Designed orientation for welded automotive structural components made of press hardened steel

A method of producing hot formed structural components from a coil of press hardened steel sheet stock having a predetermined rolling direction, the method comprising:

• cutting a blank from a flat portion of the coil of press hardened steel sheet stock such that said blank has a length that is greater than a width, and such that said length is substantially parallel to the predetermined rolling direction;
• increasing the temperature of said blank by passing said blank through a furnace;
• forming said blank into a predetermined structural component with a water cooled press such that a length of said predetermined structural component is substantially parallel to a material texture orientation thereof, and
• reducing the temperature of said predetermined structural component by quenching the same;
• and
• forming at least one weld joint in said predetermined structural component;
• wherein said cutting said blank is such that said length is parallel to the rolling direction within plus or minus ten degrees.

A hot formed elongated metallic component, comprising:

• a body having a material texture orientation and a body length that is greater than a body width;
• and
• at least one weld joint;
• wherein said material texture orientation is substantially parallel to said body length.