Increasing Press Hardening Capacity Through Accelerated Infrasound Cooling

Together with the R&D team at Gestamp hardtech, Infrasonik developed a completely new cooling process for a press hardening process

Case Study Image

Client

Gestamp Hardtech

Industry

Automotive Components Manufacturing

Location

Luleå, Sweden

Engagement Duration

12 months

Challenges

The cooling window between furnace and press is extremely limited in both time and space. Conventional airflow systems struggle to generate sufficient and uniform heat transfer within such a compact section of the line.

Key requirements included:

  • Significant temperature reduction within ~1 meter
  • No mechanical interference with the line
  • Uniform cooling across the entire blank surface
  • No negative impact on material properties

The solution had to fit seamlessly into an already optimized high-speed production environment.

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THE SOLUTION

Infrasonik implemented high-intensity infrasound to actively enhance convective heat transfer in the transfer zone.

By generating particle velocities of up to 75 m/s, the infrasonic system intensified gas movement at the material surface, disrupting the thermal boundary layer and accelerating heat removal — without increasing mechanical airflow or adding complex moving components.

Unlike conventional air systems, the infrasonic field created:

  • Strong and uniform gas movement
  • Enhanced heat extraction within a compact space
  • Even cooling across the blank surface

This resulted in the development of a completely new cooling concept integrated into the transfer stage of the press hardening process.

Results

The collaboration demonstrated that infrasonic cooling in the transfer zone could:

  • Reduce blank temperature before entering the press
  • Lower thermal stress on press tools
  • Improve cooling uniformity
  • Support increased production capacity
  • Contribute to extended tool lifetime

Even cooling was a particularly important outcome, as temperature gradients can affect final material properties and process stability.

5-10%

Effective line capacity

20%

Longer tool life
Testimonial Image

Jakob Ronnhammar

Business Area Manager Cooling

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