EVERY once in a while a revolutionary, disruptive technology comes along, and it's only a matter of time until it displaces its predecessor. An obvious example is the light bulb, which put an end to gas lamps. On the other hand, many technologies don't take over, but gain a foothold in an industry, grow to fill a niche, and then coexist with other technologies. Hydroforming is one example. Hydroformed parts won't displace stamped parts or stamped-and-welded assemblies, but for some components, the hydroforming process delivers a better part more efficiently than a conventional process can.
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