When Baosteel, China’s largest steel supplier, decided to develop professional press hardening technology for its own purposes, they turned to AP&T for equipment and process expertise. Together, the companies developed a complete press hardening process that Baosteel will use when developing future production solutions for the automotive industry.

The automotive industry’s focus on combining weight savings with increased impact safety has generated great interest in press hardening as a manufacturing method. This method makes it possible to manufacture components that are both low in weight and have an extremely good ability to absorb energies thanks to a hardening process that makes the material up to three times stronger than standard steel. The potential of creating high-quality components with high strength at an attractive price has gotten the ball rolling.

Partner with the whole package
AP&T was contacted by steel giant Baosteel, who was in search of a partner with expertise on the entire press hardening process – from blank feeding, heating and press feeding to press hardening and ejection. Baosteel contacted and evaluated many suppliers, but in the end they put their faith in AP&T.

Good references important
“We had limited experience in press hardening and needed a partner who has knowledge of the process and can deliver a turnkey solution,” explains Dr. Xu, head researcher at Baosteel.
“AP&T also had several press hardening projects under their professional belt with many good references to show for it. That was important to us.”