An apparatus (40) for forming a profiled article (46) comprises: a forming path (41) through which a blank of deformable material to be formed into the profiled article passes; a pair of complementary and opposing body forming die members (45, 45) adapted to travel along the forming path (41); and a drive (44, 44) that facilitates travel of the body forming die members (45, 45) along the forming path (41), wherein the pair of body forming die members (45, 45) is adapted to act on the blank of deformable material independently to form a desired profile on the blank. Locating elements (75) that locate the blanks may be provided. A method of forming material is also provided. Further, there is provided a length of deformable material for use with the apparatus.

An apparatus (40) for forming a profiled article (46) comprises: a forming path (41) through which a blank of deformable material to be formed into the profiled article passes; a pair of complementary and opposing body forming die members (45, 45) adapted to travel along the forming path (41); and a drive (44, 44) that facilitates travel of the body forming die members (45, 45) along the forming path (41), wherein the pair of body forming die members (45, 45) is adapted to act on the blank of deformable material independently to form a desired profile on the blank. Locating elements (75) that locate the blanks may be provided. A method of forming material is also provided. Further, there is provided a length of deformable material for use with the apparatus.

A method for the production of a closed hollow profile for a vehicle axle including the following steps: a) provision of a board made out of a sheet of metal, wherein the board has at least a length in a longitudinal direction and at least a width in a transverse direction, b) forming of the board, creating an open profile with a channel running in a longitudinal direction of the board, c) forming the lateral surfaces of the board, creating a hollow profile with a circumference and a longitudinal gap and d) joining together the longitudinal gap.

An outer panel includes a ridgeline and a surface portion adjacent to both sides of the ridgeline on an outer surface. The outer panel has a sheet thickness of less than 0.6 mm and an attainable yield stress of 360 MPa or more. The surface portion includes an adjacent region adjacent to the ridgeline and a separation region adjacent to the adjacent region on an opposite side of the ridgeline. Evaluations of surface properties of the adjacent region and the separation region are consistent with each other.

A press forming apparatus includes a first die set and a second die set that are in positions to face each other in a press direction and perform relative movement in the press direction. The first die set includes a first support surface and a punch portion that protrudes from the first support surface. The second die set includes a press surface disposed so as to be out of position from a position to face the punch portion in the press direction, and a wall surface that is continuous with the press surface. When viewed from the second die set side in the press direction, the punch portion includes a side surface that faces the wall surface and that includes an opening opened on the wall surface side. At a forming bottom dead center of the relative movement between the first die set and the second die set in the press direction, the wall surface faces the side surface of the punch portion.

A method for manufacturing a rollforming frame includes: forming a first vertical wall and a first horizontal wall connected to each other at two opposite ends of a to-be-machined plate; rolling and bending the first horizontal wall to form a stepped bent structure; rolling and bending the first horizontal wall to form a second vertical wall, a second horizontal wall, and a third horizontal wall; rolling and bending the second horizontal wall to form a third vertical wall and a fourth horizontal wall; rolling and bending the third horizontal wall to form a fourth vertical wall and a fifth horizontal wall; rolling and bending one end of the fifth horizontal wall away from the fourth vertical wall to form a connecting edge and a sixth horizontal wall; rolling and bending the sixth horizontal wall to form a fifth vertical wall and a seventh horizontal wall.

A method for manufacturing a rollforming frame includes: forming a first vertical wall and a first horizontal wall connected to each other at two opposite ends of a to-be-machined plate; rolling and bending the first horizontal wall to form a stepped bent structure; rolling and bending the first horizontal wall to form a second vertical wall, a second horizontal wall, and a third horizontal wall; rolling and bending the second horizontal wall to form a third vertical wall and a fourth horizontal wall; rolling and bending the third horizontal wall to form a fourth vertical wall and a fifth horizontal wall; rolling and bending one end of the fifth horizontal wall away from the fourth vertical wall to form a connecting edge and a sixth horizontal wall; rolling and bending the sixth horizontal wall to form a fifth vertical wall and a seventh horizontal wall.