METHOD FOR MOULDING A SHEET INTO A COMPONENT OF COMPLEX SHAPE HAVING AREAS WITH DIFFERENT MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, PARTICULARLY A MOTOR-VEHICLE COMPONENT

A method for moulding a sheet (L) into a component of complex shape having areas with different mechanical properties, particularly a motor-vehicle component. The method involves a heating step of the sheet (L) carried out by means of a kiln (1), prior to forming the component. The kiln (1) comprises a main body with a roller shape (3), having a plurality of sectors (4) extending along a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis (X) of the roller body (3). The sectors (4) are configured to each receive a sheet (L), so that the main body with a roller shape (3) is arranged to simultaneously carry a plurality of sheets (L). The kiln (1) further comprises a plurality of heating elements (5) incorporated in said main body with a roller shape (3) and configured so as to heat only said first portion of the roller body (3), so that the roller shaped main body (3) is designed to heat the sheets (L) in a differentiated way, particularly at their areas in contact with said first portion of the roller body (3). The kiln (1) further comprises at least one electronically-controlled drive motor, arranged to rotate the roller-shaped main body (3) around the longitudinal axis (X) of the kiln (1), so as to vary the position of the sectors (4) with respect to the inlet and outlet ports (6, 7).