The cover says March 2005. One hundred years from now, someone may come across this issue of MetalPorming, page through it and view it as a snapshot of our industry in March of 2005. In fact, this issue may well describe the metalforming industry in 2015. An example is the article on warm forming, a hydroforming-like process that employs warmed gas and tooling that one day may enable production of cars and trucks with aluminum and magnesium shapes that rival those produced via steel stock. Work done now in the lab may yield lighter, stronger, more fuel-efficient cars on the road. I've learned that a process very similar to this has already produced aluminum liftgates for some GM SUVs, which bodes well for the success of this technology. Another article describes the efforts of steelmakers, automotive OEMs, researchers and other concerned parties to develop and commercialize new breeds of stronger, lighter more-formable steels. These steels already have penetrated the market and their proponents are feverishly working to flatten the learning curve for designers and metalformers. These stories describe today's efforts, but are just as much about what will come tomorrow.
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