Lightweight Forging Initiative

19 February 2016

Weight saving in massively formed steel components

According to strict EU restrictions, the automotive manufacturers in Europe must reduce their average CO2 emissions values of their fleets of vehicles to values of < 95g per kilometer by the year 2020. Lightweight construction is the most important instrument in achieving this by reducing both by the emissions and the fuel consumption of a vehicle. But which massively formed steel components are actually fitted in a modern passenger car and how can they be optimized regarding to lightweight construction? 

In order to answer these questions, in 2013, the “Lightweight Forging Initiative” was initiated under the management of the steel institute VDEh and the industrial association for massive forming (IMU). Within the context of this globally unique, pre-competitive joint project between German steel manufacturers and companies specializing in massive forming, two vehicles –a passenger car and a light utility vehicle, were analysed as to their lightweight construction potential of the drive train and chassis. The consortium, to which Saarstahl AG also belongs, developed ideas for weight saving in massively formed steel components through measures regarding the material, deforming technology and design.

The Lightweight Forging studies that have meanwhile been concluded, will be scientifically supported by five R&D projects in 2018 that are subsidized to a total of more than four million euro. Here, too, Saarstahl AG is providing support with innovative ideas to develop even more high-performance steels for future automotive construction in cooperation with the consortium and the academic research partners.

More details on the “Lightweight Forging Initiative”, the results of the Lightweight Forging studies and the research consortium “Massive Lightweight Construction”.