Automotive veterans with more than a couple of decades of experience likely remember the wave of hydroforming that swept over the industry in the 1990s. Because hydroformed assemblies often have fewer parts, less weight, and more strength than conventional assemblies of stamped components, hydroforming earned a spot at the forefront of automotive manufacturing technology-a position it holds to this day. Reducing the weight and increasing the strength help automakers meet fuel efficiency and safety targets, while reducing the overall part count helps offset the slower cycle time of a hydroforming press (compared to a stamping press).
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