Product pages available in
EN - DE - FR - ES
A patch is a piece of steel which is welded directly to a ‘mother’ blank before stamping. The steel grade and/or the thickness of the patch can differ from that of the mother blank.
Using a patch enables OEMs to tailor a specific area of a final component. For example, a patched blank can cost-effectively improve a vehicle’s crash performance.
Patched blanks are ideal for managing energy absorption and are already helping automakers to meet crash test requirements.
An example of a patched blank before stamping
Patched blanks provide a localised solution to improve the behaviour of a part and avoid the risk of failure. By using a patch made from a different grade or thickness to the mother blank, the properties of the final assembly can be tailored very precisely.
That gives OEMs a high degree of flexibility. For example, patches of different grades or thicknesses can be used for different versions of a vehicle. In this way, OEMs can use the same part design for a battery electric version and a plug-in hybrid version of the same vehicle.
Using patches also enables OEMs to reduce the number of tools required. The nesting of blanks for different vehicles models can be optimised using the same cutting die.
The total cost of the part is reduced significantly thanks to these advantages. As the stamping operation is done in just one stroke for both the part and reinforcement, cycle time is also reduced.
The patch and mother blank can be created from different steels and thicknesses to optimise part performance
Patched blanks provide flexible solutions for all types of vehicles, particularly when they are combined with laser welded blanks.
ArcelorMittal has built a new patch line at its Tailored Blanks plant in Liège (Belgium) to make patch technology more widely available to the global automotive industry. The line can handle almost all automotive steels including ArcelorMittal’s latest press hardenable steels (PHS). This enlarges the portfolio of options ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks can offer OEMs, ensuring we are ready to meet the automotive industry challenges ahead.
Watch the video to see how the new patch line works:
In a rapidly evolving automotive industry, flexibility wins. ArcelorMittal Multi Part Integration® (MPI) maximises automotive manufacturers’ ability to adapt through the power of less: less parts, less process, less floor space, less time, less materials, less CO2 and less assembly cost.
Harness the strength of steel and the power of less.
For the transition to electric vehicles to be fully successful, carmakers must increase efforts to extend range, reduce cost, and enhance safety. A new S-in motion® study from ArcelorMittal reveals that advanced high strength steels (AHSS) solutions are the best choice to achieve this revolution in mobility at an affordable cost. The first part of this study focuses on battery pack solutions.
ArcelorMittal has been working with automakers for years to co-engineer steel solutions that address safety, strength and fuel economy concerns in the most cost-effective way. ArcelorMittal offers an array of lightweight steel solutions and has seen tremendous growth and evolution of its door ring solution, co-engineered with Honda R&D Americas.
The automotive landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by the electrification of vehicles and the emergence of new market players. As carmakers navigate the complexities of balancing internal combustion engine (ICE) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) production, ArcelorMittal’s Multi Part Integration® (MPI) offers a transformative approach. This white paper discusses how MPI technology helps streamline automotive manufacturing, reduce the number of parts, and achieve significant CO2 savings—all while meeting stringent performance standards for safety and lightweighting.
For the past four years, ArcelorMittal's XCarb® initiative has been shaping the future of sustainable steel in the automotive industry. Through pioneering advancements and strategic collaborations, XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel has played a critical role in reducing the carbon footprint of vehicles while maintaining the highest standards of safety and performance.
Video: ArcelorMittal and TRUMPF collaborate to revolutionise automotive manufacturing with precise laser-cutting technology. This partnership combines ArcelorMittal’s expertise in advanced automotive steel with TRUMPF’s cutting-edge laser technology, enabling the precise shaping of laser-welded, hot-stamped MPI parts for modern vehicle design.
David Clarke, ArcelorMittal’s head of strategy and chief technology officer, highlights the impact materials have on our planet, and how are we to mitigate the risks, while responding to the global demand for steel.
ArcelorMittal offers a full range of coatings to protect our steels for automotive applications. Many have been developed by ArcelorMittal’s Global R&D teams to meet the unique conditions found in automotive vehicles.
To prove the validity of the MPI concept, teams from ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks and ArcelorMittal Global R&D have developed a new LWB H-Frame solution for the rear of an SUV vehicle. The S-in motion® SUV was used as the basis for the design.
ArcelorMittal’s third generation of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) have been specifically developed for OEMs who utilize cold stamping and forming technologies. Significant weight savings can be realized thanks to their excellent mechanical properties.
Zagnelis® coatings have been specially designed to add a stage in vehicle corrosion protection, while meeting vehicle manufacturers' specifications: drawing, welding properties etc. In particular, they offer corrosion resistance far superior to that provided by traditional zinc-based coatings. The presence of magnesium in the coating promotes the formation of compact corrosion products highly stable over time, thereby substantially reducing coating consumption dynamics and enhancing edge protection.
Zagnelis® coatings also offer excellent drawability performance due to outstanding tribological properties for a zinc-based coating.
ArcelorMittal is proud to spotlight its collaboration with Renault, and its contribution to the innovative Renault Emblème project, a demo car designed to meet the challenges of low-carbon mobility. This collaboration demonstrates how the automotive and steel industries can unite to achieve ambitious decarbonisation goals, showcasing a reduction of CO₂ emissions compared to conventional steelmaking by as much as 69%.