With the press hardening technology it is possible to produce components with tailor- made material properties. The present work is based on a comprehensive thermo-mechanical material model for simulation of press hardening and similar processes. The model accounts for and predicts time dependent and timeindependent phase transformations, mechanical and thermal properties as well as transformation plasticity during the complete cooling and deformation process from 900 °C to room temperature. The model predicts the microstructure evolution during the complete process as well as the final fractions. The thermal contact properties and the thermal properties in the tools have influence on the final material state. Solutions for tool heating and cooling for manufacturing of components with soft zones are studied. Based on the results from the press hardening simulations, thermal properties of special tool materials are taken into account in order to optimise the manufacturing thermal cycle.