Kirchhoff Automotive
Joining of the two materials by spot or laser welding to a patch board
Austenitisation of the patched blank in the roller hearth furnace
Forming and press hardening of the patched blank into a B-pillar
A 2D (patch) circuit board does not require complex 3D joining
Austenitizing eliminates hardness, residual stresses and heat-affected zones in the weld spots
Only one press hardening tool is required for the patched board
Weight advantage of approx. 10-12% for the same or better performance
