Manufacturing hardened sheet metal part that is useful for producing body part of motor vehicle, comprises providing sheet-metal shaped part having increased strength due to preceding hardening process, and heat-treating part area-wise

The method comprises providing a sheet-metal shaped part (12) having increased strength due to preceding hardening process, and heat-treating the sheet-metal shaped part area-wise, where increased strength of heat-treated areas (12a) of the sheet material are selectively reduced. The providing step comprises providing output sheet material, heating the sheet material, thermoforming a sheet metal part, and performing hardening process on sheet metal part. The thermoforming step is carried out by press hardening of the sheet material. The method comprises providing a sheet-metal shaped part (12) having increased strength due to preceding hardening process, and heat-treating the sheet-metal shaped part area-wise, where increased strength of heat-treated areas (12a) of the sheet material are selectively reduced. The providing step comprises providing output sheet material, heating the sheet material, thermoforming a sheet metal part, and performing hardening process on sheet metal part. The thermoforming step is carried out by press hardening of the sheet material. The heat-treating step is automatically carried out using a gas burner, where flame is directed to respective portion of the sheet metal part directly. The gas burners are arranged on both sides of the sheet metal molding, and the flame is directed on both sides of the sheet against the sheet metal part simultaneously. The heating of the sheet material is detected with a tactile or non-contact measuring sensor. The sheet metal part is heat-treated in a crude state. An independent claim is included for an apparatus for manufacturing a hardened sheet metal part. Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Herstellen eines bereichsweise unterschiedlich gehärteten Blechformteils (12), mit folgenden Verfahrensschritten: - Bereitstellen eines Blechformteils (12), dessen Blechmaterial aufgrund eines vorausgegangenen Härtevorgangs eine erhöhte Festigkeit aufweist; und - bereichsweises Wärmebehandeln des Blechformteils (12), wobei in den wärmbehandelten Bereichen (12a) die erhöhte Festigkeit des Blechmaterials wieder gezielt verringert wird. Die Erfindung betrifft ferner eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen eines bereichsweise unterschiedlich gehärteten Blechformteils (12).