Hot forming processes remain a remarkable feat in the mechanical industry. There are many of them, all designed to shape the material while giving it specific metallurgical properties. The parts produced in this way offer greater strength than those made using other methods and are well suited to further operations such as machining and heat treatment, meeting the most demanding requirements.
At NTN Transmissions Europe Crézancy, we develop optimized hot forging processes known as ‘Netshape’, designed to fully transform the billet with no material loss. We use screw presses, precise machines that ensure tight tolerances (±0.5 mm), energy efficiency, and high flexibility with the right level of automation. Heating is carried out by electric induction, helping reduce our carbon footprint compared with gas-fired furnaces, while temperature and controlled cooling are selected according to the steel grades used and the properties required.
Metal grain flow: the internal structure of the metal is organized into fibers that follow the material flow and the stresses applied to the part.
The grain flow created through forging gives the part improved properties in these directions, particularly better fatigue resistance under alternating and repeated loads. This is known as beneficial anisotropy.
