Steel Story Growing Use of Newer High-Strength Steels Could Mean Changes for the Press Industry

"High-strength steels also have very high springback characteristics. Servofoming minimizes springback because the press can be programmed for multiple restrikes at bottom dead center."

"A change is gonna come…" Sam Cooke's haunting lyrics from 1964 could be a rallying cry—or a song of lament—depending on one's perspective. From the impact of the Affordable Care Act on major medical plans to Microsoft's announcement it will no longer provide service and support for Windows XP, change could be considered the year's new watchword. A growing trend in the metalfoming industry also could mark a significant change for fabricators. A ramp-up in sales for mechanical direct-drive ServoFormers may signal eventual obsolescence for the standard mechanical press, says Bob Southwell, vice president of sales and marketing for AIDA-America.