Magna is two years ahead of competitors such as Dana and Tower Automotive in the latest metal-bending art, high-pressure hydroforming.

FORBES: Component king

With hydroforming, steel tubes are clamped into a mold and ballooned into the desired shape by 15 seconds of water under high pressure.

FORBES: Component king

Hydroforming uses water pressure (up to 15, 000 pounds per square inch) to force the flat steel against a one-sided tool, achieving the same result for half the cost.

FORBES: Water Wagons

At half the cost of traditional metal stamping, hydroforming may well be the secret to low-volume production on models that might appeal to a narrow group of buyers.

FORBES: Water Wagons

But the biggest cost-cutter is a manufacturing process called hydroforming.

FORBES: Water Wagons

Hydroforming is too slow for high-volume vehicles.

FORBES: Water Wagons