AP&T first to produce line for hot forming of aluminum with HFQ

AP&T, with a U.S. location in Monroe, N.C., has developed what it says is the world’s first production line for hot forming of aluminum with the HFQ® (solution heat treatment, forming and in-die quenching) method. This technology enables one-step manufacturing of parts that have low weight, high strength, complex shapes, and high dimensional stability.

Cipco, a subsidiary of Impression Technologies Ltd., purchased the line.

"The new process allows high-strength aluminum alloys to be formed into complex geometries through the increased formability, with sharper bend radii and almost total elimination of springback,”said Dr. Christian Koroschetz, director technology development at AP&T.

Cipco will use the production line to manufacture lightweight parts for several British car manufacturers, as well as for continued development of the HFQ process. Production is expected to begin in Q2 2016.

The new method was developed at the Universities of Imperial College London and Birmingham and is being industrialized in LoCoLite, an EU FP7 project designed to develop technology to help car manufacturers reduce vehicle weight, energy consumption, and environmental impact.