Sumitomo Metals Develops 3DQ Technology for High-tensile Auto Parts

Sumitomo Metal Industries and Sumitomo Pipe & Tube announced on Tuesday the companies developed a new technology of 3 Dimensional Hot Bending and Quench (3DQ), which enables production of automotive components with high-tensile strength at above 1,470 MPa by forming steel tube. The companies will advance collaborative development with automobile makers for commercial use of the technology, especially for weight saving of automobiles.

3DQ process is to quench steel tube by high-frequency coil and to shape steel tube into 3D geometry by movable roller-die. A die can move up, down, right and left to bend steel tube. Closed cross section structure in complex shape can be manufactured by one process.

Open section structural members are manufactured by a cold press process for below 980 MPa tensile strength and by a hot press process for above 1,470 MPa tensile strength. There hasn’t been a shaping measure for closed section member with above 1,470 MPa tensile strength. 3DQ technology enabled the process without welding and molding. In addition, springbuck by remnant stress is low thanks to the partial quench by 3DQ technology.

3DQ technology saves weight of closed section member by 30-50% and increases collision safety thanks to the combination of hot press quenching and hydro forming processes.