Semisolid Forging of 250 Automotive Spindles of S48C Steel

Nowadays, globalisation enables a rapid uptake of the classical manufacturing technologies. In order to remain competitive and fulfil the global trend of reduction of emissions, innovative production processes that reduce the energy and raw material consumption should arise. Semisolid forging (SSF) is one of those techniques with great potential to fulfil those requirements maintaining the high quality of the components. Thus, the objective of this work is twofold: to produce a complex geometry part saving material and energy using the off-the-shelf S48C steel grade, and to demonstrate the capability of the process to produce a pre-series of 250 components without excessive tooling damage.