A method and tool for the production of press-hardened sheet-metal molded parts having different strength portions by pre-embossing the sheet material

The invention relates to a method for producing a press-hardened sheet metal part that is to have different strength portions. For this purpose, a heated to the austenitizing temperature of steel sheet material (200) in a Presshartwerkzeug (100) is molded and cooled so rapidly that adjusts a high material strength in the formed steel sheet material (200) due to the formation of martensite. It is provided that the steel sheet material (200) in the press-hardening tool (100) before its cooling is completed, pre-embossed in at least one defined area using a die (140) to bring about a targeted thickness change of shape by which to avoid the formation of martensite in this area or at least reduced and a lower material strength is established. The invention further relates to a press hardening tool (100), which is suitable for carrying out this method.