Research and development
Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH is the central research company of the Salzgitter Group. Employing about 300 members of staff active at 8 main departments at the Salzgitter and Duisburg locations, SZMF conducts extensive, in-depth research and development work revolving around the material steel.
Services of Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH within the Initiative Automotive:
Application Technology (ESA)
From megatrends to marketable products
Engineering and simulation
- Analysis and prognosis regarding material trends
- Lightweight construction /resource efficiency studies
- Customer support (concept, FEM, prototypes, series production launch)
- Provision of FE material cards including new or optimized material characteristics for improved simulation quality
Metal forming
- Analysis and optimization of existing as well as conceptual design of new forming sequences and processes
- Materials characterization to describe the formability characteristics – from standardized test and inspection methods to component tests close to field conditions
- Development of new methods for expanded material description
Joining technology
- Selection, optimization and further development of all common industrial plate joining procedures
- Determination of characteristics related to joining (static/cyclic/sudden)
- Consultancy on joining mixed joints and hybrid materials
- Component testing
Surface Technology (ESO)
Customer-specific development of metallic and organic surface coating systems
Chemical surface treatment
- Development of powerful, in-process analysis methods for chemical surface treatments
- Evaluation of the corrosion and weathering performance using standardized or customer-specific testing
- Analysis of failure cases regarding corrosion of coated metallic materials and coating damage
Metallic coatings
- Development and introduction of new coating systems, e.g., for the automotive, household appliance and construction industries (see StronSal®MC)
- Consultancy for customers on the use of coated products
- Development of strategy for applications, corrosion protection and processing
Organic coatings
- Development of organic coatings with improved application characteristics
- Optimization of coating and post- treatment processes for production plants
- Release testing using technical delivery specifications
Material and Process Development (ESW)
Development of innovative hot and cold-rolled strip grades and the processes necessary for them
Materials characterization
- Powerful metallography and metallurgy (LOM, FE-REM, EBSD, microprobe, XRD, AFM)
- Examinations for materials development, releases, complaints and failure analyses
- Non-destructive material testing in accordance with EN 473 and support in the use of online metrology
Process analysis and numerical simulation
- Analysis of process and quality data spanning multiple areas (statistics, data mining)
- Modeling and numerical simulation of materials and processes
New materials and technology
- Market and customer focused steel type design
- Design and adaptation of innovative manufacturing procedures
- Experimental simulation of all materials and processes relevant for strip steel
- Review and consultation with respect to fire resistant materials
