Over 30 years of experience in lightweight construction. Learn everything about Baosteel Tailored Blanks: from the production of the first steel tailored blanks for the Audi 100 to the serial production of Tailored Blanks made of aluminum.
1983 – The first of its kind: First Tailored Blank designed and welded
The automotive industry needs galvanized steel sheets in sizes that cannot be produced at hot-dip galvanizing systems. In the face of many skeptics, the then-Thyssen Stahl AG dared to take the leap and connect two sheets together by means of laser welding – that was the birth of the first Tailored Blank.
1985 – Series start in Germany
Initial concerns prove to be unfounded. The results are so good that Thyssen Stahl AG makes the decision to produce the laser-welded blanks as standard in their factory at Duisburg-Bruckhausen.
1992 – New location: Monroe, Michigan, USA
Worthington Industries and Thyssen Stahl AG found the joint venture TWB Company, LLC. in the United States. Production is initially outsourced to a TechCenter.
1995 – Start of production in Monroe, Michigan, USA
Production of Tailored Blanks starts at the present production site in Monroe, Michigan.
1996 – Founding of Thyssen Fügetechnik GmbH
The fully-owned subsidiary of Thyssen Stahl AG takes over production of laser-welded products from the parent company.
1997 – New location: Duisburg-Hüttenheim, Germany
With the increasing demand for laser-welded blanks, Thysseen Fügetechnik GmbH invests in a new location in Duisburg-Hüttenheim, the current headquarters.
1999 – New product: Tailored Engineered Blanks
Thyssen Fügetechnik GmbH presents a new product, Tailored Engineered Blanks (today's 2-D Blanks), which allows even more weight and material savings.
New location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Thyssen Fügetechnik GmbH builds a new production site in Wolfsburg, close to the Volkswagen Group: the subsidiary ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks Nord GmbH.
2000 – New location: Puebla/Saltillo, Mexico
What is now ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks S.A. de C.V., based in Puebla, was originally a fully-owned subsidiary, but is now part of a joint venture with TWB Company, LLC. In the same year, another plant under the joint venture opens in Saltillo.
2001 – New location: San Gillio, Italy
Thyssen Fügetechnik GmbH founds today's subsidiary ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks S.r.l. based in northern Italy.
2002 – New locations in China and the United States
Change of name to ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH
Thyssen Fügetechnik GmbH becomes ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH.
New location: Wuhan, China
The first Tailored Blanks to be produced in China are initially under the joint venture ThyssenKrupp Zhong-Ren Tailored Blanks. Today, the subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH goes by the name of ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks (Wuhan) Ltd.
New location: Columbus, Indiana, USA
Another plant opens in Columbus under the joint venture TWC Company, LLC.
2003 – New location: Tito Scalo, Italy
The ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks S.r.l. subsidiary opens a new plant in Tito Scalo.
2004 – Expansion at Duisburg-Hüttenheim, Germany
The plant in Duisburg-Hüttenheim is extended by another hall.
2005 – New product: Patchwork blanks
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH offers Patchwork Blanks as standard.
New locations: China, Sweden and Mexico
The joint venture TK AS (Changchun) Tailored Blanks Ltd. is founded at the Changchun site in China.
An additional location is established in Sweden. The ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks Sverige AB subsidiary supplies the automotive industry with laser-welded products from the Olofström location.
TWB Company, LLC opens another plant in Hermosillo (Mexico) as a joint venture.
2006 – New product: Tailored Orbitals®
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH manages to transfer the tailored principle onto rotationally symmetrical components such as pipes, rods, rotating, deep-drawing and rod-stamping components with its Tailored Orbitals®.
2007 – New product: Tailor Welded Coils
With the development of Tailor Welded Coils, customers benefit from the classic advantages of tailored products during further processing in the progressive tool.
New locations: Turkey, United States and Germany
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks of Celik Sanayi VE Ticaret Ltd. A new subsidiary in Nilüfer/Bursa, Turkey.
Another plant in Prattville, Alabama, USA opens under the joint venture TWB Company, LLC.
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH opens a new plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Tailor Welded Coils are manufactured at this site.
2008 – New product: Tailored Blanks for hot forming
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH deploys laser-welded blanks, which are suitable for hot stamping, as standard.
Acquisition of majority stake in TWB Company, LLC.
ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks GmbH acquires a majority stake in the joint venture TWB Company, LLC.
2013 – Fifth largest steel manufacturer in the world takes over Tailored Blanks Group
The Tailored Blanks group now belongs to the Chinese steel company Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corp. (WISCO). In WISCO, the Tailored Blanks Group has an owner who wants to develop the business strategy and expand its market presence worldwide.
New location: Chongqing, China
WISCO Tailored Blanks opens a new plant in Chongqing, China.
2014 – World's most modern welding system for the production of Tailor Welded Coils
A new welding system for the manufacture of Tailor Welded Coils goes into operation in Duisburg-Hüttenheim. This most modern system in the world means that customers can get a greater width range of laser-welded coils than ever before.
2015 – New product: Tailored Aluminum Blanks (TAB®)
The world's first production system for the production of laser-welded blanks made of aluminum, Tailored Aluminum Blanks (TAB®), starts operation.
2016 – New welding process reduces manufacturing costs
WISCO Tailored Blanks establishes a new welding process in its production of Hotform Blanks. Well-known automobile manufacturers in Europe are already applying the new method.