Strut and method of manufacturing a strut

A method of manufacturing a strut, the method comprising:

• providing a tubular element having an external circumference (C);
• forming a connecting end portion at the end of the tubular element by folding and flattening an end of the tubular element, wherein:
• the folding is performed by deforming the material in the end so as to form inward fold lines, and pushing the inward fold lines from diametrically opposite sides of the end of the tubular element in a direction toward a center of the tubular element until fold lines meet, and
• the flattening is performed by pressing the folded portion toward the center of the tubular element from opposite directions perpendicular to the direction of pushing,
• thereby forming the connecting end portion with four material layers, and
• cold-forming of the connecting end portion prior to the folding and flattening, wherein the cold-forming includes pre-expansion of the end of the tubular element.