Voestalpine Automotive Components Cartersville Inc.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Voestalpine Metal Forming Gmbh

Wilhelm Weinmeister

Markus Pfestorf

Hemanth Krishna Chinmaya

A method and a device for heating a sheet metal blank or a formed sheet metal component above the austenitization temperature for the purpose of quench hardening, wherein the dew point of the furnace atmosphere is set to &#x2212;15&#xb0; C. to 15&#xb0; C., preferably to &#x2212;10&#xb0; C. to 10&#xb0; C., in particular for the formation of a loosely adhering oxide skin, for controlling an oxide skin on the sheet metal or component coated with a metallic corrosion protection layer or an uncoated sheet metal or component.

Method and device for heating a steel blank for hardening purposes

There is disclosed methods and apparatus for detecting contamination on cold-formed steel parts prior to subsequent press-hardening in which such contamination may be problematic, and also for detecting contamination on cold-forming machinery that might be transferred to cold-formed steel parts during cold-forming. In some aspects, the disclosure also relates to methods and apparatus for detecting splits or cracks in cold-formed steel parts prior to subsequent press-hardening. The methods and apparatus make use of ultraviolet light to detect contamination or to detect splits or cracks.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Wilhelm Weinmeister