Tata Steel Nederland introduces a new type of steel: HyperFlange®. This product helps auto makers reliably manufacture lighter parts. This is important for the automotive industry because car manufacturers are constantly seeking lightweight solutions to improve fuel efficiency and optimize performance. The new steel is particularly suitable for chassis parts and suspension. An automobile chassis provides structural support for a vehicle, to which the body-in-white, suspension, and other parts are attached, and must withstand the forces and stresses during driving.
This new steel type is much more edge ductile than our previous steels in the advanced-high strength levels. Dr. Arjan Rijkenberg, Principal Scientist specialized in high-strength strip steels at Tata Steel Nederland, explains: “In many chassis components, holes are punched during the manufacturing process for assembly, routing of wires, and achieving weight savings. Furthermore, for extra strength and stiffness, these parts can feature very intricate edges, but it is precisely these edges that are susceptible to cracking during the forming of the parts in the press shop. For the development of this new advanced steel type, we have developed specific test methods with which we can assess risks of edge fracture and measure the fracture toughness of steel types. With the new knowledge and insights obtained from this, we have been able to develop HyperFlange, which is both strong and edge ductile.”
Higher press shop efficiency and robust manufacturing with HyperFlange
Edge cracking is one of the most common pain points in chassis press shops. With this newly developed steel type, we can address this challenge with and for our customers. Moe Ziaran, Marketing Manager Automotive Chassis & Components at Tata Steel Nederland, states: “Thanks to the product optimizations we have made with HyperFlange, customers will experience less edge cracks, minimized material loss, and reduced production line interruptions, all of which contribute to increased productivity and efficiency in the press shops of car manufacturers.” Additionally, with the higher formability of the product, car designers can more confidently create thinner designs with HyperFlange, knowing that their designs can be manufactured reliably. As a result, parts become lighter, ultimately making the car more fuel efficient and improve driving characteristics.
SOURCE: Tata Steel
