PHS: galvanized, AlSi-coated, or bare/uncoated options—plus phs-scalefree^® as an additional choice. This enables an optimal balance between corrosion protection, formability and component function, without making industrialization unnecessarily complex.