THE growth in hydroforming use has slowed as automakers and part suppliers, particularly in the automotive industry, are taking a step back to examine manufacturing options in an effort to determine the most efficient, cost-effective process. Some even have reverted to stamping and welding formerly hydroformed parts. Rationalization such as this is good and healthy for both customers and suppliers to ensure the technology is applied sensibly. By looking at how the industry got to this point, we can get a sense of where it's headed. Tube hydroforming is used to make many different parts more efficiently and has evolved over the last 20 years. The most common and highest-profile applications have been in the automotive industry. Structural components perhaps are the most touted hydroformed parts because of the benefits derived from hydroforming them, such as increased performance, weight reduction, and cost reduction, all of which are important.
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