New Trends in Forging Technologies

Limited natural resources increase the demand on highly efficient machinery and transportation means. New energy‐saving mobility concepts call for design optimisation through downsizing of components and choice of corrosion resistant materials possessing high strength to density ratios. Component downsizing can be performed either by constructive structural optimisation or by substituting heavy materials with lighter high‐strength ones. In this context, forging plays an important role in manufacturing load‐optimised structural components. At the Institute of Metal Forming and Metal‐Forming Machines (IFUM) various innovative forging technologies have been developed. With regard to structural optimisation, different strategies for localised reinforcement of components were investigated. Locally induced strain hardening by means of cold forging under a superimposed hydrostatic pressure could be realised. In addition, controlled martensitic zones could be created through forming induced phase conversion in me...