Gestamp is an international group that designs, develops and manufactures metal components and structural systems for the automotive industry. Gestamp Automotion manufactures to only the highest quality and safety standards, and expects its suppliers and partners like SSAB to have the same ambitions.
As part of its product offering, Gestamp produces a unique side-impact beam solution for a well-known car manufacturer, cold rolled in 1200 MPa steel. Gestamp agreed with SSAB to run a trial with Docol® 1400 M-EG steel for the same application. The result?
A side-impact beam that meets the same technical and quality standards, but with a lower weight and better cost efficiency by using Docol® 1400 M-EG. The manufacturing process ran smoothly with the same performance as for the cold-rolled 1200 MPa steel using the same settings during production without any problems. No investments were needed in order to use Docol® 1400 M-EG.
Top crash-test ratings at half the weight
The unique strength of Docol® AHSS increases the chances of obtaining the highest possible crash rating while reducing vehicle weight. Its best-in-class energy absorption and outstanding strength also provide many environmental benefits. In today’s market, this directly translates to greater competitiveness and higher sales.
Whether you are looking to change steel grades or begin using Docol® AHSS, you can be rewarded with weight reductions of up to 50 percent. And, you can reduce material consumption and cost through thinner grades of steel.
Here are some strong reasons why Docol® steel is optimal for producing side-impact beams:
- Docol® AHSS exhibits a pronounced yield strength increase of about 150 MPa or more after work-hardening and bake-hardening.
- Docol® AHSS exhibits a strain rate hardening effect. This effect corresponds to an increase of about 100 MPa at the high strain rates that are involved locally in a side crash.
- Using alternative materials like aluminum can require up to three times the thickness of Docol® AHSS in order to match its strength.
Cost savings with Docol® AHSS
Here is how you can lower your costs with Docol® AHSS:
- Use less material – thinner steel, same strength
- Use cold forming instead of expensive, hot-stamped boron
- Replace aluminum and other materials for better cost efficiency
- Simplify production processes
- Retain current production machinery
- Recycle materials
- Reduce overall cost of final product