Since we were founded in 1997, we have had an ongoing commitment to incorporate new technologies into our manufacturing processes and to develop traditional technologies. We started off as a company based solely on cold stamping small parts and we have become a company based on multiple technologies.

Our manufacturing is done using a large portfolio of technologies and capabilities all along the value chain, including:

  • Wide range of forming technologies, forming, hydroforming, in addition to the full range of cold forming processes
  • Hot stamping
  • Advanced assembly technologies such as remote-control laser welding
  • Finishing technologies such as powder coating and cataphoresis
  • In-house capabilities for manufacturing tooling and tools

R&D FOCUSED ON MAIN INDUSTRY TRENDS

Increased outsourcing of certain processes by automotive manufacturers

The changing nature of the automotive industry has led manufacturers to prioritize their investments. They are committed to investing in new trends such as improvements in engine technology (such as electric engines), autonomous driving and shared mobility. This has led to fewer investments in their in-house capabilities related to other areas that do not directly affect the differentiation of brands, such as body products and chassis.

This trend, together with standardization via global platforms, has led to an increase in outsourcing and they are choosing a small number of strategic suppliers, such as Gestamp, to supply them with parts with highly technological content, such as hot stamping

Gestamp is one of the pioneers in the hot stamping manufacturing process, one of most advanced technologies to reduce the weight of a vehicle’s body structure and to improve behavior in the event of a collision, and passenger safety. As of 31 December 2016, we had 71 hot stamping lines installed worldwide and, based on the projects we have received contracts for, it is expected that more will be constructed in all the geographic regions where we operate within the next five years.

Global platform strategies

Increasingly, automotive manufacturers are designing vehicle models built on common platforms that allow them to reduce costs, increase the quality of the parts, benefit from the economies of scale across the value chain, differentiate their products from those of their competitors, increase the number of product segments where they compete, and have sufficient flexibility to respond to user demand.

This trend towards common platforms and global models has made manufacturers increasingly more reliant on large global suppliers that are technically and financially sound, and able to produce robust and high-quality products in all geographic areas. As a result, they also have increased R&D collaboration between manufacturers and strategic suppliers during the product development phase; this, in turn, has allowed global suppliers to gain market share.

Increasingly stringent world regulations on CO2 emissions

The development and production of fuel-efficient vehicles is a key growth trend in the automotive sector. It is driven by regulatory factors as well as increasing environmental awareness among consumers, which increasingly plays a decisive role in purchasing decisions. As a result, manufacturers face constant pressure to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles and reduce CO2 emissions. Reducing the weight of the vehicle increases fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions, which makes body and chassis components critical to achieve CO2 emission goals (a reduction of 100 kg in the total weight of a vehicle currently means an average saving of 9 g of CO2 emissions in European cars).

Many countries have adopted emissions regulations that set limits on the amount of pollutants that new vehicles can emit. Given the growing environmental awareness, it expected that the emissions limits worldwide of developed and emerging countries will become increasingly restrictive over the coming years. The EU’s objectives for CO2 emissions are among the most stringent, which makes it difficult for manufacturers to fully comply with the rapid increase in the cost of compliance. In the EU, automobile manufacturers face fines of €95 for each g/km if they do not achieve the CO2 emissions goals. Other countries, such as Brazil, India and China, for example, tend to adopt similar regulations a few years after their approval in the EU.

Our R&D capabilities, leadership in hot-stamping technologies, and experience in the development of multi-material solutions aimed at reducing the weight of components allow us to offer innovative solutions that address our clients’ regulatory pressures in a cost-effective manner. The graphs below show the effect of Gestamp’s products on vehicle weight and, in turn, on CO2 emissions.

GESTAMP’S PRODUCTOS TARGET 32% OF B-SEGMENT VEHICLE WEIGHT

Key factors driving CO2 Emissions

High Volume B-Segment Vehicle Weight