Abstract: The invention relates to a connection element (10) for connecting a first tube (1) to a second tube (2) of a crossmember (15) for a vehicle, wherein the connection element (10) has at least one longitudinal wall (5) adjoined by at least one transverse wall (6, 7) arranged preferably perpendicularly to the longitudinal wall (5). According to the invention, the at least one transverse wall (6, 7) has, on a first end (9), an edge (8) which preferably matches the circumferential contour of the first tube (1), and which, for a preferably rotatable arrangement of the connection element (10), rests on the outer circumference of the first tube (1) at least over part of the circumference, and, at a second end (11) of the longitudinal wall (5), a portion (12) is provided which is connectable, preferably weldable, to the second tube (2) in the assembly position of the connection element (10). The invention also relates to a crossmember for a vehicle and to a method for connecting two tubes of a crossmember.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an at least partially hardened profiled component and to a corresponding semi-finished product (1) which simplifies the development process and reduces the investment costs in production machines. At first, a first profiled segment (19), which has a uniform cross-sectional shape (9, 10) along its extent (22), and a second profiled segment (20), which has a non-uniform cross-sectional shape (9, 10) along its extent (22), are joined together at a joining point (6) in order to form at least part of a semi-finished product (1). At the joining point (6), the first and the second profiled segments (19, 20) have cross-sectional shapes (9, 10) which substantially correspond with one another.