Durable sheet metal components for vehicles
Graepel’s sheet metal structural components are essential parts of modern vehicles and machinery. They perform load-bearing, connecting, and safety-critical functions and are manufactured from steel or aluminum.
Graepel develops and manufactures structural components that absorb loads from the engine, chassis, and occupants, contribute to structural stability, and, through appropriate design, support energy absorption in the event of a crash. At the same time, they connect individual body and chassis components to one another, performing defined functions within the vehicle’s overall structure.
Benefits & Features
- Robust design for vehicle-specific requirements
- Custom geometries, from individual parts to assemblies
- Complete process chain, including coating
- Delivery ready for assembly
- Materials: Steel, aluminum, and stainless steel (including galvanized)
Finishes: KTL and powder coating, anodized aluminum, as well as all other coatings (e.g., electroplating) upon request.
Manufacturing expertise
Sheet metal processing at Graepel involves forming semi-finished sheet metal products—whether from coil, sheet stock, or blanks—into precision sheet metal components. Depending on the component requirements, forming is carried out in single- or multi-stage processes, such as progressive die or transfer processes.
An important component of sheet metal processing is the integration of functional and fastening elements. Sheet metal components are primarily joined by clinching or welding. Additionally, nuts, threaded bolts, or formed threads can be incorporated into the sheet metal directly in the die. In particular, thread forming in sheet metal has been optimized at Graepel over many years and established for series production.
Even complex geometries, such as larger perforated areas in stamped and structural sheet metal parts, can be produced directly in the die. Monitored clinching processes ensure high process reliability.
In addition to mechanical sheet metal processing, Graepel offers various coatings for sheet metal components. Electrocoat and powder coating can be performed in-house and serve both corrosion protection and decorative purposes.
Expertise
Graepel has extensive experience and in-depth process expertise in the field of thread forming. To ensure successful mass production, trials and validation tests can be conducted in advance to develop and test suitable solutions for the specific component.
Even larger perforated areas in otherwise non-perforated stamped sheet metal or structural parts can be produced, if necessary in combination with forming processes.
Clinching has been established at Graepel for many years as a reliable joining process. The processes are carried out with appropriate monitoring and 100% process control.
For thread forming, component-specific systems have also been developed and built in-house to offer cost-effective solutions tailored to the specific application. Thanks to our extensive machine park, components can be manufactured using both progressive die and transfer press processes, allowing us to implement the optimal manufacturing process depending on the geometry, quantity, and process requirements.
