Schuler receives order for 100th hot stamping line

In 1993 Germany-based Schuler delivered the first three hot stamping lines—a brand-new method at the time—to automobile manufacturer Ford. Schuler has announced it now has sold the 100th hot stamping line to an automotive supplier in China.

The hot stamping method involves heating sheet steel blanks to 930 degrees and cooling them during forming. It was developed initially to improve passenger safety in vehicles. Today the method helps reduce vehicle weight while maintaining safety requirements. Because press-hardened components have a greater tensile strength than cold-formed, high-strength steels, the use of material can be reduced, thus making the components lighter.