The development of the stamping process in the automotive industry

The automotive stamping process is one of the most important and time-consuming steps in automotive manufacturing. The automobile mainframe includes four major processes: stamping, welding, coating and general. Among them, the stamping process can be basically divided into the parts of drawing, punching, trimming and shaping. Depending on the structural characteristics and complexity of different parts as well as the process characteristics of the vehicle company, the forming process varies from 4 to 6 course sequences. With the continuous development of the automotive industry, the stamping process is also being optimised and upgraded.

Firstly, there is automation. Automation in the form of robots, automated guided vehicles and other machines will reduce the need for manual labour, resulting in faster production, more precision and fewer errors, and a better grasp of precision and quality throughout the stamping process. At present, the stamping line with the highest production speed is the German servo press line, with a continuous production speed of up to 17 times/minute for the whole line, while the domestic Jiji line can also reach 13 times/minute, which means lower production costs and higher profits. So 17 times/minute is certainly not the limit, and the future will certainly be towards higher production efficiency. At the same time, as consumers' personalisation needs become stronger and stronger, model changes are becoming more and more frequent, so the future of mould flexibility. Low cost is the main direction of development in the future.

In addition, the speed and efficiency of stamping processes will increase in the future. new technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting will enable more precise and faster production, less scrap consumption and, above all, greater flexibility, meaning that moulds can be dispensed with and individualised. This will allow manufacturers to produce parts quickly, reducing waiting times and enabling faster turnaround times. In addition, advances in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software will make the design process faster and more accurate. This will help to reduce errors, thus saving time and money.

Not only that, but the emergence of disruptive technologies has also inspired the stamping process. Carbon fibre bodies and wheels are already being used on high-end luxury cars, which in itself is a material change from the usual sheet steel and aluminium, and so the forming process is moving beyond stamping.