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WISCO Geschichte

History

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.