Design and development
- At voestalpine Automotive Components Schwäbisch Gmünd, we support our customers with high-quality, economical solutions while meeting tightly defined schedules.
- Our technical service includes the improvement of existing production lines through the development of new tools and methods for pressing and body construction.
- We take on tool changes and the reintegration of modified tools into our production process.
- We are experts in simulation and engineering.
- In addition, we are capable of changing existing body construction systems through a new design, programming or production of robot cells.
Hot Forming
At the phs-center Schwäbisch Gmünd, we meet the highest quality requirements and provide complex solutions for the direct and indirect press hardening process. Thanks to the 5 phs lines we currently have at our location, we are able to offer our customers 3.5 million cycles annually.
- Complete provider for the hot forming of hot-dip galvanized strip steel
- phs-ultraform®—the ultimate standard in the automotive industry:
The phs-ultraform® hot forming technology developed and patented by voestalpine is a unique press hardening process for a special galvanized material. The resulting components combine all of the advantages offered by press-hardened steel along with excellent cathodic corrosion protection for optimized lightweight solutions.
- phs-directform®—a glimpse of the future:
The direct process optimizes hot forming with one-of-a-kind cathodic corrosion protection. We cover the entire range in the higher-strength / hot forming sector and also offer components produced by direct (galvanized or AlSi coating) and indirect (galvanized) process.
Presses
- 2 press lines (16,000-28,000 kN)
Table size up to 5000 x 2500 mm
Fully automatic, hydraulic
A exposed panels and structural parts made of steel and aluminum
Manufacturing capacity per line: 1.5 million cycles per year
Tool construction
voestalpine Automotive Components Schwäbisch Gmünd produces pressing tools in-house. We coordinate tool manufacturing for pressing tools made of steel and aluminum with our tool suppliers. For manufacturing pressing tools in-house, we have implemented simulation software for parts and have the capacities for tool production, various machines for manufacturing tools as well as milling machines. We also have different spotting presses for tool processing.
- Deep-drawing and cutting tools for exposed panel and structural parts made of steel and aluminum
Development and production of cooling tools
Tools up to 60 metric tons and dimensions 5,000 x 2,500 mm
Prototype production and pilot series
Giving our customers the best service is our highest priority. As a longtime partner to the automotive industry, we have the highest level of expertise, decades of experience and state-of-the-art technology in specialized areas of vehicle development that place strict requirements on the qualification, innovative ability and flexibility of our entire team.
Our core areas of expertise are in tooling, prototypes, concept, small series production and car body construction. Our machinery and the expertise of our employees enable us to complete orders all the way from the method to the creation of individual parts, right up to the complete assembly. Thanks to innovative measurement technology, we also guarantee the size accuracy of our projects.
Body construction / assembling
The assembly of press parts into complete components is another area of expertise of voestalpine Automotive Components Schwäbisch Gmünd. In the Assembly department, we assemble interior, exterior and structural parts into completed doors, engine hoods, trunk lids, etc. for a variety of our premium customers in the automotive industry.
Below are a few of the production processes and technologies we use to supply our customers with products of the highest quality:
- Press joining
- Sealing
- Welding
- Laser cutting
- Laser welding
- Flexible body construction cells
Solutions for alternative energies
Along with forming technology for manufacturing car body components, we also produce highly standardized and thus highly economical components for the solar industry at the Schwäbisch Gmünd location. For example, this includes housing components or roof-integrated photovoltaic installation systems.
The in-house development iFIX is an innovative carrier system for photovoltaic modules on flat-roofed buildings and consists of corrosion-protected sheet steel. It integrates PV module attachment, cable routing and wind shields with high aesthetic requirements.
- Fast installation thanks to integrated attachment elements
Low transport costs (200 iFIX systems per pallet)
Very low additional loads due to aerodynamic shape
Boundary layer wind tunnel assessment
