Abstract: A process for producing hollow composite members, comprising the steps of: providing an outer material layer; providing a tubular supporting member within the outer layer; initially plastically expanding the supporting member to produce a connection between the outer layer and the supporting member; and subsequently plastically expanding the supporting member in a central region while simultaneously axially shortening the supporting member, so that a tensile prestress is generated in the circumferential direction and a compressive prestress is generated in the longitudinal direction of the outer layer.