Press hardening

[2] This process is commonly used for the production of automotive body in white components because its advantages align with the design criteria of modern passenger vehicles.

[3] The unformed blank is heated in a furnace, formed in hot condition (state 2 in below figure), and quenched in the die to achieve the required properties.

In either method, the blank is formed in a much softer and formable state and is later hardened in the dies, which have drilled cooling channels.

[4][5] The process is undergoing constant refinement with new grades of steel emerging for hot and cold forming.

[6] Higher strength steels may help reducing the weight by downgauging (i.e., use of thinner sheets), while increasing the crashworthiness.