Abstract: A formed steel part is provided. The formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A formed steel part is provided. The formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A formed steel part is provided. The formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A method for preparing a precoated sheet is provided. The method includes providing a precoated sheet having a metallic substrate with a precoating on at least one of its faces and removing through laser ablation at least a portion of the precoating on the at least one face of the precoated sheet in a removal zone. The ablation step is carried out in an installation. The installation includes at least one protective element having a protective surface. During the ablation step, the protective surface contacts the precoated sheet in a contact area in register with the laser beam as the laser beam removes the portion of the precoating. A plane tangent to the protective surface at the contact area forms a dihedral angle with the plane of the face of the precoated sheet. This angle is strictly smaller than 90°.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for automatic edge positioning and guiding of a moving web, such as a textile fabric or carpet, onto a conveyor system comprising manufacturing operations such as sewing, for example. More in particular an apparatus is provided including mechanics, optics and control for steering and positioning the side edges of the moving web in order to correct for misalignment, and hence sewing can occur appropriately.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.

Abstract: A formed steel part is provided. The formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A plate is provided. The plate includes a steel substrate and a precoat having a layer of intermetallic alloy in contact with the substrate, topped by a layer of aluminum alloy. On at least one precoated face of the plate, an area situated at the periphery of the plate has the aluminum alloy layer removed. A part and a welded blank are also provided. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a precoated steel plate is provided. The method includes coating a steel plate by dipping the steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a precoat upon the steel plate. The precoat consists of an intermetallic alloy layer and a metal alloy layer, the intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the metal alloy layer. On at least one face of the plate, the metal alloy layer is removed in an area at a periphery of the plate using a laser beam, while at least part of the intermetallic alloy layer is left in the area. The step of removing includes measuring a characteristic of the laser or an area where the metal alloy area is to be removed to obtain a measured value, comparing the measured value with a reference value and stopping a removal operation to leave the at least part of the intermetallic alloy in place as function of the comparing step. Additional methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a steel part is provided. The method includes the steps of coating a first steel plate to obtain a first precoat upon the first steel plate so as to define a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer. On a first face of the first steel plate the first metal alloy layer is removed in a first area of the first steel plate, while at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer in the first area remains. A second steel plate is coated to obtain a second precoat upon the second steel plate so as to define a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer. On a second face of the second steel plate, the second metal alloy layer is removed in a second area of the second metal plate, while at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area remains.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a precoated steel plate, the method including coating a steel plate by dipping the steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a precoat upon the steel plate, wherein the precoat includes an intermetallic alloy layer and a metal alloy layer. The intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the metal alloy layer. On at least one face of the plate, the metal alloy layer is removed in an area at a periphery of the plate using a laser beam, while leaving at least part of the intermetallic alloy layer in the area. The at least part of the intermetallic layer in the area has a thickness between 3 and 10 micrometers thick.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the preparation of steel sheets to be fabricated into a welded steel blank. The method includes procuring at least one pre-coated first steel sheet and one pre-coated second steel sheet, made up of a steel substrate and a pre-coating made up of an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy, the first sheet having a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face, the second sheet having a principal face, an opposite principal face and at least one secondary face, positioning the first and second sheets, leaving a gap of between 0.

Abstract: Plate consisting of a steel substrate (1) and a precoat (2) consisting of a layer of intermetallic alloy (3) in contact with said substrate, topped by a layer of metal alloy (4), characterized in that, on at least one precoated face of said plate, an area (6) situated at the periphery of said plate has said metal alloy layer removed.

Abstract: A method of butt-welding steel plates is provided. The method includes the steps of coating a first steel plate by dipping the first steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a first precoat upon the first steel plate. The first precoat includes a first intermetallic alloy layer and a first metal alloy layer, the first intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the first metal alloy layer. On a first face of the first steel plate, the first metal alloy layer is removed in a first area at a first periphery of the first steel plate, while at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer in the first area remains. A second steel plate is coated by dipping the second steel plate in the molten bath or a further molten bath to obtain a second precoat upon the second steel plate. The second precoat includes a second intermetallic alloy layer and a second metal alloy layer, the second intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the second metal alloy layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a precoated steel plate is provided. The method includes coating a steel plate by dipping the steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a precoat upon the steel plate. The precoat consists of an intermetallic alloy layer and a metal alloy layer, the intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the metal alloy layer. On at least one face of the plate, the metal alloy layer is removed in an area at a periphery of the plate using a laser beam, while at least part of the intermetallic alloy layer is left in the area. The step of removing includes measuring a characteristic of the laser or an area where the metal alloy area is to be removed to obtain a measured value, comparing the measured value with a reference value and stopping a removal operation to leave the at least part of the intermetallic alloy in place as function of the comparing step. Additional methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a precoated steel plate, the method including coating a steel plate by dipping the steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a precoat upon the steel plate, wherein the precoat includes an intermetallic alloy layer and a metal alloy layer. The intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the metal alloy layer. On at least one face of the plate, the metal alloy layer is removed in an area at a periphery of the plate using a laser beam, while leaving at least part of the intermetallic alloy layer in the area. The at least part of the intermetallic layer in the area has a thickness between 3 and 10 micrometers thick.

Abstract: A method of butt-welding steel plates is provided. The method includes the steps of coating a first steel plate by dipping the first steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a first precoat upon the first steel plate. The first precoat includes a first intermetallic alloy layer and a first metal alloy layer, the first intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the first metal alloy layer. On a first face of the first steel plate, the first metal alloy layer is removed in a first area at a first periphery of the first steel plate, while at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer in the first area remains. A second steel plate is coated by dipping the second steel plate in the molten bath or a further molten bath to obtain a second precoat upon the second steel plate. The second precoat includes a second intermetallic alloy layer and a second metal alloy layer, the second intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the second metal alloy layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a steel part is provided. The method includes the steps of coating a first steel plate to obtain a first precoat upon the first steel plate so as to define a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer. On a first face of the first steel plate the first metal alloy layer is removed in a first area of the first steel plate, while at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer in the first area remains. A second steel plate is coated to obtain a second precoat upon the second steel plate so as to define a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer. On a second face of the second steel plate, the second metal alloy layer is removed in a second area of the second metal plate, while at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area remains.