Salzgitter Flachstahl shows its colors itself at Eurocarbody 2012

Eurocarbody in Bad Nauheim is an annual benchmarking conference at which car body experts present their latest vehicles and measure themselves against the participating experts. A total of 550 experts from the automotive and supply industries from 24 different countries guaranteed an intensive information exchange in the field of material lightweight construction and manufacturing technology. Eight different bodies were presented, including from the new Audi A3, Ford Mondeo and the BMW 3 Series.

Salzgitter Flachstahl and Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH took this opportunity to present themselves and selected products in the framework of the accompanying exhibition for the first time.

The exhibition focused on the following main topics:

• HSD®, a hot-performance steel material that is in development. HSD® (High Strength and Ductility steel) has a high manganese content with added aluminum and silicon. The mechanical and technical properties of HSD® set it significantly apart from conventional high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. Manufactured with the innovative BCT® (belt-casting technology) process, it is both extremely strong and very tensile. These remarkable characteristics of HSD® steel offer considerable potential for weight reduction, preferably on components stressed during crashes. HSD® furthermore cuts costs by replacing high-priced materials. The excellent forming characteristics of HSD® steels allow a reduction in manufacturing steps and consequently a reduction in process costs. 

• StronSal®, an innovative corrosion protection coating with a zinc-magnesium basis. StronSal® makes it possible to reduce the zinc coating thickness while maintaining the same corrosion protection properties. This coating thickness reduction makes it possible to save larger quantities of zinc during production, thereby making important contributions to resource conservation. 

• SZBS600 and SZB800 higher strength bainitic hot-rolled strip and their use in car chassis. The advantages of these bainitic hot-rolled strip steels from Salzgitter are their very good formability, weldability and fatigue properties with respect to strength. They offer an ideal combination of the high elastic limit of higher strength, microalloyed steels and the good formability of dual phase steels. Light-weight construction can be achieved by replacing the conventional sheet metal materials with bainitic steels.
   
• and tailored welded blank from hot-dip galvanized dual phase steel. 

"Eurocarbody was a complete success. We were able to hold many interesting discussions with experts from the OEM and supplier areas," reports Sven Schulz, head of the Automobile area at the Salzgitter Flachstahl Technical Customer Advisory Service. "The HSD® and bainitic steels particularly attracted great interest." The body of the Mercedes SL beat out the Audi A3 body for the Eurocarbody Award.