Method and apparatus for flexible manufacturing a discrete curved product from feed stock

An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved backbone for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly from feed stock, said apparatus comprising:

• a cold rolling mill that imparts a predetermined thickness to the work piece;
• a width profiling station that imparts a predetermined width to the work piece;
• and
• a curvature forming and heat treat station, said curvature forming and heat treat station including a first source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of the work piece, said beam of heat defining a major axis and a minor axis on the work piece, said major axis of said focused beam of heat being disposed substantially transverse to the relative movement of the work piece with respect to the beam of heat and imparting a predetermined radius of curvature about said major axis, a cooler adapted to cool the work piece after it has been heated by said first source of heat, and a second source of heat to temper the work piece after it has been cooled.