The next generation of press hardening die – faster and better

AP&T is at the forefront of press hardening die development. It was just a few years ago that the company constructed its first press hardening die. It is now on its third generation, with the fourth generation waiting in the wings.

There is rapid development in the press hardening sector to further sharpen the production method's competitive edge. Lower costs, shorter lead times and more effective cooling times are key areas, and AP&T works at an advanced level in these areas. By building up the die's base with standardized modules, the company has reduced lead times by 30-40 percent.

“The base of the die is fully designed, enabling us to jump right into designing the die surfaces. This reduces the design aspect of die manufacturing considerably,” says Johan Friberg, head of AP&T's tooling division.

Another area of improvement is the ability of the dies to evenly cool the entire part. AP&T's fourth generation of dies has therefore seen the introduction of Uniform Hardening Control – mechanically controlled forming tools that make it possible to apply press forces from the sides of the part. This makes cooling more uniform, improves part quality and reduces process time.

AP&T's modular die has advantages such as more efficient production and shorter lead times.