Abstract: A method for producing hardened steel components is provided. Sheet bars are cut out from an alloy-galvanized strip made of a hardenable steel alloy and the sheet bars are heated to a temperature that produces a structural change to austenite, preferably to a temperature above the respective Ac3 point. The austenitized sheet bars are then conveyed to a press hardening tool in which the sheet bars are hot formed in a single stroke or multiple strokes by means of an upper and lower tool, wherein the formed sheet bar is cooled against the tools at a speed above the critical cooling rate so that a martensitic hardening occurs.After the galvanization, which can be hot-dip galvanization of the steel strip and before the temperature increase for achieving the austenitization, tin is applied to the surface of the strip or sheet bar.

Abstract: A method for producing hardened steel components is provided. A sheet bar is cut from a galvanized strip made of a hardenable steel alloy. The sheet bar is cold-formed into a component blank and heated to a temperature that produces a structural change to austenite. The austenitized component blank is conveyed to a form hardening tool and is held in a form-fitting manner by an upper tool and lower tool, which have a shape essentially corresponding to that of the component blank. Due to the contact of the material of the component blank with the tools, the heat is removed from the steel material quickly enough that a martensitic hardening occurs. After the galvanization of the metal strip and before the temperature increase for achieving the austenitization, tin is applied to the surface of the strip, sheet blank, or component blank.