The article describes some important considerations for an industrial application for the thixoforging of steel alloys. Extensive experience in the forming of aluminium, brass and steel alloys was made with the automated thixoforging unit set-up at the Institute for Metal Forming Technology. After a brief description of the thixoforging unit, the cycle of automated thixoforging is explained. Beside the demands of reheating in an inert atmosphere, some aspects of process monitoring are described. In relation to this, the installed industrial vision system is presented. The requirements for batch production dies in automated units are focused upon. The results of the experimental forming of steel alloys with two different materials for the thixoforging dies are presented. A comparison of both alloys 1.2714 and CuCrZr is made.