Abstract: According to the method, a blank (7) that is severed from strip material (4) of coated, high-strength boron steel is homogeneously heated in a furnace (11) having a plurality of temperature zones (8, 9, 10) first in a 1st zone (8) to a temperature of approximately 830° C. to 950° C. and maintained at this temperature level for a defined time (t). Thereafter, a region (12) of first kind of the blank (7) is cooled down in a 2nd zone (9) of the furnace (11) to a temperature of approximately 550° C. to 700° C. and maintained at this lowered temperature level for a defined time (t1). At the same time, a region (13) of second kind of the blank (7) is maintained in a 3rd zone (10) of the furnace (11) at a temperature level of approximately 830° C. to 950° C. during a time (t2). After this heat treatment, a blank (7) is formed into a shaped component (1) in a thermoforming process.

Abstract: In a method of making a lightweight structure composed of a reinforced base element and a reinforcement element, the reinforcement element is fabricated, and the base element is heated by a heat source to a curing or pre-curing temperature. Subsequently the heated base element is joined together with the reinforcement element in a press tool.

Abstract: A shaped part having at least two structural regions of different ductility is made from one unitary blank of a hardenable steel alloy by first heating the entire blank to an elevated temperature below an AC3 point of the alloy. Then only first regions of the blank are heated by a plurality of infrared lamps to above the AC3 point of the alloy while maintaining the rest of the blank below the AC3 point of the alloy. Finally the first regions are hardened in a thermoshaping and hardening tool.

Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.

Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.