Tailor-welded blanks are on the rise

Tailor-welded blanks are steel strips of varying thicknesses and strengths, cut to custom sizes (blanks), and welded together to form a single tailored blank that is pressed as a single unit to form a component. The complete side panel of the ULSAB is manufactured from tailored blanks of this kind.

Their use enables designers to select exactly the right thickness and steel grade required. This advanced process entails major advantages, since it enables designers to incorporate the same number of functions within a smaller number of components. Weight savings are possible because the designer can leave out material that does not contribute to structural characteristics of the vehicle. The average medium-class car weighs therefore 25% less.



Nowadays, European designers typically integrate on average four laser-welded tailored blanks into each car design.

The production line for laser-welded blanks on the premises of ArcelorMittal Gent uses powerful CO2 lasers that allow steel strips to be welded together at economically interesting paces. By using a moving welding head, not only singular but also plural straight and curved lines can be welded. Because a laser produces an almost invisible weld, this technique is perfect to weld exposed components of a car body.

 




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