Tailor-welded blanks bring multiple benefits to car design

Describes the development of laser welded tailored blanks and the benefits they bring to car design. One of the principle advantages is weight reduction, which steel makers have seized on to counteract the "threat" from aluminium and have invested in a number of laser welding facilities. One of these lines, at Laser Welded Blanks (LWB) in the UK West Midlands and supplied by VIL, is described in detail. The system features the VIL-developed and patented edge preparation station (EPS) that incorporates a precision shear. In this way, the mating edges of the pieces are prepared with the close fit-up needed to produce high quality blanks and allow welding at high speed. The VIL system, which is limited to linear welds, is contrasted with the more complex non-linear system developed by some manufacturers.