
voestalpine is the only company to have mastered direct and indirect forming of galvanized, press-hardened components. This know-how also helps the company keep a firm grasp on its position as technology leader among worldwide suppliers to the automotive industry.
With phs-ultraform® and phs-directform®, voestalpine offers the automotive industry ultra high-strength galvanized components from two different process lines. The decision regarding which of the two technologies will be used depends on the form, intended use and production volume. Both lines offer excellent protection from corrosion, exceptional formability, unsurpassed strength and outstanding crash performance (ductility).
phs-ultraform® – the original
phs-ultraform® is the oldest member of the phs family. It demonstrates its capabilities where larger dimensions or complex shapes are required, and in large quantities. The starting material is cold formed in a first process step and then trimmed to the target format. After being subsequently heated, it is press-hardened in a further process step. Here, in a second tool, it is simultaneously shaped into its final form and cooled.
phs-directform® – the Pioneer
phs-directform® is the newest addition to the phs family. Its strengths are especially useful for simple component series with low quantities. Existing hot forming lines can be retrofitted with this technology. Without prior cold forming, blanks are heated using simple furnace technology and, after being pre-cooled, are hot-formed and then press-hardened.
Unlike its sibling technology phs-ultraform®, the direct forming method enables hot forming and hardening of simple components in a single process step – requiring only one forming tool and simple furnace technology.
Below is a comparison of the phs lines of voestalpine:
phs-ultraform®
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phs-directform®
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Focus mobility: http://www.voestalpine.com/mobility
Website thinkzinc: http://www.voestalpine.com/thinkzinc/