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Posco Completes High Durability Automotive Parts Plant

03/01/2006 -  

March 2006 — Posco recently completed its customized automotive flats/parts plant at Gwangyang Works, a new facility that is designed to make further contribution toward its customers with high-durability and lightweight steels.

Posco added a Hydroforming Plant (HF) for stainless steel exhaust systems and small parts to its two existing Hydroforming facilities, which were completed in 2005.

Hydroforming technology is a recent technology in which liquid is inserted under high pressure to make complex automotive parts.

Using this technology, complex automotive parts have consistent thickness and durability.

Posco started mass-producing its Hydroform parts and supplied about 170,000 parts to GM Daewoo Motors, Renault Samsung Motors, Ssangyong Motors, Changan Motor of China, and others.

Posco will produce up to 300,000 parts in 2006.

Posco’s new Hot Press Formation Plant will mold steel flats at high temperatures — above 900 — and will cool them rapidly to produce highly durable 150- to 200-kg automotive parts. The plant is capable of producing up to million automotive parts a year.

Today’s automotive industry requires more lightweight and durable automotive parts for higher mileage per gallon and greater safety. Molding high-durability materials into desired forms presents special challenges, as they tend to retain their original shapes after processing. Posco’s Hot Press Formation technology is specifically designed to combat this natural tendency.

With its new facility, Posco installed a large-capacity furnace to heat the iron to the desired temperature, a press to mold the iron into desired forms, a piercing machine for assembly after molding, and a laser cutter to cut out unnecessary parts.

Posco made it possible to provide total solutions for automotive steels and parts along with Tailor Welded Blanks (TWB) with the addition of its Hot Press Formation Plant. Posco is expected to increase its reputation as an automotive parts maker by meeting customer needs for high durability and light weight.