PREFACE

Metal forming is one of key technologies for manufacturing industries. Processes for difficult-to-process materials, such as high-strength steel, Aluminum alloys, Titanium alloys, and precise processes for micro forming are attracting attention. As the center of manufacturing is shifting to Asian countries, the researches and developments on the metal forming become more active in Asian countries in these decades. This special issue includes selected papers from The 2nd Asian Pacific Symposium on Technology of Plasticity (APSTP 2019) and The 12th Asian Workshop on Micro/Nano Forming Technology (AWMFT2019) held in Tokyo, Japan from July 31st - August 3rd, 2019, which are organized by Japan Society for Technology of Plasticity (JSTP), China Society for Technology of Plasticity (CSTP), Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity (KSTP) and Taiwan Society for Technology of Plasticity (TSTP). The conferences aimed to provide an opportunity to discuss on the technology of plasticity as well as new technology developments to meet and exchange information on all aspects for researchers in Asian and pacific countries. A total of 14 paper is included in this special issue. Topics in this special issue include evaluation of properties for metallic materials with fine grain and fiber reinforced polymer, forming technologies including incremental forming, flexible roll forming, extrusion and micro forming, fabrication of die/tool with functional surface, evaluation of size effects in micro metal forming, friction and so on.

Last, the guest editor would like to extend his appreciation to the Japan Society for Technology of Plasticity and the Amada Foundation for funding the conferences and publication the selected papers.

• November 15, 2019
• Guest Editor: Ming Yang
• Professor, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan