The Forma0 project, led by SEAT S.A. and managed by the CTM Centre Tecnològic foundation, has done research on high strength steels that will allow vehicles to be lighter and safer, use less fuel with emissions, and be more resistant to impact.
The Technology Center AIMEN, based in the Pontrevedra city of Porriño, has participated in the Forma0 project together with 13 other companies and another 4 research centers.
Forma0 had been in operation for 4 years, being brought to a close last November 3rd by the Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, in SEAT, S.A.’s facilities in Martorell (Barcelona). The project was focused on research into new materials and manufacturing processes in order to make components from advanced high strength steels (AHSS), mainly for the automotive industry. The research on high strength steels aims to make vehicles that are lighter and safer; further, they will be able to use less fuel and produce lower emissions due to their lighter weight, as well as having improved resistance to impact.
Forma0 has generated a significant amount of technical and research milestones, that have manifested themselves in 678 internal and deliverable technical reports, 49 publications in conferences (30 international conferences and 19 domestic), specialized magazines and 2 patents. In the course of the project numerous forming processes have been optimized (hot stamping, deep drawing and cold cutting, profiling, laser soldering, laser forming and metal spinning, among others), positioning the industrial and technological partners at the European vanguard for the construction of light and high strength components for the automotive industry. New experimental technologies were also developed, that facilitate technological transfer from the laboratory to industry.
The participation of AIMEN in the Forma0 consortium has permitted building up knowledge revolving around the use of laser processes and different soldering processes, as well as the description of materials and coatings at the micro and nanoscopic levels.