Cold forging is a high speed manufacturing process whereby metal is shaped at room temperature often without the need for the removal of material. A simple blank is placed within a die and a punch is pressed into the blank. The blank then takes on the form of the punch and the die. By utilising multiple dies and punches in succession very complex shapes can be achieved. Metal is forced beyond its yield (elastic) limit and retains its altered shape upon removal from the die. The metal is not forced beyond its tensile strength, otherwise fracturing would occur (the exception is when trimming or piercing). Historically cold forming has been an experienced based technology, but this is changing as new computer based analytical tools are constantly being developed.