Spezialstähle in Green Steel Qualität braucht die Automobilindustrie
It is not just about the production of low-CO2 drives, but also about the requirements for ever lighter, safer and more comfortable vehicles with alternative drives.
With its special steels, the Swiss Steel Group is helping to successfully master these increasingly pressing challenges.
In the production of automobiles, manufacturers and designers must be able to rely on the versatility and performance of the material for components and systems. It must be produced with low CO² emissions and the material must also be affordable. The Swiss steelmakers deliver. The Swiss Steel Group produces consistently high-quality, reliable and customer-specific solutions for engine components, high-pressure pumps, exhaust systems, chassis components, hydraulic and pneumatic systems and airbags.pneumatic systems and airbags.
Steel expertise for the automotive industry
Green steel and lightweight construction are the order of the day when it comes to reducing the fuel consumption of conventional drive systems or optimizing the range of electric vehicles. The Swiss Steel Group has a solution for automotive suppliers for all special applications - the perfect steel.
The Swiss Steel Group with its plants, Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, Ugitech, Steeltec and Sorel, is one of the leading developers and suppliers of engineering steel, stainless steel and tool steel. The company's own research and development departments are in regular contact with customers, have their ear to the market and are helping to shape the future of automotive engineering thanks to innovative solutions.
When it comes to lightweight components, for example, the innovative Bainidur 1300 from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke can be used to produce sophisticated forged parts cost-effectively. This bainitic material can be processed without distortion and with only a small amount of machining added, without any further complex process steps. The use of this material makes it easier for the manufacturer to produce parts of consistently high quality without additional tempering and without the risk of distortion. And this also applies to large-format components (> 60 mm round).
Less testing required for manufactured parts
The Bainidur 1300 allows a large process window with regard to temperature control during forging and cooling. The bainitic microstructure and the properties of the component can be reliably adjusted, reducing the amount of testing required for manufactured parts.
"The material is the ideal solution for highly stressed parts and at the same time significantly reduces the amount of material used compared to conventional steel, with comparable load values," emphasizes the Head of Technology & Quality at Deutsche Edelstahlwerke of the Swiss Steel Group.
Bar steel is already installed in almost every vehicle today: up to 300 kg of engineering steel and up to 10 kg of stainless steel, because every weight saving thanks to innovative products means lower fuel consumption, greater range and, above all, conservation of resources.
When it comes to demanding applications
The heat-resistant steel Thermodur® 2383 Supercool from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, for example, ensures shorter cycle times in the production of sheet metal components such as the B-pillar: used for press hardening tools, Thermodur® combines hot forming and heat treatment - significantly reducing process costs.
The plastic mold steel SF-2000® LQ40 from Sorel Forge is characterized by excellent purity. This makes it highly polishable: This gives headlight lenses a crystal-clear surface and allows them to be reproduced in high quality over the long term.
The HSX® 90 steel from Steeltec ensures that the airbag sleeve can be welded within a very short time to prevent the propellant from escaping. What's more, the high-strength special steel can withstand enormous pressure until the airbag is deployed.
Splitasco XS for lighter and stronger connecting rods
Ascometal develops and supplies its Splitasco HC steel grade very successfully. With this grade, Ascometal has launched a steel grade on the market that the company developed in close cooperation with a specialist in connecting rod production. The new steel grade enables a further improvement for connecting rods in lightweight construction and a higher load transmission.
Splitasco XS meets two key customer requirements, namely maximum compressive load without plastic deformation and increased fatigue strength. Compared to the standard grade C70, the compressive yield strength is increased by 110 % and the fatigue strength by more than 60 %. These very high application properties can significantly reduce the weight of the manufactured parts.
Outstanding mechanical properties
As a bainitic steel grade, the mechanical properties of the parts produced with Splitasco XS are achieved without quenching, which prevents distortion of the components. In addition, by optimizing the chemical composition, a completely bainitic structure can be achieved with regard to different cooling rates. This means that connecting rods weighing several kilograms can be produced with the same mechanical properties as smaller ones weighing just 500 grams.