Posco recently completed construction of its state-of-the-art Hydroforming Plant for the integrated support system for automotive steel plates.

Launched last June with a total investment of 45 billion KRW, the plant is equipped with a hydroforming press, pre-performing press, laser cutting machine, a bending machine that curves the tube as desired to enable the production of more than 1 million hydroforming parts a year.

As the parts are processed all at once, welding can be limited to the smallest parts. In the case of the engine cradle that supports the engine, the initial cost is reduced by 15%, and the weight can be reduced by as much as 25 to 30%. All hydroformed parts have equal thickness and strength, as the hydro-pressure is evenly distributed throughout the tube. The new technology is expected to greatly improve the competency of automotive companies.

Posco will supply about 100,000 hydroforming parts to Renault Samsung Motors, GM DAEWOO Auto & Technology, Ssangyong Motor, and China's Chongqing Chicheng through the end of this year.

At the request of Renault Samsung Motors, Posco began normal operations for one of its lines last February, in order to provide the car manufacturer with 2,400 pieces of hydroforming parts.