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This work addresses the development of new and improved manufacturing technologies to create innovative steel sheet surfaces for automotive and domestic appliances. A combination of predictive simulations and experimental work was conducted by a well-equipped consortium (Acerinox, TATA Steel, Swerea-IVF, IK4-Tekniker and the University of Twente) focused on the development of designed tactility, hydrophobicity and increased formability and paint appearance for steel sheet surfaces using laser textured cold rolling rolls. Innovative sheet finishes with laser texturing were designed based on a pillar structure integrating open, semi open and closed structures applied on stainless steel and zinc coated steel sheets based on laser surface texturing and cold rolling. The final pilot rolling trials showed clearly the feasibility of the approach, although obstacles related to roll surface wear were identified. Laser processing is developing at a rapid rate and, with the appropriate scaleup, the European steel industry should be ready to exploit its clear benefits for improved roll roughness control and improved product quality at the customers. The main advantage of this technology is the possibility to get tailored surfaces with optimised tactility, wettability and paint appearance.

Prólogo de Leopoldo Castedo. edo.

Short stories.